XS728T / XS748T ports fail - numerous installations

Question

Hi -&nbsp;this might be my first post here, but I am a long time Netgear 10G switch user - from the original XS712T.&nbsp;I have seen this problem over and over again, and I am very familiar with the entire 10G XS series of Netgear switchesfrom the XS708T, XS712T, XS716T, XS728T and XS748T - including all the v2 and E models as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;I only see this on the XS728T, and XS748T.&nbsp; For no apparant reason, ports will occationally stop working on the switch.&nbsp;The GUI shows no link, and there are no lights on the ports.&nbsp; Switch to another port - no problems.&nbsp; What I used to do is&nbsp;do a factory default on the switch, and the ports would come back to life.&nbsp; I searched this forum about a year ago, and I sawsomeone's suggestion that you switch the "dead port" speed from Auto to 1G Ethernet, click Apply, and then switch back to Auto, and click apply again, and the port comes back to life.&nbsp; That occationally works.&nbsp;&nbsp;I just received a call from a client that has a 6 month old XS748T, latest firmware 6.5.1.42, and this happened again - several ports have "died".&nbsp; I logged into their system, and tried my "trick" of switching the dead ports (using a working port) to 1G Ethernet, and then back to Auto, but this time, it did not work.&nbsp; So I am going in there on Monday to do a Factory Default - I assume that everything will start working again, and all ports will come back to life.&nbsp;WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?&nbsp; &nbsp;This NEVER happens on an XS708T, XS712T or XS716T !I would appreciate any advice.&nbsp;Thanks -&nbsp;Bob Zelin&nbsp;

BobZelin · Answer

no sir, I never found a solution. &nbsp;Because the XS728T and XS748T are the least expensive 10Gbase-T switches on the market, I still install them all the time. &nbsp; This is what I typically do when I have a client call to say "I can't connect anymore". &nbsp;I have them identify exactly what port they are on, for the computer that will not connect any longer to the server (or the switch). &nbsp;I have them go to a computer that is working (which is most of them). &nbsp;I use www.teamviewer.com to remote into the computer that is working. &nbsp;I then use a web browser like Chrome or Safari or Firefox to log into the Netgear XS748T web gui. &nbsp;I find the port that they say "no longer works". &nbsp;I simply toggle the speed of that port from AUTO to&nbsp;1G, and click on Apply. &nbsp; I then select AUTO on that port, click APPLY, and everything starts to work again. &nbsp;So it's an inconvenience, but it works every time.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am unaware of any in line surge protectors for 10G switches. &nbsp;I realize that static and ground potential issues are everywhere in a large installation - but none of these are PoE installations - it's just from a computer 10G port (or thunderbolt to 10G adapter) to the Netgear XS728T or XS748T. &nbsp;I want to stress as well, that this NEVER EVER happens with the XS708T, XS712T, XS716T or the "E" series of switches. &nbsp;This problem is unique to the XS728T and XS748T. &nbsp; &nbsp;Almost every installation I do uses one of these switches, and if I get a call once a month for this issue from one of my clients ("I can't connect") - it's not that big of a deal. But this has been going on for years in multiple installations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bob Zelin

DaneA · Answer

BobZelin,

&nbsp;

Is the XS748T connected to another switch?&nbsp; Kindly check the physical connections.&nbsp; There might be a loop causing it.&nbsp; Be sure that STP is enabled on the switches and the STP Operation Mode are the same on all switches.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If ever you already did a factory reset and&nbsp;the same problem occurs, kindly download the Tech Support file (read instructions on page 358 of the XS748T user manual&nbsp;here). Then,&nbsp;open a support ticket with NETGEAR Support here&nbsp;and state your concern as well as attach the Tech Support file for further investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Regards,

&nbsp;

DaneA

NETGEAR Community Team

BobZelin · Answer

Hello DaneA -&nbsp;thank you very much for your prompt reply.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no other switch connected to the XS748T.&nbsp; There is no loop.&nbsp;I hope that I do not sound rude in my reply here - I know that I often do.&nbsp; &nbsp;I have installed possibly 1000 Netgear XS series 10G&nbsp;switches.&nbsp; &nbsp;As I stated in my original post, I only see "dead ports" (which are not really dead) on the XS728T and XS748T.&nbsp;I see this problem occur in almost every installation.&nbsp; Eventually, people will call me and say "we can't connect to the server" - andI right away go to the Netgear XS series switch GUI, and can see "no link" on that port (or several ports) - while the other portsremain operational.&nbsp; &nbsp;The connection to the Netgear switches vary from Apple iMac Pro 10G ports (Aquantia 10G chips), tovarious thunderbolt to 10G adapters from Sonnet (Solo 10G, Twin 10G), Promise (SanLink2, SanLink3) and QNAP (QNAP-T310G1T).&nbsp;This issue has been going on for years, in hundreds of installations, thru various firmware updates.&nbsp; My current issue, which I will resolve on Monday with this clients XS748T will be to simply do a factory default, and I am sure that all the "dead ports" will start working again.&nbsp; I find it hard to believe&nbsp;that this is not a common issue reported to Netgear on these models.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will see in this Netgear thread, that this is where I learned the trick of switching between Auto and 1G and back to Auto to&nbsp;sometimes get the dead port to work again -&nbsp;https://community.netgear.com/t5/Smart-Plus-Click-Switches/XS728T-10Gbe-connection-issues-followup/m-p/1777729&nbsp;I would like to know why the ports stop working, but then can be reactived by either this trick, or factory default.&nbsp;Thank you for looking into this -&nbsp;Below I will show some of the text of this link -&nbsp;Bob Zelin&nbsp;"We had our XS728T replaced after several of the ports would no longer negotiate a connection over CAT-6 and CAT-6a cables longer than a few meters. Firmware updates, factory reset e.t.c. did not help. After contacting support a replacement was issued. The replacement worked fine for a few days, then ports that were working fine all of a sudden stopped working, and would no longer negotiate a connection (like the last switch). A week later another port dropped off. NETGEAR Support instructed a factory reset. We did so, but this did not help.&nbsp;What did help, at the suggestion of NETGEAR Support, was to go to&nbsp;Switching &gt; Ports &gt; Port Configuration, then change the&nbsp;Admin mode&nbsp;of the problematic ports from&nbsp;Enable&nbsp;to&nbsp;Disable, then back to&nbsp;Enable. After that 3 of the 4 problematic ports started working correctly and would negotiate at the full 10G. 1 port would now negotiate a connection, but only at 1G instead of 10G. I then changed the&nbsp;Port Speed&nbsp;to&nbsp;1G Full Duplex&nbsp;and back to&nbsp;Auto. After this the port negotiated properly at 10G (the device must be connected when you do this otherwise it won't work)."

PhillipCP · Answer

Are you utilizing any 10GB rack mounted or inline surge protectors? Did you ever find a solution for the ports randomly turning off on the XS748t?Thanks!

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XS728T / XS748T ports fail - numerous installations

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