Dell 2848 and AppleTV Connection Issue

Question

I have a Dell 2848 switch that I'm configuring. I am having trouble connecting to AppleTV boxes across the switch. If I put a computer on a port it works fine. I can ping it, it can get an ip address (or I can statically assign it an address and get to it), etc. The cable diagnostics show "OK" and everything works properly.

However, if I simply unplug the computer that's working and plug in an AppleTV box, I can't connect to it. I can't ping it, it can't pick up an IP address, etc. NOTHING changes on the network except I unplug the computer and plug in the AppleTV box. The port diagnostics shows "Short Cable" when the AppleTV box is connected.

I have duplicated this behavior with 3 different ports and 3 different AppleTV boxes. I have also tried setting the speed to 100 full duplex at the switch.

I am using a VLAN however I am on the same subnet, and as I said, with a computer hooked to the port it works flawlessly so everything is tagged properly.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have no clue what would cause this behavior!

Thanks,

Steve

rsjarrell · Answer

The firmware has been updated to the very latest version.

The connection cables from the switch to the patch panel and from the Cat5 outlet to the AppleTV unit are brand new, out of the package Cat6 patch cables. If there was a problem with either the patch cables or the wiring between the patch panel and the outlet the computer wouldn't work. When any computer is connected, the diags show "ok." When any AppleTv is connected, it shows "short."

I'm baffled. Makes no sense to me whatsoever. The ONLY difference is the device plugged in. The AppleTv doesn't connect.... a computer does.

DELL-Josh Cr · Answer

Hi Steve,

If a computer in the same port works that should mean that there is nothing wrong with the switch. Is the firmware up to date? http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=DRK1R&fileId=3238636398&osCode=NAA&productCode=powerconnect-2848&languageCode=EN&categoryId=NI

The error for short cable, is indicating that there is a short in the cable. Is the cable a crossover cable and not a straight cable?

You may want to trying turning off IGMP under multicast support.

DELL-Josh Cr · Answer

The Apple documentation seems to show that it requires and crossover and not a straight through cable. support.apple.com/.../HT2274

DELL-Josh Cr · Answer

What happens if you put the switch in unmanaged mode?

rsjarrell · Answer

Thanks Josh. The requirement for a crossover cable is if you're connecting directly to the AppleTv from a computer. This article says at the end

"Auto-MDIX automatically switches between MDI and MDI-X, which allows either type of cable to be connected regardless of whether you are connecting two computers directly, or you are connecting to a hub or switch. MDI devices connected to Auto-MDIX devices do not require a crossover Ethernet cable."

If I connect the same AppleTv box to a regular cheap switch and connect a computer to the switch it works fine. However if I do exactly the same thing with the Powerconnect switch it doesn't. I have tried changing every port setting I can with no luck.

Thanks,

Steve

rsjarrell · Answer

I can't do that as I have other devices wired into it that require the VLANS. Good thought though.

Networking General

Dell 2848 and AppleTV Connection Issue

Was this post helpful?