Fiber Help!

Blue|Fusion · Posted: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:17:03 Post Subject: Fiber Help!

Hey all, I'm really hoping someone with some knowledge in networking can help me out here as I am having some issues while trying to learn more about networking.

A quick review...
I bought this Foundry ServerIron FBSLB24 with an F2GE gigabit SX fiber module a few weeks ago. I have been playing with it and want to colocate it in the near future along with some servers, but for now it's just to learn some new things about networking and the hardware.

This week, I got myself a Netgear GS716T Gigabit ProSafe Smart Switch with 2 mini-GBIC SPF ports. To fill those ports, I bought 2 of these SPF modules. And finally, to do some fiber connections I got 2x 1m multi-mode 50/125 SC-LC fiber cables.

So I put it all together and hoped it would all just work. Nope. Now here is the problem I face: When I connect the SPF modules on the Netgear to the F2GE ports on the ServerIron, the ServerIron detects a link, but the Netgear does not. I tried different port settings at both ends, swapping cables around, restarting both switches, etc. No luck. I also can visually see the red light through the fiber cables from both switches. All of the fiber devices are supposed to support SX MM 50/62.5 fiber cables, so I am at a loss. Is there a trick to this fiber stuff that anyone can share? I don't have any other devices so I can't test with any other equipment.

Any tips, tricks, help, or attempt to help GREATLY appreciated. I want to figure this stuff out and diagnose if there's bad hardware or what before I ship anything to a datacenter.

And if you want to see how they're plugged in and stuff, here's the relevant images:
Overall view
Netgear connections
ServerIron connections

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:43:58 Post Subject:

Sounds like there might be a problem with the Netgear. Maybe even the SPF modules are bad?

But there are a lot of possible problems:

1) Listed above
2) The cable hasn't been terminated right and the netgear is being more picky about the laser strength.

I would call Netgear and see if you can get any help from them.

Blue|Fusion · Posted: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:37:33 Post Subject:

Since a call to Netgear would cost me more money, I sent in a trouble ticket which I expect they will say "we can't help you because you're using third party hardware" or something like that.

With what you said above, though in number 2...
I do notice that the laser strength in the ServerIron side is weaker than the SFP modules. However, when I cold boot (unplug/plug) the ServerIron, the lasers are at higher intensity for about a minute and then drop back down to a very low intensity. When the lasers are at higher intensity, the Netgear detects a link for a little while but no data transmission is possible and the link goes down at the Netgear end again.

So what I am trying to figure out if there is a reason these lasers become less intense (in one step, not a gradual decrease) in the SI or if maybe it's because the module is old and needs to be replaced.

By the way, I was also discussing this over at WHT, and some people brought up some points but was quickly shot down if you want to see what I tried already:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=621884