Question Ethernet Switch Help

[svengoli123]

Hi,
I have multiple cat5E runs terminating into a patch panel. The panel is fed by a Linksys 16 port switch, which is fed by my Verizon router. In my basement, I have 1 ethernet wall jack. I recently added a 5 port gig switch TPLink TL-SG105 to feed my TV and audio receiver. When I connect it to the wall jack, no lights are on (Besides power), and my TV and receiver are not showing a connection. No data is being transferred, and I have no idea why. This is an unmanaged switch, and I thought it was a simple plug and play.

Can anyone assist?

 

[bill001g]

You get no lights on any port or just the port going to the wall?

The switches are plug and play there is nothing you can set. It has to be one of the cable between the switches. Cables can be very strange when they go bad they can work on certain devices and not others. There is no way for home users to check the meters that certify cables are too expensive. All you can do is swap out the patch cable and recheck the punch downs in the wall jacks

 

[kanewolf]

@bill001g, we don't usually think about it, but if the OP has 100Mb switches, it could be a crossover required situation. Auto X-over is so universal, it is easy to forget "the old days" ..

 

[svengoli123]

So, I have plugged a working cable directly from walljack to TV, and the TV shows it as connected and works flawlessly. That tells me the walljack is transferring data, and the cable between the jack and TV works. I then used that jack to connect from the wall to the switch, and again, no lights at all (on any port). I tried connecting the wall into every port, and none respond...

 

[kanewolf]

So, I have plugged a working cable directly from walljack to TV, and the TV shows it as connected and works flawlessly. That tells me the walljack is transferring data, and the cable between the jack and TV works. I then used that jack to connect from the wall to the switch, and again, no lights at all (on any port). I tried connecting the wall into every port, and none respond...

What is the model of the two switches? My comment to @bill001g was because older model switches may require a different kind of cable, called a crossover cable. Your behavior of working when connected to a device but not working when connected to a switch fits that situation.

 

[svengoli123]

TPLink TL-SG105 is the new smaller Switch, while my main larger switch at the patch panel is Linksys LGS116P 16 port gig POE.

 

[kanewolf]

OK, both those switches are gigabit switches, so crossover is not an issue. Gigabit will automatically crossover if required. It is part of the spec.

 

[bill001g]

Try taking the small switch next to the big one and use a patch cable and see if they connect. Try more than one patch cable to be sure if the first does not work. It should just work there is nothing you can set in these devices.

 

[svengoli123]

I saw online rumblings about DHCP settings... Is this not the case for my unmanaged TP switch?

 

[kanewolf]

I saw online rumblings about DHCP settings... Is this not the case for my unmanaged TP switch?

Nope. unmanaged means no IP address assigned, means no interaction with DHCP.

 

[failboat]

did you test connecting one of the clients into the keystone?

You can also try configuring an ip, gateway, and dns (1.1.1.1) and seeing if it works.

 

[svengoli123]

Hmmm... maybe I just got a dud. Also, as mentioned earlier, I can just connect the TV straight to the wall jack. My audio received doesn't even need a hardwired connection....

 

[failboat]

Hmmm... maybe I just got a dud. Also, as mentioned earlier, I can just connect the TV straight to the wall jack. My audio received doesn't even need a hardwired connection....

Sounds like it. Even if it's not you have to decide how much of your time is worth troubleshooting an $8 item.