16 Port Switch and NAS devices question

I recently had a power supply failure on a Netgear 16 port switch (GS116) and managed to get a refurbed switch and power supply.

My system set-up includes a number of terastations ranging from 1TB to 4 TB, all connected to the 16 port switch. My question relates to my oldest terastation, which cannot be accessed if connected to the new switch but can if use my old one.

I thought a switch was pretty simple, it appears to not have any firmware to update. Is this a hardware issue?

Regards
UKMedia

Yes. If the choice of switch makes a substantial difference, then it's a hardware issue, though not necessarily in the switch - it may also be the Terastation.

Without wishing to be seen to cast aspersions, the Buffalo Terastation is built to a budget - around $2.45 in resistors, transistors, and solder. It's entirely possible that the signal-level voltages given off by that thing are not considered acceptable by the new switch, whose standards are stricter, but were OK as far as the old switch was concerned.

Otherwise, it could indeed be the new switch. Unlike a "hub", switches are actually relatively sophisticated bits of kit which understand MAC (hardware) addresses and keep internal tabs on which MAC address is to be found on which switch port. When it notices two of those addresses attempting to talk to each other, a switch sets up a temporary link between the ports in question. It's far from a dumb amplifier, and things can go wrong.

I'd suggest borrowing a 3rd switch. Hell, I'd gladly give you one if you lived closer, just to get rid of some hardware and create space! If the third switch also refuses to acknowledge the existence of your "problem" Terastation, that just about seals it.

H2SO4 said:

Yes. If the choice of switch makes a substantial difference, then it's a hardware issue, though not necessarily in the switch - it may also be the Terastation.

Without wishing to be seen to cast aspersions, the Buffalo Terastation is built to a budget - around $2.45 in resistors, transistors, and solder. It's entirely possible that the signal-level voltages given off by that thing are not considered acceptable by the new switch, whose standards are stricter, but were OK as far as the old switch was concerned.

Otherwise, it could indeed be the new switch. Unlike a "hub", switches are actually relatively sophisticated bits of kit which understand MAC (hardware) addresses and keep internal tabs on which MAC address is to be found on which switch port. When it notices two of those addresses attempting to talk to each other, a switch sets up a temporary link between the ports in question. It's far from a dumb amplifier, and things can go wrong.

I'd suggest borrowing a 3rd switch. Hell, I'd gladly give you one if you lived closer, just to get rid of some hardware and create space! If the third switch also refuses to acknowledge the existence of your "problem" Terastation, that just about seals it.

Thanks for the advice. I'm a firm believer in the principle that the last bit of kit to be changed is the cause of any new issue. So I'll try and get another switch.

UKMedia

Have you enabled Jumbo Frame packets on the Terastation?

I found when this is enabled on my Terastation and not enabled on my Netgear switch the Terastation becomes inaccessible, it has to be enabled on both devices.

DC187 said:

Have you enabled Jumbo Frame packets on the Terastation?

I found when this is enabled on my Terastation and not enabled on my Netgear switch the Terastation becomes inaccessible, it has to be enabled on both devices.

Is it possible to config the switch? I wasn't aware that this was an option?

Regards
UKMedia