I purchased a switch second hand and was hoping to restore the software on it to get it back up and running. After getting the "unknown box topology" - seems common according to Google - I attempted to push a 5.x firmware to my GSM7324 - as advised by http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22 - with no luck. So, I fired up the Netgear Switch Recovery Tool and had it run it's full course and hit a snag when it went to verify the installation. Once I fired up HyperTerminal here is what I get...NetGear Boot code......Flash size = 16MBTesting 128MB SDRAM..............................Pass:eek:This is where the stream stops dead in its tracks. The status light stays solid, but no port lights go active. I don't even get to the boot menu. The only thing I can do to get anything else in the console is to reset the switch.This switch is out of warranty and I've already spoken with Netgear - not exactly helpful other than an "Oh, sorry." Is there any hardware reset that can be done? Can I pull the case open and reset ANYTHING? Is there any hardware testing I can to and replace a failed part?This switch was passing flash tests, bootting to the boot menu, moving files just fine before I started Netgear's Switch Recovery Tool! This is hugely disappointing...What to do?!:confused:

I've opened the case. Everything looks very clean and in good shape. There are many jumpers that are not set. Is it possible that one of these might do something similar to a BIOS reset?

Barefootpanda wrote:I've opened the case. Everything looks very clean and in good shape. There are many jumpers that are not set. Is it possible that one of these might do something similar to a BIOS reset?if you open the case wait until the they reply.

jmizoguchi wrote:if you open the case wait until the they reply.Until who replies? Community? Netgear was no help. Just told me out of warranty and that I had no options. There isn't a paid repair program? There isn't a jumper I can reset to re-flash the boot rom? Seems like a major oversight in board design if you can't undo something...something that their software broke!!

Barefootpanda wrote:Until who replies? Community? Netgear was no help. Just told me out of warranty and that I had no options. There isn't a paid repair program? There isn't a jumper I can reset to re-flash the boot rom? Seems like a major oversight in board design if you can't undo something...something that their software broke!!no repairs. I have not heard jumpers to fix the issues.usually TFTP is the way to load firmware etc.you did but 2nd handed so blame is on you in the first place. forum is user to user only so someone might answer who had same issues with it.

jmizoguchi wrote:no repairs. I have not heard jumpers to fix the issues.usually TFTP is the way to load firmware etc.you did but 2nd handed so blame is on you in the first place. forum is user to user only so someone might answer who had same issues with it.I loaded the firmware via XModem and followed the KB articles on netgear's site.Is this box dead? Do the jumpers have any functionality? Inside I do see a flashing D22 led when the box has power. The inside show no visible damage - VERY clean, no bulging capacitors, burn marks, everything is solid. It seems this is all software related since the software has rendered this box unusable.The box doesn't give me boot options any longer.Again, I followed the two articles related to not booting according to Netgear's KB - load via XModem and Switch Recovery Tool. The box is now dead as far as I can tell. VERY disappointing since the box was getting to boot menu and able to receive operation code before running that tool.Not sure why you're pointing fingers. No need to be aggressive. I am asking for help or anyone else's experience to resolve my issue.Another thing that might be worth noting is a date stamped on the lid of the case - "2004-10-20"So given a 5 year warranty time... if this box was manufactured right at the end of 2004 and possibly purchased at the very beginning of 2005 this box is JUST (like 4-6 weeks) out of warranty? Is Netgear lenient on this kind of issue? I'm wondering if they would be more open to RMA since their software has rendered the box into its current condition? Is it worth making another phone call.

Dead GSM7324 after Switch Recovery Tool?!

15 Replies

Barefootpanda
Novice
Mar 01, 2010
Very helpful thanks! Maybe I shouldn't mention that I opened it if I call? :)
jmizoguchi
Virtuoso
Mar 01, 2010
Barefootpanda wrote:
Very helpful thanks! Maybe I shouldn't mention that I opened it if I call? :)

you are pretty much asking to avoid the warranty... basic common sense on most products for warranty . never open the unit or tell you opened.
stevenb
Aspirant
Mar 11, 2010
One thing to check is make sure your terminal program is setup properly - especially after firmware upgrades/restores etc. I've had oddities whereby the console wont refresh and the screen appears to be "stuck" at a certain point unless hitting return loads of times or mis configuration of terminal utility/crap serial cable etc. Putty is quite good :D

Also bear in mind, they may be lenient with the warranty (have you asked?) but I dont believe the warranty is transferrable to different users, sorry :(
TNosredna
Aspirant
Oct 11, 2013
@BarefootPanda, did you get an answer to this? (other than return it, or it's dead? :o)
I have the exact same issue with two of these devices and would like to know if there is anything (no matter how extreme :D) I can do to recover them, or if I'm just gonna throw them away.

Thanks!!
kofi
Aspirant
Oct 14, 2013
I guess the last poster isn't doing this for a production but rather his/her own fun if so I'm fine with sharing at least parallels I know about :-)

Although never done with a Netgear switch, as long as you get something on the prompt via serial which looks like the boot loader and you can enter it (only via serial console), you might try your luck with xmodem.

Cisco switches and router can often be be brought back as long their bootloader is still working, and their flash memory is not fried. It is the process of uploading the firmware via xmodem mode over your serial cable while the bootloader is put into xmodem mode to receive the firmware thsi way. The process *IS* slow, but might be you last resort if you want to give it a try.

If you are seriously interested in this, have a serial cable ready, read this link and try to understand it before trying.
http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22/~/what-to-do-when-my-managed-switch-does-not-boot-up%3F

A cross-lecture how this is done on other vendors can be helpful although escaping to the bootloader is different on Cisco to what I remember.

Good luck!

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Dead GSM7324 after Switch Recovery Tool?!

15 Replies

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