Intel 8254x Gigabit Speed Connection Issue with Cisco 650x Switches and OSX Serv 10.5

[spanionlust]

Having an issue here with a brand new Intel XServe (Running OSX Server 10.5.6 ) trying to get Gigabit Speeds working with our Cisco 6500 series switches.

On the Server if we change it to fixed for the following (we get no connection and a status of not active under the ethernet adapter and operational status of down on the switch port):

1. Fixed 1000BaseT/Full Duplex
2. Fixed 1000BaseT/Full Duplex with Flow Control

We have changed the switch port on the Cisco 6509 to match whatever we change on the server.

Setting both to auto-negotiate only works out to 100mb/full Duplex.

Leaving the switch on Auto and the server on Gigabit gets us 10mb/Half Duplex.

We are using Cat 5e Patch cables. And have tried different runs/cables in our data centre to isolate if it is a cabling issue.

Our Older PowerPC Xserves do not have this issue with the same switch. They use a Broadcom nic.

Hardware details of server are:

Model Name: Xserve
Model Identifier: Xserve2,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache: 12 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.6 GHz
Boot ROM Version: XS21.006C.B06
SMC Version: 1.26f3
LOM Revision: 1.1.1
Serial Number: YMxxxxxxxx

Any ideas on what we can do to get the auto-negotiate working better with these Intel Xserves? Am willing to edit kexts and also to try options on the Cisco switch. Is there any more info that you might need?

I have not found much on running 10.5.6 / Intel 8254x adapters and Cisco 6509 or Cisco 6513 switches and people having issues with their network card.

Xserve ( just bought Feb 09 ). Mac OS X Server (10.5.6)

 

[spanionlust]

All Fixed.

The usual fix for this kind of thing when there are few patch cables in the run to get to the switch. Change all the patch cables in the run until you find the one that is causing you the grief.

Should have known.

First Rule : Check the Physical.

thanks!