When working with Fastethernet ports, the most common problem users experience is not being able to establish a connection between devices. This can be due to a few different reasons, some simple and some complex.
The most common issue is that the wrong network configuration is placed on the port. The device may be configured for the wrong network type or subnet, or the security settings may be incorrect.
Another issue is that the device may be trying to communicate on a different VLAN than the port is set for. VLANs are network segments, so this could cause an error.
Finally, hardware issues can sometimes cause problems with establishing connections. These issues could be with the port itself or with the chip set inside of the device connecting to check if it’s compatible with your port.
They are used to connect the switches together
One more thing you should know about Fastethernet ports is that some of them are used to connect the switches together.
When you have a few switches in your network and need to add more ports, you can just add additional ports to the new switch.
But what if you need more ports than the new switch has? Or what if you need another switch but do not have enough free ports?
In this case, you can use some of the Fastethernet ports on one of the switches to connect it to another switch. Then, you can add another switch to that connection and have both working together!
This is a great way to save money on swtiches while still having enough ports for your network.
They are used to connect workstations to the network
In most cases, fast Ethernet ports are used to connect workstations to the network. This can be a computer, laptop, tablet, or smart phone. Some networks have devices like printers or wireless access points connected to them as well.
When you first set up the network, all of the ports are down and cannot connect any devices until the administrator sets up the network with all of the devices on it.
Once set up, the administrator will use software on a computer connected to the network to configure all of the settings for each device and port. This includes setting up security features like firewall and password protection.
After this is completed, you can then pull any device off of the network and it will not affect any other device on the network. The only thing that would need to be done is re-establish security features like passwords or firewalls.
The down port should be checked first
There is a possibility that one of the Fastethernet ports on the switch is down. To check if this is the case, you should first check if the port is connected to the computer or not.
If it is connected, then you should check whether it is working or not. You can do this by connecting another device to this port and checking if it works or not.
If it does not work, then there might be a problem with the hardware. You should contact your network administrator to report this issue and have it fixed.
There is a possibility that the VLAN is not configured on this port. In that case, there would be no use in having this port connected, so it should be reported to the network administrator.
There is also a possibility that the port speed is lower than what the device trying to connect needs. In that case, you should report this issue to your network administrator.
Make sure that the cable is connected properly
As mentioned before, the cable connection is the most common reason why a network doesn’t work. This issue can be harder to detect if you are not familiar with networking equipment and protocols.
Make sure that the Ethernet cable is plugged into the correct port on both the computer and the switch. Some ports are labeled “uplink” or have special features, so make sure that the cable is plugged into one of those ports.
Once you have checked that the cable is connected properly, then check to see if any lights are on either on the computer or switch. If there are no lights, then there is something wrong with the device or its connection.
Check to make sure that both ends of the Ethernet cord are straightened out and not twisted. A twisted cord may cause some devices to not connect.
Try another port on the switch or another switch
If you are having trouble connecting to the network, or if you are trying to connect a device to the network and it will not connect, try another port on your own switch or another switch.
If there are no issues with other switches, then there may be an issue with your device or its settings. First check the device settings and try resetting it. If that does not work, then maybe the device is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.
If there are issues on other switches, then there may be a problem with the switch itself. If this is an inexpensive switch, then maybe it is time to replace it with a better quality one. If this is not the case, then there may be some malware on the network that is blocking devices from connecting.
Check the status of the port with the following command show interface fx
Another reason why some Fast Ethernet ports on the switches are up and others are down is incorrect configuration of the port.
If a port is configured as an internal port, it will not work as an external port. If a device is connected to this port, it will not work either. It will have to be reconfigured as an internal port first.
If a device is connected to an external port and it is not properly configured, the device will not receive any information. In some cases, one of the devices may fail to function properly or maybe even at all.
Make sure to check that all ports are configured correctly and match the configuration of other ports.
Check for a green light on the interface and a valid link statusshow interface fx
If there is no link status and no green light on the Fast Ethernet interface, then most likely the port is down because of the router configuration or a disconnected cable.
If there is a link status but no green light, then there might be a configuration issue with the VLANs configured on the device. To resolve this issue, you would have to configure all of the VLANs again or check your router configuration to make sure they are configured correctly.
If there is a green light on the interface and no link status, then there might be a hardware failure with the port. You would have to contact your device manufacturer for further assistance.
Checking these two things can help you determine if the problem is within the device configuration or with the hardware itself.
If all steps fail, then you may have a bad port and should replace itshow interface fx
When all ports are working properly, a network administrator can use one of two methods to assign IP addresses to devices. The first method is called static IP assignment and the second is called dynamic IP assignment.
In static IP assignment, an administrator assigns a device an IP address and netmask that is unique among all other devices on the network. They also assign a default gateway (the device that sends packets to networks outside of the local network) and possibly DNS (Domain Name System) servers (that convert domain names like “www.google.com” to its corresponding IP address like 74.125.224.102).
In dynamic IP assignment, a service provided by an outside source assigns devices IP addresses. This is usually done through a service like whatciscoit.
