Cisco 2960 SFP <—> FMC setup

[nkbg]

I separate my home network from the audio network via a pair of FMCs and would love to eliminate one FMC and power supply but utilizing the SFP port on the 2960. 

 

Has anyone successfully connected the fiber output of a FMC to the uplink input of a Cisco 2960 switch with a SFP module?

 

Any help is appreciated!

 

 

[charlesphoto]

44 minutes ago, kerisabe said:

thanks @charlesphoto will try and do that and will get back to you. 
 

also, it says on my mac, the ethernet is setting its own IP

 

Are you 100% sure the switch has been reset to factory default? And if you have the Airport Extreme set up to give out IP's vs the cable modem/router, then the switch has to go after the AP not before it (that's how mine is set up modem>AP>2960). Be sure you have the incoming and outgoing cables on the AP correct (Wan and Lan). 

[kerisabe]

6 hours ago, charlesphoto said:

 

Are you 100% sure the switch has been reset to factory default? And if you have the Airport Extreme set up to give out IP's vs the cable modem/router, then the switch has to go after the AP not before it (that's how mine is set up modem>AP>2960). Be sure you have the incoming and outgoing cables on the AP correct (Wan and Lan). 

to answer your question no, the switch hasnt been reset to factory default. Is there a manual way of doin it? And yes it is located after the airport express, tplink mc220L then the switch via fiber optic. 

[plissken]

1 hour ago, kerisabe said:

to answer your question no, the switch hasnt been reset to factory default. Is there a manual way of doin it? And yes it is located after the airport express, tplink mc220L then the switch via fiber optic. 

 

On Cisco go to console mode (enable then  conf t) and issue 'erase start' and confirm.

[kerisabe]

4 minutes ago, plissken said:

 

On Cisco go to console mode (enable then  conf t) and issue 'erase start' and confirm.

is it possible to go to console mode without havin the console cable? Just by directly connecting an ethernet cable to it and my mac? 

[plissken]

13 minutes ago, kerisabe said:

is it possible to go to console mode without havin the console cable? Just by directly connecting an ethernet cable to it and my mac? 

The only way to do that is if you have either a loopback interface or you have a VLAN setup and SVI (Switched Virtual Interface) with IP on it.  THEN you have to have a port on the switch placed into that vlan:

 

SW(Config)# Vlan 10 *creates a vlan*

SW(Config)# int vlan 10 *creates a virtual host on that vlan*

SW(INT-Vlan)# Ip add 192.168.0.254 255.255.255.0 *assigns the virtual host an IP*

SW(INT-Vlan)#exit

SW(Config) int g0/1 

SW(Int)# switchport mode access *makes sure the port is in access or Layer 2 mode*

SW(Int)# Switchport access vlan 10 *places the port into Vlan 10*

SW(Int)# exit

Sw(config)# copy ru st *saves the config to flash memory on the switch*

 

You have to have a console cable. They are $12.

 

Plug in your computer to the specified port, assign it an ip address of 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0 and you should be able to ping 192.168.0.254.  You will be able to manage via telnet at this point. 

[kerisabe]

15 minutes ago, plissken said:

The only way to do that is if you have either a loopback interface or you have a VLAN setup and SVI (Switched Virtual Interface) with IP on it.  THEN you have to have a port on the switch placed into that vlan:

 

SW(Config)# Vlan 10 *creates a vlan*

SW(Config)# int vlan 10 *creates a virtual host on that vlan*

SW(INT-Vlan)# Ip add 192.168.0.254 255.255.255.0 *assigns the virtual host an IP*

SW(INT-Vlan)#exit

SW(Config) int g0/1 

SW(Int)# switchport mode access *makes sure the port is in access or Layer 2 mode*

SW(Int)# Switchport access vlan 10 *places the port into Vlan 10*

SW(Int)# exit

Sw(config)# copy ru st *saves the config to flash memory on the switch*

 

You have to have a console cable. They are $12.

 

Plug in your computer to the specified port, assign it an ip address of 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0 and you should be able to ping 192.168.0.254.  You will be able to manage via telnet at this point. 

Thank you @plissken for the detailed info but this is a bit overwhelming since this is my first time touching these things. And is it possible to do a hard reset physically by just the unit itself? 

[plissken]

9 minutes ago, kerisabe said:

Thank you @plissken for the detailed info but this is a bit overwhelming since this is my first time touching these things. And is it possible to do a hard reset physically by just the unit itself? 

 

You can hard reset, but you CAN NOT manage a Cisco switch with factory defaults W/O a console cable. It won't have an IP address. 

 

That's why they put a console port on it.

 

Look on the sticker and post the exact model #. 

 

I can even build a config for you based on what you want to accomplish, PM it to you and you can copy/paste. Or I can email you the startup config file and you can copy it to flash. But you are going to need a console cable. 

[kerisabe]

10 hours ago, plissken said:

 

You can hard reset, but you CAN NOT manage a Cisco switch with factory defaults W/O a console cable. It won't have an IP address. 

 

That's why they put a console port on it.

 

Look on the sticker and post the exact model #. 

 

I can even build a config for you based on what you want to accomplish, PM it to you and you can copy/paste. Or I can email you the startup config file and you can copy it to flash. But you are going to need a console cable. 

Thank you so much @plissken so the model no is WS-C2960-48TC-L . Does the console cable connects w a mac? It looks like it needs a serial plug? So i guess i need to find a thunderbolt-serial adaptor? 
 

so today i went out to purchase a WS-C2960-8TC-S. I wanted to try it since it has no fan. Managed to hold the mode button for 10s to reset it. Connected the fiber optic to the sfp port and my ethernet to my mac and it worked. For some reason i think the WS-C2960-48TC-L sounds more open in my system?? Which is weird since its got that noisy fan and also when i had it hooked up i was running ethernet cable from my airport extreme to it, no fiber optic. 
 

it just doesnt make sense. 

[charlesphoto]

10 minutes ago, kerisabe said:

Thank you so much @plissken so the model no is WS-C2960-48TC-L . Does the console cable connects w a mac? It looks like it needs a serial plug? So i guess i need to find a thunderbolt-serial adaptor? 
 

so today i went out to purchase a WS-C2960-8TC-S. I wanted to try it since it has no fan. Managed to hold the mode button for 10s to reset it. Connected the fiber optic to the sfp port and my ethernet to my mac and it worked. For some reason i think the WS-C2960-48TC-L sounds more open in my system?? Which is weird since its got that noisy fan and also when i had it hooked up i was running ethernet cable from my airport extreme to it, no fiber optic. 
 

it just doesnt make sense. 

 

The mode button isn't a reset, but sounds like the new switch was reset to factory defaults or never changed. The SFP in these switches isn't the end all be all and are mostly for ease of hook up. Plus, the switches are of varying age, build, firmware etc, so will have a different sound. Go with what works best. If you truly want optical fiber isolation that sounds great then best to go with a pair of Sonore opticalModules.

 

Newer switches have a USB console and easier to work with on Macs, though one still has to be comfortable with Terminal, which sounds as if you aren't. 

[plissken]

30 minutes ago, kerisabe said:

Thank you so much @plissken so the model no is WS-C2960-48TC-L . Does the console cable connects w a mac? It looks like it needs a serial plug? So i guess i need to find a thunderbolt-serial adaptor? 
 

so today i went out to purchase a WS-C2960-8TC-S. I wanted to try it since it has no fan. Managed to hold the mode button for 10s to reset it. Connected the fiber optic to the sfp port and my ethernet to my mac and it worked.

 

Sounds like the new switch had everything to defaults including only the default vlan 1 🙂

 

What Mac do you have? The link I provided was for a USB to Serial Adapter.

[Solid-State]

11 hours ago, kerisabe said:

is it possible to go to console mode without havin the console cable? Just by directly connecting an ethernet cable to it and my mac? 

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/hardware/quick/guide/9368.pdf

 

go to express setup

[Solid-State]

11 hours ago, plissken said:

 

You can hard reset, but you CAN NOT manage a Cisco switch with factory defaults W/O a console cable. It won't have an IP address. 

 

That's why they put a console port on it.

 

Look on the sticker and post the exact model #. 

 

I can even build a config for you based on what you want to accomplish, PM it to you and you can copy/paste. Or I can email you the startup config file and you can copy it to flash. But you are going to need a console cable. 

" Managing the Switch

After completing Express Setup and installing the switch in your network, use the device manager, Cisco Network Assistant, or another of the management options described in this section for further configuration "

 

 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/cloud-systems-management/network-assistant-version-6-0/model.html#~tab-downloads

 

 

 

[plissken]

13 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

" Managing the Switch

After completing Express Setup and installing the switch in your network, use the device manager, Cisco Network Assistant, or another of the management options described in this section for further configuration "

 

 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/cloud-systems-management/network-assistant-version-6-0/model.html#~tab-downloads

 

 

 

That's after you have the initial setup done. Still need an IP Address.

 

Not sure if all 2960's (Cisco has many builds of these) follow this guide.

[Solid-State]

NO

Express set is always available on 2960 series,

with ip 10.0.0.1 on port 1

[kerisabe]

41 minutes ago, plissken said:

 

Sounds like the new switch had everything to defaults including only the default vlan 1 🙂

 

What Mac do you have? The link Iprovided was for a USB to Serial Adapter.

@plissken A macbook pro with usb and thunderbolt ports. 

[plissken]

10 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

NO

Express set is always available on 2960 series,

with ip 10.0.0.1 on port 1

 

Cool beans.

[Solid-State]

1-19Catalyst 2960 Switch Getting Started GuideOL-9368-03Chapter 1 Getting Started GuideIn Case of Difficulty

Resetting the Switch

This section describes how to reset the switch by rerunning Express Setup.

These are reasons why you might want to reset the switch:

•You installed the switch in your network and cannot connect to it because you assigned the wrong IP address.•

You want to clear all configurations from the switch and assign a new IP address

.•You are trying to enter Express Setup mode, and the switch LEDs start blinking when you press the Mode button (which means that the switch is already configured with IP information).CautionResetting the switch deletes the configuration and reboots the switch.To reset the switch:

•Press and hold the Mode button. The switch LEDs begin blinking after about 3 seconds. Continue holding down the Mode button. The LEDs stop blinking after 7 more seconds, and then the switch reboots.

[kerisabe]

16 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

NO

Express set is always available on 2960 series,

with ip 10.0.0.1 on port 1

will give it a try tomorrow thanks @TubeMan

 

i just checked the user guide, i just read that the switch actually radiates alot of RFI. And actually with the first switch (48port tc) ive wrapped the unit with copper tape and grounded the tape and the one today (8port tc) i havent done this might also be the reason for the “more closed sound” and also like what @charlesphoto said regarding the diff build, age, os etc of the unit.

 

will have a try with express setup tomorrow, crossing my fingers, 

[kerisabe]

What do i have to do in the express setup? 

[Solid-State]

" , i just read that the switch actually radiates alot of RFI "

 

where have you read that ??

 

 

[kerisabe]

10 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

" , i just read that the switch actually radiates alot of RFI "

 

where have you read that ??

 

 

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/hardware/quick/guide/9368.pdf

 

[Solid-State]

ok that,

is just

"The following information is for FCC compliance of Class A devices "

Nothing you have to worry about
just standard information,
in all the years i have worked with cisco switch I have never had any of that problem.

IOnd do NOT Wrait with copper tape,

closing in the smal EMI/RFI that the switche produce is not good,

the radiation have to disappear somewhere.

otherwise it's building up more and more inside the switch,

[Solid-State]

2 minutes ago, charlesphoto said:

 

I think you're in over your head if you have to ask this question. If it works, and you like the sound, just use and enjoy. 

I agree
just make a hardware reset and use it as it is

[charlesphoto]

10 minutes ago, kerisabe said:

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/hardware/quick/guide/9368.pdf

 

 

Looks pretty boiler plate to me. I seriously doubt these switches are throwing off that much RFI, esp with only a few ports being used. I don't have a portable AM radio here, but you could try that test if you do. That said, you might not want to stack on top of anything sensitive, and keeping any network and hifi gear separated and on different power circuits is just good practice. 

[kerisabe]

Btw has anyone here tried changing the smps internal psu into a linear psu or battery psu? And how significant is the change?