Troubleshooting

Use Table 3-1 to identify problems with the modules and to take the appropriate corrective action.

Table 3-1: Common Problems and Their Solutions

Symptom Possible Causes Corrective Action

Port LED is amber.

Spanning Tree Protocol is checking for loops.

Wait for Spanning Tree Protocol to complete its search. The LED turns green when Spanning Tree Protocol completes its check.

Port is initializing, it was disabled by management or an address violation, or it was blocked by Spanning Tree Protocol.

Use Visual Switch Manager or the IOS command-line interface to check the status of the port and to enable it.

Port LED is alternating between green and amber.

Port is experiencing error frames. This could be due to a duplex mismatch caused by autonegotiation, collisions, CRC errors, or alignment errors.

Check the duplex settings on both devices. Check the speed settings on both devices except when using a 1000BaseX Ethernet module. You cannot change the speed on the gigabit Ethernet modules. If one parameter is manually set, manually set all of them, or set both devices to autonegotiate speed and duplex. See the Catalyst 2900 Series XL Installation and Configuration Guide for more information.

Port LED is off.

Device has no power.

Ensure that the switch and the target device have power.

Wrong cable type.

Verify that the cable is correct: crossover or straight-through.

Incompatible cable.

Replace with a Cisco proprietary GBIC cable. For more information, see "Connectors and Cables."

Bad cable.

No cable.

Replace with a known good cable.

Insert and connect cable.

Expansion slot LED is amber.

Module failed POST.

Ensure that the switch is running an IOS software release that supports the module. (See "Key Features.") If the IOS software release is correct, call Cisco Systems to replace the module.

Symptom	Possible Causes	Corrective Action
Port LED is amber.	Spanning Tree Protocol is checking for loops.	Wait for Spanning Tree Protocol to complete its search. The LED turns green when Spanning Tree Protocol completes its check.
	Port is initializing, it was disabled by management or an address violation, or it was blocked by Spanning Tree Protocol.	Use Visual Switch Manager or the IOS command-line interface to check the status of the port and to enable it.
Port LED is alternating between green and amber.	Port is experiencing error frames. This could be due to a duplex mismatch caused by autonegotiation, collisions, CRC errors, or alignment errors.	Check the duplex settings on both devices. Check the speed settings on both devices except when using a 1000BaseX Ethernet module. You cannot change the speed on the gigabit Ethernet modules. If one parameter is manually set, manually set all of them, or set both devices to autonegotiate speed and duplex. See the Catalyst 2900 Series XL Installation and Configuration Guide for more information.
Port LED is off.	Device has no power.	Ensure that the switch and the target device have power.
	Wrong cable type.	Verify that the cable is correct: crossover or straight-through.
	Incompatible cable.	Replace with a Cisco proprietary GBIC cable. For more information, see "Connectors and Cables."
	Bad cable. No cable.	Replace with a known good cable. Insert and connect cable.
Expansion slot LED is amber.	Module failed POST.	Ensure that the switch is running an IOS software release that supports the module. (See "Key Features.") If the IOS software release is correct, call Cisco Systems to replace the module.

Table of Contents

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting