Revision 3 1/July/2009

Setting up Cisco switches and 3Com NICs

There are known compatibility issues with Cisco 2950 switches (and, perhaps, 2960 switches) with 3Com
3C905C-based network interface cards. One of those issues is that it is possible that a switch may not be able to
communicate with an attached 3Com NIC, due to switch and NIC configuration settings.
IF an existing systems Ethernet communications are working well, there is no need to change any settings. If
there are communications issues, or this is a new installation, follow these instructions.
The purpose of this document is to describe what settings are to be used to get the best performance from any
switch port NIC connection.
The published rules for maxACN, DPU4F, DPU4E, and DBM have not changed, by the way:
maxACN: both ACN and switch ports should be set to autosensing, not 100Mbps, Full duplex. Refer to the online help in the ACN Setup utility.
DPU4F: both DPU and switch ports should be set to autosensing, not 100Mbps, Full duplex. Refer to 278705
DPU4F Hardware Guide Chapter 2.
DPU4E: both DPU and switch ports should be set to 10Mbps, Full duplex. Refer to 277590 DPU4E Hardware
Guide Chapter 2.
DBM: both DBM NICs and switch ports should be set to 10Mbps, Half duplex. Refer to 278578 maxNET
Network Preparation and Adjustment Fig 1.1.
Summary
The following settings are applicable for any Cisco 2924, 2950, or 2960 switch that has connections to
maxSTATIONs that have NICs capable of operating at 100Mbps, Full duplex.
NOTE that, if the configuration of a switch port and its attached NIC do not match, then the result could be
degraded performance, including half duplex operation so they both must have the same speed and duplex
settings.
1. Any maxSTATION-connected Cisco switch port should be set to: speed autosensing, duplex
autosensing.
2. Any maxSTATION Net A or Net B speed / duplex should be set to: autosensing.
3. All Cisco switch ports should be set to: Port Fast enabled.
4. Spanning Tree Protocol for the Cisco switch should be disabled.
5. Even though many maxSTATIONs use the motherboard NIC for maxNET A, these settings should be
done for both maxNET A and maxNET B; this avoids the confusion of trying to remember whether
A or B should have different settings.

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6. What if the network switches are not Cisco (perhaps they are 3Com, or Allied Telesyn, or Moxa)? The
other brands may work well with the 3Com NICs running at 100 / full, but if they are also set up for
autosensing, then that setting should be safe to use.

Details - maxSTATION
Configuration of a maxSTATION NIC is done the same way, regardless of whether the Windows version is
2000 or XP. As Administrator, navigate to Network Connections; select the properties of the Network Interfaces
labeled maxNET A or maxNET B; then select Configure in the upper half of the Properties window.
Under the Advanced tab, select either Type Media Type or Speed and Duplex, and make sure that
those settings are auto, auto negotiate, or autosensing.

Details Cisco switches prior to 2950

The model of the switch might be 2912 or 2924 or 2948, all of which were prior to the 2950 series.
If the model is older than the 2950 (such as the 2924), then the 12.0(x) firmware that is installed in the switch
must be used to make all configuration changes, since that firmware is not compatible with the latest Cisco
confuration tool, called Cisco Network Assistant (CNA). You will have to use the existing Visual Switch
Manager, included with the switch, to make any configuration changes to the switch. A typical opening web
page looks like this:

Details Cisco 2950 switches and 2960 switches

The firmware for the 2950, even though it has always been version 12.1, has a subversion that, as of this
writing, varies from 5 to 22, and can also be further subdivided by letters and numbers. Examples:
12.1(11)EA1; 12.1(14)EA1; 12.1(22)EA4; 12.1(22)EA8; 12.1(22)EA8a; and 12.1(22)EA9 (which is the current
version, as of this writing).

By comparison, we have encountered only three firmware revisions of the 2960 switches: 12.2(25)FX,
12.2(25)SEE1, and 12.2(25)SEE2 (which is the current version, as of this writing).
The software version is important, because of the different user interfaces that the switch presents to the user
through a web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, for example). These interfaces are, in some
cases, insufficient to completely configure the switch, thus requiring the presence of an additional Cisco
configuration tool, the Cisco Network Assistant (CNA), installed in the maxSTATION.
If the 2950 switch software version is 12.1(11), for example, then when the switch is accessed through a web
browser, a primitive webpage is displayed, allowing configuration through the Web Console (see next page):

If the 2950 switch software version is 12.1(14), then the initial webpage has a very short menu. The user can use
Cluster Management Suite software, which may reside on the switch. Through CMS, it is possible to fully
configure the switch.

If the 2950 switch software is 12.1(22), then the initial webpage shows the Cisco Device Manager, with the
Dashboard, from which the user can perform some configuration, but not enough configuration. The Cisco
Network Assistant software must be loaded on to the maxSTATION in order to completely configure the switch;
the Device Manager alone is insufficient.

The best strategy for dealing with the 2950 versions from 12.1(9) up to the present is the installation of the Cisco
Network Assistant, which will allow configuration to be performed despite the version of firmware in the switch
(different versions of firmware have subtle differences in the way that they are configured).
The Cisco 2960 switches also use the Device Manager. They should be configured using the Cisco Network
Assistant package.

Step 1 Installation of Cisco Network Assistant 5.0

Choose a master maxSTATION that has direct access to all of the switches. This station cannot be running
Windows NT; the CNA is supported on Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Log in as Administrator.
Navigate to the Cisco self-extracting executable file cna-windows-k9-installer-5-0-en.exe . It may be on a CD,
or on a jump drive, or on another station, depending on how you acquired the software.
Double-click on the file.
The Install Shield window will ask for the installation location; accept the default location.
At the completion of the installation, there will be a Cisco Network Assistant icon on the desktop.
You do not have to reboot the maxSTATION; just remove the media containing the self-extracting file.
Step 2 Log into each switch using the Cisco Network Assistant
This procedure is written with the assumption that the switch already has a valid IP address and password for
web access that were assigned through the Console port of the switch.

Log in as Administrator
Start up the Cisco Network Assistant from the icon on the Desktop.
The Network Assistant opens with the Connect window, with the Connect to a new community selection
enabled.
Select Connect To:
In the text box on the right, enter the IP address of a switch. Push the Connect button.
This action will bring up the Authentication window. Enter the password to access the switch.
Once the password has been accepted by the switch, the [IP Address] Cisco Network Assistant window will
open.
On the left, expand the Configure menu selection.
Click on Ports.
Click on Port Settings
For each maxSTATION connection, the settings should be Duplex=auto Speed=auto PortFast=enable.
For each maxACN connection, the settings should be Duplex=auto Speed=auto PortFast=enable.
For each DPU4F connection, the settings should be Duplex=auto Speed=auto PortFast=enable.
For each DPU4E connection, the settings should be Duplex=full Speed=10 PortFast=enable.
For each DBM connection, the settings should be Duplex=half Speed=10 PortFast=enable.
Make all the necessary changes, then click OK to apply the port settings.
On the left, click on Switching.
Click on STP
A Spanning Tree Protocol window opens, showing the STP Status tab.
Next to VLANID 1, the Spanning-Tree Status will say enabled; change that to disabled.
Click OK to make that change.
On the left, click on Save Configuration
Youll see a Save Configurat popup. Next to Devices, select the Hostname: of your switch. Then press
Save. After the save is completed, the popup will disappear. The switch configuration has been completed.
Close out Cisco Network Assistant. You will be asked to confirm that you want to Exit.