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Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

The Catalyst 3000 and expansion modules go through an extensive testing and burn-in process. The components are designed to be as error-free as possible and the chassis is designed for minimum maintenance.

There are no user serviceable parts within the Catalyst 3000. Contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) before opening this unit.

If you experience a minor problem, sometimes a problem can be located and corrected with some basic troubleshooting. Use this chapter as a guide to help isolate and verify the source of the problem. If the problem is beyond the scope of this section, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

In this chapter covers the following troubleshooting techniques:


Note There are no user serviceable parts within the Catalyst 3000. The unit should be opened only by qualified personnel.

Decision Tree

Problem Solving

It is important to try to isolate a problem to a specific area, then try to isolate the problem to a specific component. By comparing what the system is doing to what it should be doing will usually identify the cause and help solve the problem.

When problem solving, or "troubleshooting" the Catalyst 3000 as a system, determine which one of the following subsystems has a problem:

Troubleshooting the Power and Cooling Systems

For the following events, refer to the accompanying instructions to help isolate and determine the possible cause:

Unit Will Not Power-Up:

The Catalyst 3000 should power up when the AC power cord is attached to the unit and plugged into a proper AC outlet.

Unit Powers Off After Running Awhile:

If you continue to experience powering down problems or temperature errors are reported to the console and you can not isolate a specific cause and correct it, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

Troubleshooting the Network Interfaces and Connections

Check for the following symptoms to help isolate the problem:

Interpreting LEDs

The LEDs on the Catalyst 3000 and expansion modules indicate the operating state of the equipment. If you are experiencing problems, the following table may help to find the cause. With any of these errors, if these basic checks do not resolve the problem, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

LED State What To Do
PWR Off If the PWR LED is off and both of the 2 fans are not running, be sure the Catalyst 3000 is receiving power.
DIAG Remains on The DIAG LED is on during the self test. The self-test runs after power-on or reset. The LED should not remain on after this test.
FAULT On The FAULT LED should remain off during normal operation. If it is on, an error has occurred. "Power cycle" the Catalyst 3000. The FAULT LED should not come back on.
LNK/FDX Off Check all of the port connections. Check the cables and all of the cable connectors. Re-check configuration.
XMIT

RCV

Not blinking The XMIT and RCV LEDs should blink or be on as packets are forwarded to other ports. If the LEDs do not blink, verify that the physical network configuration is correct. Check the console for proper configuration and operation.

Checking Network Operation and Setup

If any problems exist with the actual networking operation of the Catalyst 3000, verify through the console connection that there are no errors reported, that setups are still correct, and that operations are normal. If there is any question or problem refer to Chapter 7, "Console Configuration." If there is still a problem after you have checked the console, use the following guide to help find a solution.

Checking Segment Communications

Check that devices on the same segment can communicate. If the segment has a server, try sending to it. If the segment does not have a server, use available applications to exchange packets with other stations.

In a TCP/IP environment, try issuing a "ping" to another station on the segment. If the workstation does not receive the signal, check the connections and verify that you are using the appropriate network software and hardware.

Checking Virtual LAN Segment Lengths

Use a cable tester, time-VLAN reflectometer (TDR), or similar device to verify that the VLAN segment lengths attached to the Catalyst 3000 meet Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 specifications.


Note Be sure to use a cable tester or TDR. Do not rely on the physical measurement of cables between stations and wiring closets because cables are often routed through the ceiling.

Cable length specifications are listed in the following table:

Cable Length
10Base-T 328 feet (100 meters)
Thin Ethernet 607 feet (185 meters)
Thick Ethernet 1640 feet (500 meters)

If you discover a cable segment that is longer than specification, replace it with a cable of the appropriate length or add a repeater, being sure to use no more than four repeaters.

Using a TDR or other such cable-checking device, verify that the cable has no opens or shorts.

Verifying Link Status

For 10Base-T connections from the Catalyst 3000, verify that the FDX/LNK status LED is illuminated. If not, verify that:

Checking Cable Impedance

Verify that cable impedances are within the following ranges:

UTP 85-110 ohms
Thick/Thin Ethernet 50 ohms (±2 ohms)

Note Impedance cannot be measured with a DMM (Digital Multi-Meter). Verify the impedance with a TDR device or by reviewing the cable manufacturer's specifications.

Checking External Transceivers

To verify that transceivers are operating correctly, check the following:


Note Disable the SQE signal on the transceiver when changing.

Getting Help

The intent of this chapter is to provide help to recognize a problem and help isolate its cause. Time can be saved, and many problems can be solved with some simple, logical troubleshooting. When a problem is beyond that scope, and before it causes even more problems, consult the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

Before contacting support help, collect detailed information about your system, its equipment, and its problem. Have that information readily available when help is contacted

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