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Cisco Systems IGESM half-duplex link recovery via auto-negotiation - IBM BladeCenter

Troubleshooting


Problem

Cisco Systems IGESM half-duplex link recovery via auto-negotiation - IBM BladeCenter

Resolving The Problem

Source
RETAIN tip: H183748

Symptom
If an external port of the IGESM (Intelligent Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module) is configured to Auto, and that port is connected to a device port which is manually configured to half duplex, then a Disable/Enable port operation may cause the link to be dropped.

Affected configurations
The system may be any of the following IBM BladeCenter:
  • IBM BladeCenter, type 8677, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter HS40, type 8839, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter HS20, type 8678, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter HS20, type 8832, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter JS20, type 8842, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter T, type 8730, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter T, type 8720, any model

The system is configured with the following option:

  • a Cisco Systems Intelligent Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module, Option part number 13N2281, replacement part number (FRU) 13N2285

The Firmware levels affected are:

  • Version 12.1(22)AY 1 or earlier

Note: AY1 will is scheduled for Web posting on April 29, 2005.

Solution
This behavior will be corrected in a future release of BIOS. The target date for the release is scheduled for second Quarter, 2005. It will be available from IBM's xSeries Support web site . A future BIOS release will ensure that the link state of the port is forced to OFF when a half duplex port is disabled via a software command. The link status LED will reflect this change of state.

Workaround
If this problem is encountered, auto-negotiation can be activated by unplugging and re-plugging the link cable, or by rebooting the IGESM. The problem can be avoided by following the general recommendation of configuring port connections with matching settings. That is, the IGESM and the connected device both configured to Auto. If the connected device is forced to a half duplex setting, then configure the IGESM port to half duplex.

Additional information
At power-on or when a cable is connected, the IGESM auto-negotiation will resolve the link speed and half duplex connection correctly. Exposure to the behavior occurs when an active half duplex port is disabled via a software command. Although link traffic will be blocked, the link status LED and the link state for the port will remain ON. When the port is enabled via a software command, a link state change does not occur and auto-negotiation is not activated. Without the activation of auto-negotiation, the link will not re-connect. This behavior only exists on a port which has auto-negotiated a half duplex setting.

 

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

BladeCenter:Operating system independent / None

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Document Information

Modified date:
29 January 2019

UID

ibm1MIGR-59060

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