5324 Powerconnect Switch

Question

I am having trouble when installing the 5324 Power Connect Switch to a Cisco switch. In the middle of the two, I have two copper to fiber media converters. All are 10/100 devices, and I have tried AN and Force modes. If I remove the 5324 and put in an older Dell switch or a 10/100 hub, all the links come up and I am able to pass traffic. I cannot directly connect the 5324 the Cisco, as this is a live setup. Any ideas?

DELL-Randy · Answer

This appears to be a Physical Layer issue as it seems to be isolated to the gigabit interfaces. On the older Dell switch, are there gigabit interfaces available to test connectivity across this link? Is the PowerConnect 5324 able to establish a 10/100Mbps link with other devices without issue?

True the link may only be 10/100Mbps, however, the technology used for the gigabit interfaces may be more susceptible to connectivity issues traversing lower quality media. Have you attempted to replace the copper cable with one that is CAT5E or CAT6 specification?

stanley49 · Answer

What gigabit interfaces? Everything was 10/100 before (Dell older switch, media converter, hub).Now with Dell 5324, 10/100 media converter, and 10/100 hub, I have problems. Dell tech support stated that I had fiber 10/100 ports. So if the fiber port is indeed gigabit, then of course that is the problem. Please confirm.

DELL-Randy · Answer

The PowerConnect 5324 is a 24-port gigabit switch.  All PowerConnect switches will only establish a link via fiber at 1000Mbps utilizing the SX or LX signal wavelength.  The FX fiber signal supports 100Mbps and is not supported by PowerConnect switches.

stanley49 · Answer

Let me reiterate that it is the Dell 5324 FX SMI.. Since I am using the copper ports, then any one of the 10/100 port should provide connectivity to the media converters. tried another CAT5, no change. Put the hub back on, it works.

Susan

kmedenblik · Answer

I think the 5324 can only do GIG not like the 5224 that could do 10/100/1000

DELL-Randy · Answer

FX-SMI products are Cisco.  The PowerConnect 5324 is a 24-port gigabit switch capable of communicating at speeds of 10/100/1000Mbps over copper and 1000Mbps over fiber.

stanley49 · Answer

Even if the Dell has 10/100/1000 copper based ports, then I should be able to connect to a 10Mbps or 100 copper port media converter, over to fiber, and back over to copper on the media converter, back to a hub or laptop. Does the Dell have a way of being configured in a FORCE mode instead of AutoNegotiation? this is the last question.

Susan

DELL-Randy · Answer

Yes, you theoretically should be able to connect the PowerConnect 5324 to a 10/100 device without issue -- provided there is no Physical Layer issue.  The PowerConnect switch may be configured for Auto negotiation or the speed / duplex may be forced.  Please refer to the User's Guide for the configuration options.   http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/network/pc5324/en/UG/switch.htm#1133075

Networking General

5324 Powerconnect Switch

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