Printer doesn't show in chooser on Macintosh after change to 2848 switch.

[Thor-Ivar Lund_1]

Hi!
We have installed HP 2848 switches instead of 3Com 3300.

After the installation we can't see a specific printer in Chooser on some of the the Macintosh clients. The Printer is a Nashuatec DSc38u (A3 color laser). On some mac's the printer appears for a while and then dissappears again. On some others the printer never shows up, and on some the printer always shows. It has to be something with the switch because it all worked before we changed switches. The behaviour is regardless of OS and model of the Mac's. We have both OS-X and 9.2 and G4's and G5's.

I have tried everything possible with speed and duplex settings and disabling LACP, spanning tree, checked cabling etc. etc. but nothing helps.

Is there anyone else who has experienced the same issue, or maybe someone has some good ideas?

Regards
TIL

[Ron Kinner]

It's been a while since I did any appletalk but if I remember correctly the printer broadcasts its presence every few seconds and that's how it shows up in the chooser.

Believe the 2800 series has restrictions on the percentage of bandwidth that broadcasts are allowed to use so you might check to see if allowing broadcasts to have more or unrestricted bandwidth makes a difference.

You might also check to see if you have the latest version of the firmware which appears to be I.08.55

http://www.hp.com/rnd/software/switches.htm



Ron

[Thor-Ivar Lund_1]

Hi!
Thx for answer.
I did upgrade 1 of the 5 switches with the latest software/firmware tonight, and
it seems better. Will upgrade the other tonight and then see how it goes.
I dont think it's a broadcast issue because all mac-broadcast works fine, but not the appletalk from the printer. Maybe poor appletalk on the printer?

TIL

[Thor-Ivar Lund_1]

Nope, didn't work after all!

Did upgrade all the switches to latest software, I08.55 but it's still the same.
There is nothing limiting the broadcasts on the swith either as you mentioned.

[christof haemmerle]

the same here:

hi there,

i do have a client where we have brand new hp procurve switches

Network Hardware:
main cluster comander: 2848 (10/100/1000)
member 2824 (10/100/1000)
member 2650 (10/100)
member 2650 (10/100)
member 2626 (10/100)

network is kath6 with all ports GigabitOK on the network protocol form the electrician.

i am running the most recent firmware on the swtches.

Computer Hardware:
32x I-macs 10/100 (autosensing)
12x G5 10/100/1000 (autosensing)
12x IBM Laptops 10/100
2x IBM Servers i do think 1000

all ports are auto sensing also the ports on the computers.


we tested network performace with Helios LanTest
setting for gigabit network


Test Results with HP Swiches:
writing 6.4mb per sec
reading 36 mb per sec

we tried to isolate the problem and just connect the server and 5 g5 to one 2828 (10/100/1000) and took a brand new one (with standard config)
still the slow write performace.


then we took a cheep level1 gigabit swich and run the same test.
guess what

Test with L1 noname Switches:
writing 31mb per sec
reading 33 mb per sec


crazy now?
shouldn't a level3 switch form hp with the standard configuration do a better job?
does anybody has an explanation for that?

thanx christof

[Les Ligetfalvy]

The 28xx has some serious throughput issues if you mix speeds on the ports. Check the release notes for instructions on configuring QOS.