[PLUG] Netgear GS116 Gigabit switch died. Maybe.

[John Jason Jordan]

I have had a Netgear 16-port gigabit switch, model GS116, for several
years. There is also a D-Link gigabit ethernet router, a Linksys WRT54G
wireless router, and a cable modem in the network.

Today I returned home and heard no tunes streaming from
AllClassical.org. This happens every once in a while, as their server
sometimes decides it's tired and takes a nap. When reconnecting did not
work I tried Radio Classique, but it didn't work either. When a couple
more stations failed to connect I started checking the internet.
Firefox could not go anywhere and I could not connect to e-mail either.
Then I tried my laptop, but got the same results.

Further checking revealed that I could not ping any of my laser
printers from either computer (all connected via ethernet). My laptop
kept saying the network was unavailable, although it could connect to
the Linksys wireless router. But having connected to the Linksys, I
still couldn't reach anything, not even my printers.

I reset the modem, then reset the ethernet router, but still nada. I
unplugged the switch and then plugged it back in, but still no
connections. The lights on the switch were blinking, but not normally;
that is, there would be an occasional long blink, and from all
connected plugs at the same time instead of the usual jiggly blinking.

Finally I bit the bullet and made a trip to Best Buy (closest place). I
bought a new Dynex 8-port gigabit switch for $58. After plugging it in
and restarting the network, all is back to normal in network-land.

I have modems die. I've had routers die. But I've never had a switch go
out.

Are there ways to reset switches? Can they be repaired?

[Neal]

Post by John Jason Jordan
I have had a Netgear 16-port gigabit switch, model GS116, for several
years. There is also a D-Link gigabit ethernet router, a Linksys WRT54G
wireless router, and a cable modem in the network.

NetGear GS108 switches are (in)famous for having two caps of
questionable durability on one of the supply rails. If you can power
it on with nothing plugged in to anyport and it sits there without
blinking, but starts blinking once you get a few ports hooked up/busy,
that's a good sign.

Pop 'er open and see what value the larger electrolytic caps are.

[Neal]

Here's a reference:

http://qualapps.blogspot.com/2007/05/netgear-gs108-gige-switch-failure.html

If you want to try fixing it I've got a bunch of 1000uF/6.3V caps
leftover from a party pack purchase from DigiKey.

If you don't want to try fixing it perhaps you'd be interested in
selling/trading it to me?

Regards,
Neal

[John Jason Jordan]

On Mon, 23 May 2011 18:55:39 -0700

Post by Neal
http://qualapps.blogspot.com/2007/05/netgear-gs108-gige-switch-failure.html
If you want to try fixing it I've got a bunch of 1000uF/6.3V caps
leftover from a party pack purchase from DigiKey.
If you don't want to try fixing it perhaps you'd be interested in
selling/trading it to me?

Fixing, selling, trading are all options. But the trip to Best Buy
today was an emergency measure, as I had no other switches to
substitute for it. Amazing how critical net access has become.

What I really want is a gigabit 24-port switch, as I have a 24-port
patch panel that is connected to the 20+ wired jacks in the house. Such
are expensive, however.

At the moment I need to put the discussion of fixing, trading or
selling on hold as I have some critical work to do in linguistics over
the next couple of weeks. And yes, it requires access to a web-based
corpus over a reasonably fast connection, hence my panic at not being
able to get on the net.

[John Jason Jordan]

On Mon, 23 May 2011 21:37:43 -0700

Post by John Jason Jordan
On Mon, 23 May 2011 18:55:39 -0700

Post by Neal
http://qualapps.blogspot.com/2007/05/netgear-gs108-gige-switch-failure.html
If you want to try fixing it I've got a bunch of 1000uF/6.3V caps
leftover from a party pack purchase from DigiKey.
If you don't want to try fixing it perhaps you'd be interested in
selling/trading it to me?

Fixing, selling, trading are all options. But the trip to Best Buy
today was an emergency measure, as I had no other switches to
substitute for it. Amazing how critical net access has become.
What I really want is a gigabit 24-port switch, as I have a 24-port
patch panel that is connected to the 20+ wired jacks in the house. Such
are expensive, however.
At the moment I need to put the discussion of fixing, trading or
selling on hold

First, I forgot that I started this thread and today tried to send a
message starting a new thread. But, strangely, the pdx.edu mail server
couldn't deliver the message. Oh well.

It is now later and I have time to deal with the switch issue. I am not
good at fixing things. Plus, even if I fix it, how long will it last
before dying on me again? I'd rather give it away and get a new one.

But that means shopping, and all I know is that I want one that is 24
ports, gigabit rated, and manufactured by someone that has a good
reputation for reliability. Google found me 24-port gigabit switches
for as little as $115, but I don't know about the quality.

Does anyone have recommendations for brands and/or models that are
reliable?

[Neal]

Post by John Jason Jordan
It is now later and I have time to deal with the switch issue. I am not
good at fixing things. Plus, even if I fix it, how long will it last
before dying on me again? I'd rather give it away and get a new one.

I was wondering whatever happened to this thread. :)

If it is a case of poor quality capacitors the repair should last for
years. The caps are about the only parts that aren't SMT in the
switches I've looked at, so are simple to replace if you have any
soldering skills at all.

Email me offlist if you'd like to discuss options for getting some of
the caps and/or trying to fix it. I still have quite a few of the
caps.

Here's a thought -- have a FixMyNetgearCaps event with the DorkbotPDX
folks at one of their meetings downtown, which were on Mondays last
time I checked.

Regards,
NealS

[John Jason Jordan]

On Thu, 8 Sep 2011 10:40:45 -0700

Post by Neal

Post by John Jason Jordan
It is now later and I have time to deal with the switch issue. I am
not good at fixing things. Plus, even if I fix it, how long will it
last before dying on me again? I'd rather give it away and get a new
one.

I was wondering whatever happened to this thread. :)
If it is a case of poor quality capacitors the repair should last for
years. The caps are about the only parts that aren't SMT in the
switches I've looked at, so are simple to replace if you have any
soldering skills at all.
Email me offlist if you'd like to discuss options for getting some of
the caps and/or trying to fix it. I still have quite a few of the
caps.
Here's a thought -- have a FixMyNetgearCaps event with the DorkbotPDX
folks at one of their meetings downtown, which were on Mondays last
time I checked.

Those are good thoughts and suggestions, but I have always wanted a
24-port switch so I don't ever have to fiddle with cables.

But if someone wants the Netgear, it's free to whoever wants to take
the time to fix it.

[wes]

Post by John Jason Jordan
On Thu, 8 Sep 2011 10:40:45 -0700

Post by Neal

Post by John Jason Jordan
It is now later and I have time to deal with the switch issue. I am
not good at fixing things. Plus, even if I fix it, how long will it
last before dying on me again? I'd rather give it away and get a new
one.

I was wondering whatever happened to this thread. :)
If it is a case of poor quality capacitors the repair should last for
years. The caps are about the only parts that aren't SMT in the
switches I've looked at, so are simple to replace if you have any
soldering skills at all.
Email me offlist if you'd like to discuss options for getting some of
the caps and/or trying to fix it. I still have quite a few of the
caps.
Here's a thought -- have a FixMyNetgearCaps event with the DorkbotPDX
folks at one of their meetings downtown, which were on Mondays last
time I checked.

Those are good thoughts and suggestions, but I have always wanted a
24-port switch so I don't ever have to fiddle with cables.
But if someone wants the Netgear, it's free to whoever wants to take
the time to fix it.

If no one has claimed it before the next clinic, I'll take it.

-wes

[Galen Seitz]

John Jason Jordan wrote:
...

Post by John Jason Jordan
But that means shopping, and all I know is that I want one that is 24
ports, gigabit rated, and manufactured by someone that has a good
reputation for reliability. Google found me 24-port gigabit switches
for as little as $115, but I don't know about the quality.
Does anyone have recommendations for brands and/or models that are
reliable?

I almost bought this Trendnet switch when Newegg had it on sale for $90.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156294

I know nothing about Trendnet reliability, but one of the Newegg
reviewers says that this switch does not have a fan. While that might
make it less reliable, it also makes it more tolerable in a home
environment. I think many switches of the type you are considering
are likely to have a fan, potentially a noisy one due to the form factor.

galen

[Rick]

Good point about the fans, Galen.

FWIW, I THINK that the SMC I recommended also does NOT have a fan (although,
I may be thinking of the 16-port version).

The lack of a fan could be an issue (theoretically) if in a warm/hot
environment... but, again - not in my experience. Believe it or not, I work
in a formal IT dept. that has no A/C... it's currently 87 degrees at my desk
as I am writing this... and very few of my network closets have A/C either.
These SMC switches get used in a variety of rooms/areas around here - some
that get very warm (like my office) - and I've still had very good luck with
them over the past few years.

Post by Galen Seitz
...

Post by John Jason Jordan
But that means shopping, and all I know is that I want one that is 24
ports, gigabit rated, and manufactured by someone that has a good
reputation for reliability. Google found me 24-port gigabit switches
for as little as $115, but I don't know about the quality.
Does anyone have recommendations for brands and/or models that are
reliable?

I almost bought this Trendnet switch when Newegg had it on sale for $90.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156294
I know nothing about Trendnet reliability, but one of the Newegg
reviewers says that this switch does not have a fan. While that might
make it less reliable, it also makes it more tolerable in a home
environment. I think many switches of the type you are considering
are likely to have a fan, potentially a noisy one due to the form factor.
galen
--
Galen Seitz
galens at seitzassoc.com
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[Rich Shepard]

Believe it or not, I work in a formal IT dept. that has no A/C... it's
currently 87 degrees at my desk as I am writing this...

Nice to know I'm not the only one without air conditioning. It's 82F now.

The heat has not been an issue with the computers (I turn on a large box
fan for the electronics, me, and the dogs). However, a couple of days ago I
tried -- twice -- to build the TeXLive SlackBuild package. One source file
is 1.2G compressed, it requires about 5G of temporary disk space, and the
build is so intense it shut down the system because the CPU was overheating
in both attempts. Learning my lesson, I waited until 6:00am the next
morning, when the air temperature outside was 54F (and the windows here were
open) and it built without a problem. This was a first for me.

Rich

[John Jason Jordan]

On Mon, 23 May 2011 18:27:28 -0700

Post by John Jason Jordan
Are there ways to reset switches? Can they be repaired?

I just discovered that my Netgear GS116 has a lifetime warranty. Or so
Netgear's website leads me to believe.

I do want a 24-port switch, and because of my experience with the
Netgear I had figured "any brand but Netgear." I may have to rethink
that reasoning.

Meantime, the Trendnet and SMC switches that have been suggested have
only a one-year warranty. In fact, looking on Newegg and Dell is where
I discovered that Netgear offers a lifetime warranty, which is hard to
find in anything else short of $1,000+ units.

I'll call Netgear tomorrow and see what they say.