Help Setting Up Network Switch

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Markfothebeast

Member
Dec 27, 2016
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It's been years since I've done any networking. As a matter of fact, I quit my job in the computer industry and decided to learn plumbing, electrical, and home remodeling. During our home remodel, I decided to run Cat5E throughout the house due to a poor Wi-Fi signal receiving interference from the steel floor joist I-Beams. Our DirecTV contract is up tomorrow and I want to stream Plex/DLNA to all TVs and have faster file transfer speeds overall. As well as find some type of DVR for over-the-air antenna, but that's a different subject (also looking for advice on that).

My neighbor kindly gave me a HP ProCurve 2510-24 network switch. I have no idea how to access this device to be honest. My objective here is to increase file transfer speeds between local network devices since our Asus RT-N56U router lacks in every way.

I have a desktop Windows PC connected to the first port on the switch and I cannot for the life of me even find an IP address for the switch to access the software/dashboard interface. I attempted to set a static IP and it did not change a thing. My next attempt is to reset & clear the switch to default settings but for some reason 2 paper clips are scarce in this household. I understand this is an enterprise switch that is not a plug and play device like a simple router.

How do I access the network interface page on the device if I am unable to obtain an IP address for the switch? To cause less confusion, I have plugged only the PC in to the switch.

Will I see an increase in data transfer speeds vs the basic Asus RT-N56U Router connected with Cat5e?
 
ch33zw1z

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
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Get on it with serial console, use the config guide to display the IP. it's been a while since I had to get on an HP....similar to cisco but with it's own cmd's
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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www.betteroff.ca
Yeah first step is get it to default settings, will be easier to go from there. Commands vary between switches so you'll want to find tutorials on how to do certain things. First thing is setup an IP address and then you can SSH or Telnet to it. If you don't want to use any of the managed features it can be just as simple as turning up all the ports. Then copy running config to start. I'm not familiar with HP since I have a dell so can't help with specifics but I'm sure there's plenty of stuff online.

Managed switches are nice though once you know how to use the basic features like vlans.
 
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Markfothebeast

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Dec 27, 2016
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I reset and cleared it. How can I connect to the "Command" port using Telnet without knowing an IP address? Those steps aren't explained in the manual.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
ch33zw1z

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
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the reset puts a default IP address on it. telnet may not be enabled by default.

command port? are you referring to the serial port?
 
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Markfothebeast

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Dec 27, 2016
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I'm reading up on Telnet. It's something I never had much experiencing using but I figure I'd better start now.

Maybe this section in the manual can be clarified into easier to understand terms.

"Connect a Console to the Switch

The console can be accessed through these methods:
■ Out-of-band: The switch comes with a console cable for connecting a PC or VT-100 terminal directly to the Console port on the front of the switch. The console cable is a DB-9 to RJ45 connector.
■ In-Band: Access the console using Telnet from a PC or UNIX station on the network, and a VT-100 terminal emulator. This method requires that you first configure the switch with an IP address and subnet mask by using either out-of-band console access or through DHCP/Bootp.

The Switch can simultaneously support one out-of-band console session through the Console Port and one in-band Telnet console session."

I do not have any special serial port adapter for an "Out of Band" connection. I'm assuming this is a direct connection to the "Command" port without the switch being configured with an IP address on the network.

So that brings me to this other question, do I need to make a crossover cable that is to be used in between the switch and router? The router did not assign an IP address to the switch possibly for this reason.

From what i'm understanding, it appears that "Auto-MDIX" is something that is able to recognize different types of RJ45 wiring (crossover, straight through, etc) without having to make a different type of cable. Is this correct? I have not confirmed whether this device has this feature as of yet.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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Markfothebeast said:
I reset and cleared it. How can I connect to the "Command" port using Telnet without knowing an IP address? Those steps aren't explained in the manual.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Scan ip on your lan? But you probably need to configure it to dhcp first, with console cable.
 
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Markfothebeast

Member
Dec 27, 2016
66
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I checked all devices connected to the router and did not find the Procurve switch in the router DHCP list. The Procurve is suppose to have 24 auto MDI-X ports so the wrong cable shouldn't affect it. I'm going to give it another shot. Perhaps I'll reset the router this time.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
ch33zw1z

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,045
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I wouldn't reset the router unless you're experiencing problems of other kinds
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,822
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Markfothebeast said:
I checked all devices connected to the router and did not find the Procurve switch in the router DHCP list. The Procurve is suppose to have 24 auto MDI-X ports so the wrong cable shouldn't affect it. I'm going to give it another shot. Perhaps I'll reset the router this time.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You may need a console cable to give it an ip first. I don't think it defaults to dhcp.
 
M

Markfothebeast

Member
Dec 27, 2016
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I connected the cat5e to another port, reset everything and it is now on the DHCP list. Than I went to access the router management web page and it required a Java plug in, which is hardly supported now days. So I had to play the game with Java and try different browsers, play with security settings, and add the IP to the safe list.

I updated the firmware through Telnet with TFTP. All is good now.

One thing I noticed is that the router is assigning IP addresses to all devices. Do you suggest that I have the switch act as a DHCP for devices plugged in to it? Will this increase the network speeds? It seems like it would be slower to have communication going through the router and back to the switch again.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
ch33zw1z

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,045
19,746
146
I would leave the router as dhcp, disable on switch.

Dhcp doesn't determine speeds. All your traffic in the lan will be layer 2, the router will only route ip when there's a WAN request
 
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razel

razel

Platinum Member
May 14, 2002
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I'd sell it. Professional level, rack mounted swtiches we use here at work have ridiculously loud fans.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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razel said:
I'd sell it. Professional level, rack mounted swtiches we use here at work have ridiculously loud fans.
Click to expand...
And that is why it should be in the wiring closet where all the ethernet ports through out the house are terminated ;)
 
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Markfothebeast

Member
Dec 27, 2016
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I have it mounted in a secret closet behind the bathroom wall. It sounds like a diesel truck idling in the driveway. But I have sound proof foam I'm going to line the closet with. It is above a main cold air return duct so the dust gets sucked out before it hits the device.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
M

Markfothebeast

Member
Dec 27, 2016
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And I have moved our modem and router/wiring/etc in to the same closet. I'd like to get a NAS also so I don't have to leave my PC running.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
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