Unmanaged LAN switch ports

[Harry Bloomfield]

I've bought a s/h TP-Link tl-sg108 8 port unmanaged switch, to replace a repurposed old router....

I have a LAN cable from the main router, to feed it, does that cable need to be plugged into any particular socket on the switch please?

The connected/activity LED on port #1 doesn't light up, is this normal?

 

[Rodders53]

Any port will work for the input from a router.

Only port 1? The others light or not?

Is the other end of the ethernet cable connected?

Is the DC power light on? Is PSU OK?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is the other end of the ethernet cable connected?

Yes.

Is the DC power light on? Is PSU OK?

Yes.

Only port 1? The others light or not?

It's rather odd, but data is working fine...

Each port has one single green LED, next to it. Which ever port I plug the cable with the feed from the main router, the LED doesn't come on. Plug any item of equipment into any of the ports, then their LED comes on and starts flashing.

I thought the #1 port LED wasn't working at all, because it is slightly off-set - you have to look at it from a strange angle, to see it when lit, but working it is.

 

[SpecialK]

Check what the green LED indicates. Some indicate 10/100 or 1000 connection rate... They often have a flickering orange led to show data is being sent...

 

[SpecialK]

https://static.tp-link.com/res/down/doc/TL-SG108E_V2_UG.pdf

Page 5
Reads like it will either be green or yellow LED on when a device is connected.

 

[opps]

If you are simply plugging the ethernet into a port on the router, it will not flash unless something is requesting traffic via the switch.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Check what the green LED indicates. Some indicate 10/100 or 1000 connection rate... They often have a flickering orange led to show data is being sent...

Just one LED - the green one.

https://static.tp-link.com/res/down/doc/TL-SG108E_V2_UG.pdf

Page 5
Reads like it will either be green or yellow LED on when a device is connected.

That's for the managed switch.. This is the unmanaged switch.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If you are simply plugging the ethernet into a port on the router, it will not flash unless something is requesting traffic via the switch.

I have four items plugged in, all are flashing wildly, but not the main LAN connection, irrespective of which port I plug it into.

 

[opps]

I have four items plugged in, all are flashing wildly, but not the main LAN connection, irrespective of which port I plug it into.

Sorry Harry, I have just realised that you are talking about the feed into the switch rather than the LED from the router. To be honest, I don't know if the LED for the connection into the switch should show LED activity or not. Does the LED in the router port light up?

Based on your reply, my gut instinct is that it, the feed from the router into the switch is just a dumb server, it is not requesting data, but rather, forwarding it from the devices connected to the switch- but I am only guessing.

 

[martygturner]

Harry try : https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/736/

Link lights are cable dependant... check how your link cable is wired up

 

[SpecialK]

What does your manual say about the LEDs then?

 

[mattylad]

My Tp link 5 port router does not show an illuminated LED on the port with the incoming cable in it.
If it's working then it's working - go find something else to get hung up on