Improved 8 Port Gigabit Switches for Internet Access.
Improved 8 Port Gigabit Switches for Internet Access.
Hello everyone.
I own two 8 port gigabit switches which are required because I have multiple devices in each room.
The main router is on the ground floor, the first gigabit switch is upstairs in office #1, the second gigabit switch is in office #2.
Occasionally I need to restart these switches by unplugging and plugging them in to get internet back up in the upstairs offices.
The devices are TP-LINK models.
I’m wondering if there’s a switch that doesn’t require regular reboots?
Thanks.
Assuming you're dealing with unmanaged switches, it's hard to see why you'd need to interact with them.
These devices are quite basic, maintaining a record of the MAC addresses they detect on each port to determine where to send traffic.
The only issues I've noticed causing failures are loops. For instance, if you connect two switches in a router setup and then link the two switches together, over time it can lead to a broadcast storm. Recently even these inexpensive switches support spanning tree, which helps prevent this problem.
I own multiple switches, DLink and TP-link.
Some of these are more than ten years old, used nonstop.
I've had to restart them countless times...none at all.
There must be another explanation.
I'm wondering what's happening with those switches upstairs—every two weeks, they need a reset. Could be a bad cable or something else.
Well, actually I also have one of those (8x 1GB ports) - and I remember having an issue once. The network connection to the router stopped working. The thing I wish I had done more is check the arp table of connected devices, or just ping between them. I was in a rush and needed to restore the connection, so I briefly turned off power and it somehow fixed the problem. That’s why I’m not sure if the switch or the router was the cause.
I create everything myself. I don't know the exact brand of CAT5E or CAT6 cables I own, but I purchase RJ45 connectors and crimp them myself. I use a tester with a 9V battery to check the cables after assembling them.
My router upstairs is a TP-Link AX11000. The gigabit switches are TP-Link TL-SG1008D and a TRENDnet TEG-S82g.
I'm using Linux Mint and I'm looking for network tools that can analyze the LAN.
Thanks.
I would suggest testing it with a store-bought high-quality Cat5e cable.
The article prompted me to reconsider making comparable suggestions.
One should focus on gathering details before attempting any changes.
I’m not entirely sure of the exact Linux commands, but there are closely related ones.
First, I’d run IPCONFIG /all to check the IP configuration.
A DHCP problem seems likely.
As discussed earlier, the ARP table might display unusual entries—especially the router’s IP address.
If another device takes over the gateway IP, it could lead to complications.
There are techniques called ARP poisoning that deliberately interfere with this process.
Such activities usually happen within a local network, not over the internet.
If kids are attempting to circumvent router rules, that’s something they might do.
I’d also test connectivity by pinging other devices; this would confirm whether the issue lies solely with the router.
Before rebooting the switch, try disconnecting and reconnecting the cable to see if it resolves the problem.
Then unplug the router cables to force a reset of its internal tables (like the ARP table) on the LAN port.
A reboot might be necessary since the Wi-Fi and LAN tables could become corrupted.
There are specific commands for clearing these entries, though I’ve only seen them in third-party firmware updates.
It’s unlikely the issue is with the switch or cables themselves.
Faulty cables usually impact just one port, while switches generally operate reliably.
As noted, you can loop devices and software might target them directly.
They store a large number of MAC address records per port, but it would take a persistent attack to exceed limits.
This behavior resembles ARP poisoning attempts aimed at disrupting router access.
Network layout resembling:
Connections (where ---> indicates an Ethernet cable):
Router[LAN port] -----> [LAN port] Switch #1[LAN port] ----> [LAN port] Switch #2
or each Switch linked directly to the Router without being daisy chained.
Do you possess a network diagram or sketch that illustrates the network and all connected devices?
= = = =
Concern about:
"Regularly I must restart these switches by unplugging and plugging them in, which brings Internet back to the upstairs offices."
What triggers this process? Are only certain users affected, or is it a complete loss of connectivity?
Are internet services restored for all users, or just specific ones in the upstairs office?
Is there someone contacting you or others involved in this?
Can you access the router logs (if available and enabled)?
Are any external devices connected to the switches?
Make sure to monitor power sources for those switches—such as outlets, power strips, surge protectors, UPS units, etc.