Troubleshooting the Installation

This chapter describes how to troubleshoot the Catalyst 2948G and 2980G switch installations and contains these sections:

If your system has problems starting up, use the information in this chapter to help isolate the cause. Problems with the initial startup are often caused by poor or improper connections. Although temperature conditions above the maximum acceptable level rarely occur at initial startup, environmental monitoring functions are included because they also monitor DC-line voltages.

For configuration questions or problems, refer to the Software Configuration Guide or the Command Reference for your switch.

Getting Started

When the initial system boot is complete, verify the following:

Power supplies are supplying power to the system.
The system fan assembly is operating.
System software boots successfully.

If all of these conditions are met and the hardware installation is complete, refer to the Software Configuration Guide and the Command Reference for your switch to troubleshoot the software. However, if any of these conditions are not met, use the procedures in this chapter to isolate and, if possible, resolve the problem.

Problem Solving to the Sys tem Component Level

The key to success when troubleshooting the system is to isolate the problem to a specific system component. The first step is to compare what the system is doing to what it should be doing. Because a startup problem can usually be attributed to a single component, it is more efficient to isolate the problem to a subsystem rather than troubleshoot each separate component in the system.

The switch consists of the following subsystems:

Power supply---Includes the power supplies and power supply fans (see "Troubleshooting the Power Supply" section)
Fans---The chassis fan assembly should operate whenever system power is on. The fan assembly continues to operate even when the environmental monitor shuts down the system because of an overtemperature or overvoltage condition (although it will shut down for a power supply shutdown).

The following are simple checks you can make to determine if there is a fan problem:

Determine if the software is reporting a temperature problem.
Listen to the fan assembly to determine if it is operating.
Check for any obstructions that might be restricting the airflow through the switch.

If you determine that the fan is not operating, you should contact a customer service representative.

Identifying Startup Problems

LEDs indicate all system states in the startup sequence. By checking the LEDs, you can determine when and where the system failed in the startup sequence. If you have problems after the switch is powered on, refer to the Software Configuration Guide for your switch.

After you connect the power cords to the Catalyst 2948G or 2980G switch, follow these steps:

Step 1 You should immediately hear the system fans begin to operate. If you do not, see the "Troubleshooting the Power Supply" section. If you determine that the power supplies are functioning normally and that the fans are faulty, contact a customer service representative. If the system fans do not function properly at initial startup (there are no installation adjustments that you can make), contact a customer service representative.

Step 2 Check the power supply LEDs as follows:

The power supply LED should turn green immediately when power is applied to the supply. The LED should remain on during normal system operation.
If the LED turns orange, see the section, "Troubleshooting the Power Supply" section.

Step 3 Check that the LEDs on the front panel light as follows:

The System Status LED flashes orange once and stays orange during diagnostic boot tests. It turns green when the switch is operational (online). If the system software is unable to start up, this LED stays orange.
The Link LED flashes orange once, stays orange during diagnostic boot tests, and turns green when the module is operational (online). If no signal is detected, the Link LED turns off. The Link LED blinks orange if the port is bad.

Step 4 If a Status LED is red or orange, contact a customer service representative for instructions.

Step 5 If the boot information and system banner are not displayed, verify that the terminal is set correctly and that it is connected properly to the console port.

Troubleshooting the Power S upply

To help isolate a power subsystem problem, follow these steps:

Step 1 Check the power supply LED:

If the LED is off or if the LED is orange, unplug the power cord, and then plug the power cord in.
If the LED remains off, there might be a problem with the AC source, or the power cable. Connect the power cord to another power source if one is available.
If the LED then lights, the problem is the first power source.
If the LED fails to light after you connect the power supply to a new power source, replace the power cord.
If the LED still fails to light when the switch is connected to a different power source with a new power cord, the power supply is probably faulty.

Step 2 If a redundant power supply unit (RPSU) is installed, check the RPSU LED (Catalyst 2948G switches only):

If the LED is not green or on, repeat the previous procedure to troubleshoot the second power supply.
If you are unable to resolve the problem, contact a customer service representative for instructions.

Note If you are using an RPSU, do not apply power to the RPSU and the Catalyst 2948G switch. Disconnect power from the Catalyst 2948G switch internal power supply before turning the power on for the RPSU. The RPSU contains multiple power supplies for redundant power protection. Refer to the RPSU documentation for installation and configuration details.

Contacting Custom er Service

If you are unable to solve a startup problem after using the troubleshooting suggestions in this chapter, contact a customer service representative for assistance and further instructions. Before you call, have the following information ready to help your customer service representative assist you as quickly as possible:

Date you received the switch

Chassis serial number (located on a label on the right of the rear panel of the chassis)
Type of software and release number
Maintenance agreement or warranty information
Brief description of the problem
Brief explanation of the steps you have already taken to isolate and resolve the problem

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