There is nothing on UTp ports 17-24.

I'll check with the console to see what message I get from the sw when I (un)plug the transceiver

Ports g17-g24 are combo ports.  This means either the UTP or the fiber port are on at a time, not both.  

Another thing to look at is, do you see a message on the serial console when the SFP transceiver is inserted?  If not, then you may be using an incompatible transceiver.

I've done some tests. I did connected a laptop to the console port on the switch. As I was logged in and I removed a transceiver, I got the message "transceiver was removed from port G23" (the one I removed).

When I put it back I've got the message: "transceiver was inserted into port G23"

Now, I do have some basics knowledge on switching and routings ... but just basics. Most of the time I use the device help.

I did a show interfaces status and on the SPF ports (G17 to G24) the status is DOWN (but I gues this is because there is nothing connected on it)

Also I did:

configure

interface ethernet G23

no shutdown

end

Nothing changed, the port is still not working. Any suggestions how to activate the port? Some commands will be most welcomed.

Thank you very much!

If you do not get link, then it is a connectivity problem.  Some things to look at:

- are you sure cables are good?   

- are the cables crossed over so that RX on one transceiver is connected to TX on the other?

- are the cables the correct type for the type of transceiver?  A rule that works for the most common transceiver types: orange cable for SR transceivers, blue cable for LR transceivers.

- are you going through any patch panels or using any cable couplers?  make sure these are good.

- are both transceivers the same type? SR, LR, LRM, etc.

- try a loopback with the switch.  put 2 transceivers of the same type in the switch, make sure you get the messages on the serial console that the switch sees them, connect one to the other with the same type of fiber cable that you are using in your network.   Do you get link?

- post the transceiver brands and part numbers that you are using

Obviously the workstation is not in the server room (where the 6024 sw is)

The diagram is like this:

Workstation fiber NIC (ST) -> orange ST / ST cable -> wall socket (ST) -> OF cable through the wall -> patch panel (ST on the front) -> orange ST / LC cable (about 3m)-> LC transceiver inserted into 6024 switch

Of course I did swap the cables (TX with RX) in all possible ways. No LED activity on the sw. No message on the console connection to the sw.

The way it works is like this:

Workstation fiber NIC (ST) -> orange ST / ST cable -> wall socket (ST) -> OF cable through the wall -> patch panel (ST on the front) -> orange ST / SC cable -> Media convertor -> UTP cable -> UTP port on the 6024 switch

Now you see why I'm trying to use the SFP ports. This way I don't need to use media converters for every new workstation I have to add to the network

As you can see I'm not using any cable couplers. All the cables I'm using are orange. I don't have blue ones. Is a blue ST/LC cable mandatory???

The transceivers are all the same. Tomorrow morning I'll post the brand and part number. Also I'll try the loop you suggested (hopefully I will find a LC/LC cable, if not maybe a cable coupler will do the trick)

Thanks for your support again.

PS: To my previous post, after the no shutdown and end command, I also run with success the copy run start command. Anyway after the no shut command I get no reply from the sw (I know that on CISCO switches you get a message saying that the interface changed state).

The loop had no efect what so ever. No light, no activity.

The transceivers are manufactured by DELL:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Storage_Accessories/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=A0955022

That part is an SR transceiver.   Are you sure both transceivers you used were SR? 

With SR transceivers, you can actually see the that the LED is lit by looking in the SFP.  The TX side is the left side when viewing the transceiver with the label up..   Don't jam your eyeball into it, but view it from about a foot a way.  You should see a faint orange light.  Now plug in the fiber and look in the end of the fiber, don't jam it in your eye, view it from about a foot away.  With the lc connector positioned with the clamp on top, you should see the left side lit (if right side is lit, then cable is not crossed over and that is your problem, unlikely).  Try this with both transceivers and from both ends of the cable to make sure everything appears to be working.

Did you try multiple fiber cables to make sure you do not have a bad one? 

Is there any writing on the fiber cable?  What is it?  Does it say  62.5/125 um or something else?   How long is it?  SR is rated to 1640 ft.

All tranceivers are identical. I did checked the LED activity on the cables. Indeed it was not crossed over.

After switching the cables, I got the following reply from 2064:

I'll add some print screens, maybe will give you more infos:

command: sh int status

command: sh int conf

trying to activate a port with no reaction from the switch after the no shut command:

So, it seems the transceivers are working, the cables are good. Do you think is a configuration problem?

If you need me to do some more commands on the sw and post the result here than I'm happy to follow your guidance.

Please post the output of the following with the cable between ports g22 and g24 connected:

show version

show running-config

show spanning-tree

show interface status

Obviously there is a big time difference between us :emotion-1:

I'll post the results Monday morning (Monday night for you), since now I left work.

Thanks for your continous support!

Here is the output for those commands:

command: sh version

command: sh running-config

command: sh spanning-tree

command: sh int status

sh spanning-tree

- shows port g22 and g24 up and g24 in blocking state.  This is good

sh int status

- shows g22 and g24 have link.  This disagrees with the previous information you posted.

So I think we have proven both 6024 transceivers are good and the loopback cable you are using is good.  That leaves the cabling and the transciever and the PC.  But you said the cabling and PC transceiver work with the media converter.  Strange.

Can you do some standard debugging of the cabling/connectivity?  I suggest:

-  connect PC directly to switch with same cable that is going to be used to go to patch panel.  Check that crossover cable is correct and get link up.

- connect PC to back of patch panel with LC/LC coable.  This tests coupler in patch panel. Check that crossover cable is correct and get link up.

- connect PC back in office.  This checks the coupler in the wall connector.  Check that crossover cable is correct and get link up.

At any time if you do not get link up, look at end of cable to see which side is lit.  Going into switch and PC, with the clamps on the fibre connector on top, the left hand side should be lit.

I do not see that you ever posted what is written on the cable.  Please post.

I've took the computer right next to the sw. With a 3 meters long LC/ST cable (orange with the inscription Optical cable - plus corning 62.5/125 optical fiber - 02/06 - LSZH) I connected the computer to dell sw. Again, NO activity on the sw. Ofcourse the lit cable when into the left side of the computer NIC. If I switch them, the NIC keeps flashing.

Interesting thing is that if I switch the network card from full to half duplex (or the other way around) I get the "connected" message for about 2 sec and then goes back to "not connected". Unfortunately, no response from the sw in this time. I.ve also checked on the sw and port g22 (the one I'm using for testing) is full duplex (as they are all)

I stopped the cables tests, since I couldn't get the basic one to work.

I also connected via the web interface. With the computer connected i tried some "admin state up" / "admin state down" configs. I've also moved g22 port from vlan10 to vlan1 (only 2 configured) ... since all UTP ports are on vlan1 and I know all UTP connections are working. Again, NO response from the SFP ports. Also after playing with vlans members ... somehow the web interface is not responding any more.

I'm getting crazy here! I'm pretty sure this is not a cable problem (unless I really need a blue cable as you previously mentioned). I would say it is more likely to be a configuration problem.

Thanks for your patience!

Any sugesstion? Any ideea is more than welcomed. Personaly, I've tryied in all possible ways with no results.

How about connecting the switch to the fiber side of the media converter?  Can you get link there?  Make sure the cable is crossed over if necessary.

Post the make and model number of the media converter.

Post the make and model of the NIC in the PC.