[PLUG] ethernet switches and glitches

[Jeff Kirsher]

On 12/19/05, Larry Brigman <larry.brigman at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 12/19/05, Keith Lofstrom <keithl at kl-ic.com> wrote:
> >
> > Are there limits on how many ethernet switches can be placed in series
> > and still work reliably?  I've run into an interesting problem, and
> > exceeding some limit might be the cause.
> >
> In twisted pair Ethernet you have the same stacking limit as you would
> with hubs, no more than three deep.  More than that you end up getting into
> timing problems with packets not being able to get to the other end of the
> wire.
>
> The other problem is that it depends on the firmware of the switch as
> to whether it will work correctly when attached to another switch.
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Incorrect, you do not have a stacking limit when it comes to switches.
 See the following link:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/5/5_4_3_rule.html

I would guess that it is either an issue with one of the switches or a
cabling issue.

Sounds like you have everything mapped out, so there should not be an
issue of cabling, but I would double check that you do not have any
"loops" in the network.  I would suggest makeing sure that all of the
switch firmware is up to date, Linksys is really good about posting
the latest firmware for all of there equipment.

(FYI...)
Spanning Tree has been seen as a frame routing protocol, but that was
not it's intention when it was created.  See the following link:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/spanning_tree_protocol.html

It is a link managment protocol, IMHO, spanning tree is to be used for
those who do not know how to setup a network.  I know of this one
individual who loved to create network loops and hated to run spanning
tree.  He would always whine about not being able to connect to
anything, once we would turn on spanning tree for him, everything was
fine.


--
Cheers,
Jeff