Well i figured it out. I talked to tech support today, all they could recommend is that i replace the switch because it must be defective. They did provide me with a beta firmware but it didnt fix the problem. So what do you do to a switch thats out of warranty that doesnt work? thats right take it apart. So i decided to take the switch down to a ISP's  testing facility. Had a tech remove the cover on the switch and found the gigbit daughter card was slightly ajar (probably from the rough shipping). Anyway the connector at the end of the card was barely attached. Reseated the connector and put the cover back on. Fired it up and voila, no more error messages and all the gige ports now work.

Hi DRNO10,

 

I also have a powerconnect 3048.  We have a couple of DEC servers and they are currently going into a DEC Concentrator 900mx, then to the 3048 switch.  We want to eliminate this DEC concentrator and have the DEC servers go straight into the two fiber ports in the 3048.  Well, we bought the fiber port adapters and slid them into the 3048.  When I plug in the servers, I get no "activity" on the green lights.  Is there some way I need to "activate" the ports in the GUI interface for the 3048? That brings me to another question... how do I get to the GUI interface I've been reading so much about?  Any help is appreciated.

 

Dan