Troubleshooting Switch Issues: Ethernet Lans
Troubleshooting Switch Issues: Ethernet Lans
Switch Issues
Ethernet LANs
Suggested steps:
Use the show interface ethernet EXEC command to determine
the status of the device Ethernet interfaces. The presence of
many CRC errors but not many collisions is an indication of
excessive noise.
Inspect the cables for damage.
If you are using 100Base-TX, make sure you are using Category
5 cabling.
Suggested steps:
Use the show interface ethernet command to check the rate of
collisions. The total number of collisions with respect to the total
number of output packets should be 0.1 percent or less.
Use a time-domain reflectometer (TDR) to find any unterminated
Ethernet cables. A TDR is a device that sends signals through a
network medium to check cable continuity and other attributes.
Look for a jabbering transceiver attached to a host. This might
require host-by-host inspection or the use of a protocol analyzer.
Jabber occurs when a device that is experiencing circuitry or logic
failure continuously sends random (garbage) data.
Suggested steps:
Use a protocol analyzer to check for late collisions. Late collisions
should never occur in a properly designed Ethernet network. They
usually occur when Ethernet cables are too long or when there
are too many repeaters in the network.
Verify that the distance between the first and last host on the
segment is within specification.
Media-related issues
Duplex-related issues
Speed-related issues
Duplex modes:
One end set to one speed and the other set to another, resulting
in a mismatch.
One end set to a higher speed and autonegotiation enabled on
the other end.
– If autonegotiation fails, the autonegotiation end reverts to its
lowest speed.
– Results in a mismatch.
Autonegotiation on both ends:
– Autonegotiation fails on both ends, and they revert to their
lowest speed.
– Both end at half; no mismatch.