Managed Switch Question

[CADsortaGUY]

Ok so I was given a 24port managed switch. It is an OLD NuSwitch FE-224. I don't have a serial cable yet but I want to get "into" it and play around with the settings. I downloaded a SMNP app so I could try to get in via ethernet like it says I can, but since I have no idea what the IP of the switch is how do I:
a- get in without an IP(besides the serial cable)
b- find the IP of the switch.

I tried using IP scanners and I even hooked 2 PCs up and pinged and tracert each other but it didn't give me an IP for the switch. The guy that gave it to me said is was setup as 2 12 port hubs using the Vlan feature.


ANY help would be smiled upon

Thanks,
CADkindaGUY

 

[spidey07]

Try looking for the manual on the web.

For the most part the interface is RS232 serial - meaning you can use any modem/null modem cable to connect to the serail port. set your terminal for 9600/8/N/1 and give it a shot with modem or null modem cable. Hopefully you can reset the switch to defaults, reassign the IP address or at least find out the IP address.

 

[Garion]

I would recommend getting a sniffer of some kind on your PC. That will let you monitor the network traffic going across (and from) the switch so you can figure out what IP address it's using. There's quite a few of them out there, but there's a freebie from AnalogX called PacketMon.

When you plug a PC into a network without a sniffer, it totally ignores all packets that aren't destined for it, so you don't ever really see the traffic. A sniffer app enabled "promiscious" mode, so that it gets ALL packets on the network and shows them to you in some kind of a display or trace format.

The sniffer will give you massive amounts of data, most of which will be unusable or unnecessary. You're just looking for IP addresses that come across that are on a differnet network than your PC is set to. Ignore any that start with 127.0.0.0 (loopback addresses), 255.x.x.x (broadcast addresses) or 224.0.0.0 (multicast addresses). Find out what subnet it's on, set your PC to be a host on that subnet (pick something high like 250 so as not to accidentally use the same IP as the switch) and use an IP scanner to ping the whole range until you find something that respones. That's your switch.

One catch - If it was preconfigured, they probably set the community strings. The defaults are "public" for read-only and "private" for read-write, but most everyone changes those, as it's a serious security risk if you don't. If you don't know the community strings, you'll either have to get into it via SNMP or call the manufacturer and figure out how to reset the settings.

Best of luck!

- G

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Thanks spidey07 and Garion!

I know that would be the easiest way, but i don't happen to have one on me at the moment I'll have one tommorow but i wanted to play with it tonight
Yes, I tried the sniffers, and IP scanners but to no avail
Yes i got the manual off the web - boy what a pain - especially since NuSwitch is no longer a company

It is basically just a new toy for now, but i have the time tonight so i thought i'd give it a shot

Anyone else?

Thanks!

 

[spidey07]

Damn Garion, you're good...very good. Great idea!

On the sniffer note many times there is a MAC address on the back of the switch. You could look for that mac address in the traces.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

<< On the sniffer note many times there is a MAC address on the back of the switch. You could look for that mac address in the traces. >>



Duh - i should've thought of that because it does!


I'll see what i can find now

Thanks

 

[Tallgeese]

<< Anyone else? >>

As a matter of fact...

What's left of NPI tech support
FTP site for downloads, which is mentioned in the following FAQ item:

I have several different pieces of NPI hardware that I've been using a long time, but I lost the manual for one, I could use some updated drivers for another and I definitely need to download the latest version of firmware for the other. I believe my warranty for all of these expired a long time ago, would you still be able to help me out?

FalconStor has supplied a link to the site you need to get the latest firmware, drivers and manuals that are relevant to your NPI product. This is available to all NPI customers regardless of warranty status

HTH