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tI have a Cisco SLM2048 Smart Switch which I can't access anymore. The switch is working just fine but:

  • I can't reach it by web interface
  • Doesn't seem to be able to reset it, even if I hold reset button for 10, 20, 30, 60 seconds.
  • Doesn't get an ipv4 address, although I can ping it by an ipv6 address I discovered
  • In wireshark, I can intercept Malformed\Erroneous packets sent by the switch

Problem is the thing doesn't have any console, so I'm really lost on how to try to fix it. Any ideas?

Mateusz Kapusta
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  • Disconnect all ports except the port you have your management machine connected to. It's possible that it's something silly, like portfast enabled or spanning tree disabled on a port that leads back to another port on the same switch indirectly. – David Schwartz Jan 27 '14 at 09:05
  • These "Cisco" (Linksys) switches has caused us nothing but trouble. I recommend you look at more enterprise-grade hardware. We're happy after switching over to HP-2520 switches. – pauska Jan 27 '14 at 09:30
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    +1 for the antropomorphism :p – Vincent Vancalbergh Jan 27 '14 at 13:59

2 Answers2

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My fix for a switch like that would be to replace it. If still under warranty send it back to Cisco, otherwise eat the loss and buy a new one.

Why?

  • Clearly something is broken when you get malformed packets. That shouldn't happen. And you should be able to factory-reset the equipment.
  • A switch which starts to act up can cause nightmarish network problems. Especially if you are running STP.
  • The cost in time and effort of debugging a broken switch compared to the cost of replacement is bad on the cost-benefit scale in all but the most cash-limited organizations
pehrs
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0

I heard that exactly same story from a friend of mine.

Send the switch back to Cisco (Linksys in this case).

Manawyrm
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