Can someone please explain a simple way to communicate with my L2 managed switch from my iMac

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DESSOUKY Author

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Can someone please explain a simple way to communicate with my L2 managed switch from my iMac

Aloha everyone

I have a TP-Link SG3109 9 port L2 Managed Gigabit Switch.

I am trying to communicate with it through my IMac for the past 2 days, but I have miserably failed.

The switch has a SERIAL PORT, and also a Web enabled interface.

I am unable to log on to it, as the IP address in the PDF manual is: 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 and typing in the FIRST only brings up my SKY ROUTER'S web page, and the second fails.

The manual says I need to setup the switch FIRST via the serial connector, so I bought off Amazon a SERIAL TO USB connection, which came with some PROLIFIC drivers.

Some research on the net pointed me to some more recent drivers for PROLIFIC PL2303 chip in MAVERICKS, which I've downloaded, but I don't think the serial connection is recognised by my mac or the OS?

I also downloaded some terminal programs like COOLTERM and SECURECRT, BUT I HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO USE THEM OR EVEN COMMUNICATE with the switch....

I also saw some threads explaining how to use terminal, but again it's all code and very difficult to understand.

Can someone please explain a SIMPLE way to do this...

Or in plain English??

Many thanks

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 9, 2014 4:43 PM

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Answer 1

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 10, 2014 3:12 AM in response to DESSOUKY

Anybody....please?

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Answer 2

varjak paw

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Mar 10, 2014 1:59 PM in response to DESSOUKY

You might have more luck getting suggestions if you ask in TP-Link's forum:

http://forum.tp-link.com/forumdisplay.php?22-L2-Managed-Switches

Regards.

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Answer 3

Mar 10, 2014 2:31 PM in response to DESSOUKY

Why do you want a managed switch, unless you have a good reason I would advise you to return it and get an unmanaged one.

The set up looks similar to Cisco IOS but it will not be the same.

You have quite a steep learning curve to get the switch running if it does not work out of the box in L2 mode.

What you may be able to do is disconnect the switch from your network and connect the Mac through one of the Ethernet ports. If you are lucky the switch may have an IP address of 192.168.1.1 or 0.1 and you can use a web browser to open the management pages. The Mac will need a fixed IP address to be able to do this. It is possible that the switch does not have an IP address, you could use the ARP command to force a temporary one. If not you are stuck with initial setup via the serial port and some learning.

I don't think any one can give you, in your terms Simple way, that is the simple way unfortunaltely.

The user guide and install guide are here

http://www.tp-link.com/en/support/download/?model=TL-SG3109&version=V1

Varjak suggested the TP-Link forums, worth a try.

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Answer 4

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 10, 2014 3:37 PM in response to varjak paw

Many thanks..Ive checked them out...

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Answer 5

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 10, 2014 3:50 PM in response to rack0 tack0

Many thanks for your reply...

I have already visited that link, and downloaded all the manuals there...thnx...

Now...let me explain to you where I'm coming from...

I've been a windows user throughout my teens, 20s and 30s...ans was a very technical user, and built all my PCs from scratch...played with BIOS, flashed video cards and various firmwares etc....

I enjoyed doing all that very much...and I always learnt along the way...

I have been using macs only for the past 5 years...and have gradually built my home network...routers and umnanaged switches etc...and synology NAS for my own cloud and media streaming etc...

I wanted to arrange LINK AGGREGATION from my Synology NAS to my Mac Pro....but put that on hold for a while..as all the simple switches do not support LACP...

That is the reason I got a managed switch...and also because I was very interested in getting more technical in networking etc...

I feel I can do this...but I have a few hurdles that I need to overcome...and even though as u rightly said..its a very steep learning curve...I'm willing to try...

THE SWITCH IS WORKING OUT OF THE BOX...but I want to access it through the browser...and I simple cant.

I tried what you did...diconnected EVERYTHING...and just connected my iMac via ethernet...NOTHING...

I even have an old Dell Latutude E4300 that I have running XP for all non mac related stuff...NOTHING...

I installed the PL2303 prolific drivers on BOTH, but the serial to USB, eventhough comes up as a 'USBSer!' in Device manager or in Mac System info, does not seem to be properly installed.

I tried using CoolTerm...but I just wanted to ask the more knowwledgable...How do you actually WRITE orders to the switch via the serial connection? assuming its working in the first place? There is no option to TYPE actual letters in the program's console window??

I bloody love this...???!!!!

It seems IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!

Thanks again for your reply...

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Answer 6

Mar 10, 2014 5:34 PM in response to DESSOUKY

The possible reasons nothing comes up on the Coolterm window.

1. Incorrect settings of the emulator, speed, parity, bits, emulator etc.

2. Incorrect cable between the two devices, a null modem cable used to be required, not sure if that is still an item.

I looked at the Coolterm site and the Securecrt, the securecrt may be better but that is a guess.

To test the emulator and serial port you could try a loop back connector, you may have to make one, that should echo back to your screen what you type.

If you have access to an old PC with a built in serial port it may save you some effort, Windows as Hypertermial and you could use that.

Make use of the TP LINK forums as varjak suggests.

I am sure the Mac will do the job, the problem you have is many unknowns.

Good luck

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Answer 7

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 11, 2014 11:20 AM in response to rack0 tack0

I am worried that the cable I bought off amazon is not good?

It prompts windows XP to search for drivers, so it must be working?

All the drivers on the accompanying CD or from the net, even though they get installed, are reported with a QUESTION MARK in device manager, so I must be missing the proper driver??

Here's what I got:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00077DJIQ/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8 &psc=1

And the switch came with a NULL MODEM CABLE...female to female serail cable, like this:

So my connection is :

Switch>null modem cable>Serial to USB cable>iMac USB port OR windows XP USB port.

On the imac, no prompts, but on the XP laptop, I'm asked to search for drivers.

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Answer 8

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 11, 2014 11:22 AM in response to rack0 tack0

'To test the emulator and serial port you could try a loop back connector, you may have to make one, that should echo back to your screen what you type.'

I'd like to try that, but how? Can you please explain?

If you have access to an old PC with a built in serial port it may save you some effort, Windows as Hypertermial and you could use that.

I'll see if a friend of mine has an old PC...

Thanks for all your help..

P.S.

I have posted on TP Link forums, and on Small Net Builder forums as well....

🙂

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Answer 9

Mar 11, 2014 11:48 AM in response to DESSOUKY

RS232 Loop back is the connecting of the TX and RX pins and the control pins RTS/CTS/DTR pins on the item under test, your computer in this case. Search the web, plenty examples.

You then run test software to confirm these signal pins work correctly, a terminal emulator will work just as well.

All moot if the USB serial adapter and it's software are not installed correctly.

Once you get the link working and connecting to the switch use the tp link start Guide Guide ( i think that was its title) and it should be straight forward.

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Answer 10

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 14, 2014 5:39 AM in response to rack0 tack0

"All moot if the USB serial adapter and it's software are not installed correctly."

grrr...

ok...this is where I'm currently stuck...for the past week!!!

I've downloaded/installed hundreds of drivers for this USB/SERIAL link...and haven't managed to get it installed properly!!!!

Can someone please help!!???

I have XP and Mac OSX Mavericks...and can source a copy of Vista if needed..!!

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Answer 11

Mar 14, 2014 6:23 AM in response to DESSOUKY

Just found this page, may help

http://pbxbook.com/other/mac-tty.html

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Answer 12

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 15, 2014 7:33 AM in response to rack0 tack0

wow...

Just saw this on my phone...

Looks like a great webpage...

Many thanks..I'll try it when I get home.

I'll post my results when I get home...

Just a quick question...

When I'm requested to write stuff in terminal...and there's a dollar sign in the code, do I actually write that?

And when a code line is between: "", do I omit them or write them in terminal?

Many thanks again!!

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Answer 13

Mar 15, 2014 8:10 AM in response to DESSOUKY

Depends where the dollar sign is and what is its function. A dollar sign at the start would be the prompt from the terminal application, either the unix shell or the shell prompt from the device under test, I.e. your switch. A dollar sign in the middle of a command could mean something else.

Normally you would omit the quotes, it is not usually code though it is commands that you will be inputting, subtle but perhaps important meaning.

The commands can be put into a script, ordinary text file, and uploaded to the router. This would be a configuration file that you would save external to the switch/router as a back up, if the switch failed the configuration could be quickly uploaded to a new switch that used the same command set.

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Answer 14

DESSOUKY Author

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Mar 15, 2014 2:31 PM in response to rack0 tack0

Ok...

surprise surprise...

I installed a copy of Win 7 on the Laptop, and plugged the connection in...and as expected, the supplied drivers with the USB-SERIAL connection did not work..

Asked windows to look for drivers...and it found it online...and its not installed and properly recognised in device manager as SERIAL COM4 something something....

So, change of plans...

ANY IDEA HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SWITCH via windows 7?

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Answer 15

Mar 15, 2014 3:53 PM in response to DESSOUKY

Do a search for vt100 terminal emulators for windows 7 , I have just looked and there are lots, just choose a safe download.

The thread as moved well away from Apple products, a MS forum may suit the problem better for terminal emulation in Win 7, it is 7-10 years since I worked with MS software.

Glad you are getting there, with the right terminal emulator the TP-link site would be a better place to search for answers.

Good luck, you will have lots of pleasure sorting out the details even if it is not clear how to start, I enjoyed network admin.

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