Ethenet Switch keeps needing resetting

[CAJC]

Recently I took down one of my ethernet switches to try another in its place. I then reinstated it (for reasons not relevant here) Now, quite suddenly, without any changes being made to my network I am having to regularly reset this ethernet switch, which seems to 'hang' every few hours, stopping any network communication for those computers attached to it.

It has worked like a dream for 2 years. Do you think it is just on its way out or can anyone suggest why this might be happening. Its a 3COM 10mbps 24 port switch with a load of workstations, 1 server and a fibre optic converter attached to it. Once restarted the switch works absolutely fine.....for a few hours!

Thanks

 

[Norm Fisher]

I don't know if it's the case or not, but I had a similar situation and was resetting the switch (netgear 5-port) pretty regularly .. three or four times a week. Finally looked a bit closer at it and decided that it's bad, several ports just weren't passing data reliably. We've lost about 5 switches due to lightning so far, even though we try to unplug everything each time a lightning storm comes through.

 

[bsop]

That switch is a fairly dumb device.
Even if you could log in to manage the device, each time you reset it, it defaults to the original state. It is not like a Cisco switch that would have been $1000.00 or more in its day and is fully manageable.
In other words, it is now a boat ankor.
Sorry. Switches are reasonable cheap today, 24 port are a little more expensive though.

 

[plucnik]

Sounds like a bad switch. The good news is that 3COM switches have a lifetime warranty (if you want to send it back to them). The bad news is when they fix it, you still have a 10mbs switch. I agree with bsop. Switches are pretty inexpensive today. I purchased a 24 port gigabit (unmanaged) switch from Dell a few weeks ago for about $400 (real good for a small office-10/100 are around $200 if I recall). Most NIC cards are 10/100mbs anyway. You can realize a significant improvement in your network speed if you upgrade.

 

[CAJC]

Thanks everyone. I agree that the switch is a boat anchor (nice expression , by the way!) and I've got 3 x HP Procurve 10/100s coming to replace them.

In the meantime I've swapped the duff one out for another old switch and it seems to be holding in there until I can install the new ones.