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Accessing 3 switches - wrong subnet
Hi all, I'm sure this will have been answered before but my searches are throewing up a blank. I have 3 switches which I seem unable to access. 16 port (GS116Ev2), 5 port (GS305E), and another 5...
OK, in case anyone else is finding this - I think I have solved it. Here's what I did to get access:
- Factory reset each switch (hold the reset button in for 30 seconds);
- This placed them into receiving DHCP from the router and they were allocated an IP address on the same subnet as the router;
- Update the firmware (they were all using slightly old firmware) - but only do this using the ProSAFE Plus Config Utility after going into the web admin page and allowing prosafe to also manage the switch - do this as below...
- Go to the web interface of the switch 192.168.1.xxx and under 'switch management mode' allow prosafe to also manage your switch - apply and logout;
- Go back to Prosafe, refresh and highlight the switch and press apply. This opens up an admin tab and you can now go to the firmware and update it using the Prosafe untility.
- Once updated wait a little while and the switch will be discoverable by either prosafe or the network discovery tool (seems a bit random - my 5 port GS305E is now only discoverable by the discovery tool, but my 16 port GS116Ev2 is only discoverable with Prosafe);
- Crack a cold one and relax.
Hope this helps someone.
That's how the DHCP client is configured on these tiny uC - if it does not receive a valid config (== the DHCPc does timeout after some seconds!) the default 192.168.0.239/24 is applied. No factory reset required, a simple cold restart of these Plus switches does resolve reliably.
my 5 port GS305E is now only discoverable by the discovery tool, but my 16 port GS116Ev2 is only discoverable with Prosafe
Not all earlier Plus switches have an SSDP software on board, this is why the your GS116Ev2 (or for example a slightly newer GS308E with the current V1.00.11EN firmware, and many older Plus switches!) are not discoverable by the NETGEAR Discovery Tool - and similar, not visible in Windows File Explorer -> Network.
Go to the web interface of the switch 192.168.1.xxx and under 'switch management mode' allow prosafe to also manage your switch - apply and logout
On many other Plus switches, the SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) was added over time. Keeping the firmware current on the switches people manage is a good advise of course.
At the same time, the ProSafe Switch Management Mode, is intentionally disabled by default - since the [wikipedia] Netgear Switch Discovery Protocol (not for the discovery itself, much more for the configuration and administration) is highly insecure.
Very bad advice overriding this intentionally pushed as default ... the pure discovery remains active, but people have to stick to a Web Browser, calling the LAN IP address.
and it wouldn't allow it an then I tried moving just my pc onto that subnet and it wouldn't allow that too.
Of course, you always could change your PC LAN IP address - to any legal or illegal LAN IP address and subnet - just avoid any "user friendly" checks.
And of course, only one at the time three or more devices on the same LAN will remain unreachable or poorly reachable.
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Nothing easier than rebooting the switches in question while the router and it's DHCP server is active on the LAN, and everything is possible. Including the firmware update if there is a decade or longer backlog.
Should you desperately have to reach these switches without the router with it's DHCP server active, you could configure static (fixed IP addresses, subnet, and default gateway LAN)
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