3com switch help

[MCManiac52]

So just got a second hand 3com switch, It's a baseline 2924. No idea what the IP address of it is. Is there anyway of finding/changing it/resetting the device to factory without buying a ethernet/serial cable to use the console port?

[jj9987]

1 hour ago, MCManiac52 said:

So just got a second hand 3com switch, It's a baseline 2924. No idea what the IP address of it is. Is there anyway of finding/changing it/resetting the device to factory without buying a ethernet/serial cable to use the console port?

You need to use the console port to assign an IP to it (either manually or have it get an IP via DHCP).

 

All the management is done via the console port, some switches (not sure about that specific one) may have web user interface, but they are not as specific or good as actual command line configuration.

[MCManiac52]

2 minutes ago, jj9987 said:

You need to use the console port to assign an IP to it (either manually or have it get an IP via DHCP).

 

All the management is done via the console port, some switches (not sure about that specific one) may have web user interface, but they are not as specific or good as actual command line configuration.

I know but like i said, i have no clue what the ip is to be able to edit the web interface and don't have a console cable to connect to the cli.

[jj9987]

7 minutes ago, MCManiac52 said:

I know but like i said, i have no clue what the ip is to be able to edit the web interface and don't have a console cable to connect to the cli.

Then you have 2 options. Either get a console cable (DB9-to-RJ45, DB9-to-RS232 or something else with necessary adapters) or you can use the switch in unmanaged mode.

[MCManiac52]

1 hour ago, jj9987 said:

Then you have 2 options. Either get a console cable (DB9-to-RJ45, DB9-to-RS232 or something else with necessary adapters) or you can use the switch in unmanaged mode.

Cable it is by the looks of it. The switch is causing some problems so i can't use it in unmanaged mode currently.

[Blake]

3 hours ago, MCManiac52 said:

Cable it is by the looks of it. The switch is causing some problems so i can't use it in unmanaged mode currently.

keep in mind that the rate on the hp/3com stuff isn't the same as the cisco rates. You'll not be able to connect if you don't change that in putty first. it's 19200 as opposed to 9600 that cisco gear uses, from memory.

[MCManiac52]

2 minutes ago, Blake said:

keep in mind that the rate on the hp/3com stuff isn't the same as the cisco rates. You'll not be able to connect if you don't change that in putty first. it's 19200 as opposed to 9600 that cisco gear uses, from memory.

Okay thanks, I'll keep that in mind, pretty sure it says what the settings should be on the front anyway. To be honest I've never messed with anything like this before, I'm teaching myself networking and stuff and this is the first managed switch i've had to play with.

[Blake]

59 minutes ago, MCManiac52 said:

Okay thanks, I'll keep that in mind, pretty sure it says what the settings should be on the front anyway. To be honest I've never messed with anything like this before, I'm teaching myself networking and stuff and this is the first managed switch i've had to play with.

Assuming that 3com switch is the same as the HP aruba (hint: they all are) there is a really good setup menu you can access via the console if your not good at configuring via cli.

[MCManiac52]

4 minutes ago, Blake said:

Assuming that 3com switch is the same as the HP aruba (hint: they all are) there is a really good setup menu you can access via the console if your not good at configuring via cli.

Thanks, I'll make sure I use it once I get the right cable. Just wondering: do i have to use a serial port for the console or is there a way to convert it to usb?

[Blake]

4 hours ago, MCManiac52 said:

Thanks, I'll make sure I use it once I get the right cable. Just wondering: do i have to use a serial port for the console or is there a way to convert it to usb?

you can use a usb to serial adapter, thats what i do seeing as most laptops don't have a db9 port any more.

 

Once you have that, fire up devmgmt.msc to see which port you are using, and enter that into putty as the IP address (i.e. COM3 or whatever your usb to serial port is called). still need to use the rollover cable to bridge the serial to com port on the switch. If you don't have one find your nearest enterprise IT chap and ask him for one, he'll have hundreds as you get one in the box when you get a cisco router/switch.

[MCManiac52]

On 10/02/2017 at 3:15 AM, Blake said:

you can use a usb to serial adapter, thats what i do seeing as most laptops don't have a db9 port any more.

 

Once you have that, fire up devmgmt.msc to see which port you are using, and enter that into putty as the IP address (i.e. COM3 or whatever your usb to serial port is called). still need to use the rollover cable to bridge the serial to com port on the switch. If you don't have one find your nearest enterprise IT chap and ask him for one, he'll have hundreds as you get one in the box when you get a cisco router/switch.

Okay cool, thanks  

[MCManiac52]

On 10/02/2017 at 3:15 AM, Blake said:

you can use a usb to serial adapter, thats what i do seeing as most laptops don't have a db9 port any more.

 

Once you have that, fire up devmgmt.msc to see which port you are using, and enter that into putty as the IP address (i.e. COM3 or whatever your usb to serial port is called). still need to use the rollover cable to bridge the serial to com port on the switch. If you don't have one find your nearest enterprise IT chap and ask him for one, he'll have hundreds as you get one in the box when you get a cisco router/switch.

Okay so I've got my hands on both of the cables, plugged everything in, put the settings into putty, click open and... nothing happens. Am I missing something? The USB to serial shows in device manager, i've tried direct connection to a serial port and with the USB adaptor, nothing happens when i click open in putty. 

[iamMINT]

2 hours ago, MCManiac52 said:

Okay so I've got my hands on both of the cables, plugged everything in, put the settings into putty, click open and... nothing happens. Am I missing something? The USB to serial shows in device manager, i've tried direct connection to a serial port and with the USB adaptor, nothing happens when i click open in putty. 

Get the drivers. Also, is it a layer three switch?

[MCManiac52]

17 minutes ago, JohnBRoark said:

Get the drivers. Also, is it a layer three switch?

Drivers for the cable or for the switch? The cable drivers are already installed but I wasn't sure if the switch needed drivers installed. I'm not sure, how would I check?

[iamMINT]

4 minutes ago, MCManiac52 said:

Drivers for the cable or for the switch? The cable drivers are already installed but I wasn't sure if the switch needed drivers installed. I'm not sure, how would I check?

For the adapter. I've had the issue before- just look up the model number and go and get the drivers for it from the manufacturer. Also- if it's not a layer three it won't accept IP addresses, all a switch does is direct traffic in the LAN. Unless you're setting up loads of VLANs and complex configs there's really no need for any IP's at the switching level. A layer two switch doesn't even look at IPs at all when directing traffic, it's only looking at source/destination MAC addresses. 

What are you trying to configure the switch to do?

[MCManiac52]

1 minute ago, JohnBRoark said:

For the adapter. I've had the issue before- just look up the model number and go and get the drivers for it from the manufacturer. Also- if it's not a layer three it won't accept IP addresses, all a switch does is direct traffic in the LAN. Unless you're setting up loads of VLANs and complex configs there's really no need for any IP's at the switching level. A layer two switch doesn't even look at IPs at all when directing traffic, it's only looking at source/destination MAC addresses. 

What are you trying to configure the switch to do?

The drivers for the adaptor were installed automatically when i plugged it in, shows up as working correctly in device manager. I want to reset it to defaults because i have a feeling it has different vlans and such setup since it was a used enterprise switch, which i think may be causing problems as whenever i use it instead of a standard unmanaged desktop switch, devices connected take forever to contact the DHCP server and WDS over PXE doesn't work. Any ideas why this might be or is my theory correct?

[iamMINT]

1 minute ago, MCManiac52 said:

The drivers for the adaptor were installed automatically when i plugged it in, shows up as working correctly in device manager. I want to reset it to defaults because i have a feeling it has different vlans and such setup since it was a used enterprise switch, which i think may be causing problems as whenever i use it instead of a standard unmanaged desktop switch, devices connected take forever to contact the DHCP server and WDS over PXE doesn't work. Any ideas why this might be or is my theory correct?

Try and clear the config all the way back to it's default configuration. 

Go into device manager, click on COM Ports, and you'll see your usb adapter and a number next to it (like "COM 5" or something). When you go into putty make sure you change COM1 to whatever it says the usb adapter is on. 

Used enterprise and datacenter stuff is weird, mostly because it's been made or configured to do a very specific set of things for a rack of servers. Returning it back to it's default config should help clear any odd issues you're having. If not, then it's just a crappy switch. 

[MCManiac52]

7 minutes ago, JohnBRoark said:

Try and clear the config all the way back to it's default configuration. 

Go into device manager, click on COM Ports, and you'll see your usb adapter and a number next to it (like "COM 5" or something). When you go into putty make sure you change COM1 to whatever it says the usb adapter is on. 

Used enterprise and datacenter stuff is weird, mostly because it's been made or configured to do a very specific set of things for a rack of servers. Returning it back to it's default config should help clear any odd issues you're having. If not, then it's just a crappy switch. 

Okay, I'll give it a go and double check and let you know what happens.

[MCManiac52]

57 minutes ago, JohnBRoark said:

Try and clear the config all the way back to it's default configuration. 

Go into device manager, click on COM Ports, and you'll see your usb adapter and a number next to it (like "COM 5" or something). When you go into putty make sure you change COM1 to whatever it says the usb adapter is on. 

Used enterprise and datacenter stuff is weird, mostly because it's been made or configured to do a very specific set of things for a rack of servers. Returning it back to it's default config should help clear any odd issues you're having. If not, then it's just a crappy switch. 

So i reset the device settings for the adaptor, tried to connect to the switch with putty again and still nothing. attached is the settings, the switch is plugged in through the usb adaptor, not the physical console port.

[iamMINT]

It has to go through the console port on the switch. From rj45 to usb or whatever adapter setup you have. 

[MCManiac52]

1 minute ago, JohnBRoark said:

It has to go through the console port on the switch. From rj45 to usb or whatever adapter setup you have. 

Sorry, i meant com port, the switch is plugged into a rj45 to serial cable which is connected to a serial to usb cable and then plugged into the system. I've also tried without the serial to usb, just going straight to a com port on an older system.

[iamMINT]

Well the way it needs to go through is from a rj45 in the console port into a serial-to-usb adapter. From that, just plug the usb into your computer/laptop and it should work. If not ,you've either got a borked switch or adapter. 

[MCManiac52]

1 minute ago, JohnBRoark said:

Well the way it needs to go through is from a rj45 in the console port into a serial-to-usb adapter. From that, just plug the usb into your computer/laptop and it should work. If not ,you've either got a borked switch or adapter. 

Okay, I feel like it's most likely the rj45 to serial cable as it was only cheap on ebay, i'll look into getting another.

[iamMINT]

https://www.serversupply.com/products/part_search/pid_lookup.asp?pid=199999&gclid=CjwKEAiA_p_FBRCRi_mW5Myl4S0SJAAkezZrobzIjP1TyDHtsWHEkmEvuNc2cKaEPHk_8j6IBY9T6hoCILjw_wcB 

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Keyspan-High-Speed-USB-Serial-Adapter-USA-19HS/5934005?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=797&adid=22222222227001178816&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=41025288992&wl4=pla-56979449585&wl5=9008764&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113728345&wl11=online&wl12=5934005&wl13=&veh=sem

 

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/234418/C2G-2m-USB-20-A-to/?cm_mmc=PLA-_-Google-_-Cameras_Camcorders-_-234418-VQ6-170342596931-VQ16-c-VQ17-pla-VQ18-online-VQ19-234418-VQ20-277308755978-VQ21--VQ22-624116395-VQ27-40932774151&adpos=1o3&creative=170342596931&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAiA_p_FBRCRi_mW5Myl4S0SJAAkezZr5jRISFYZUdJq-iU3HofOjWLS4Tr_UJnuVSoZ0X_MMBoChsvw_wcB

 

I've never had issues with a setup like this ^^

[MCManiac52]

24 minutes ago, JohnBRoark said:

https://www.serversupply.com/products/part_search/pid_lookup.asp?pid=199999&gclid=CjwKEAiA_p_FBRCRi_mW5Myl4S0SJAAkezZrobzIjP1TyDHtsWHEkmEvuNc2cKaEPHk_8j6IBY9T6hoCILjw_wcB 

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Keyspan-High-Speed-USB-Serial-Adapter-USA-19HS/5934005?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=797&adid=22222222227001178816&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=41025288992&wl4=pla-56979449585&wl5=9008764&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113728345&wl11=online&wl12=5934005&wl13=&veh=sem

 

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/234418/C2G-2m-USB-20-A-to/?cm_mmc=PLA-_-Google-_-Cameras_Camcorders-_-234418-VQ6-170342596931-VQ16-c-VQ17-pla-VQ18-online-VQ19-234418-VQ20-277308755978-VQ21--VQ22-624116395-VQ27-40932774151&adpos=1o3&creative=170342596931&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAiA_p_FBRCRi_mW5Myl4S0SJAAkezZr5jRISFYZUdJq-iU3HofOjWLS4Tr_UJnuVSoZ0X_MMBoChsvw_wcB

 

I've never had issues with a setup like this ^^

Okay cool, thanks