When installing our first two T3 array units, we found that they could not
aquire their IP-address from the rarp server when connected to a cisco
catalyst 2948.  This is due to the fact that the catalyst takes longer
to activate the interface than the Purple unit will wait for an rarp response.

To solve this, you have to change the spann-tree setting of the catalyst
port to "portfast", thus allowing it to first enable the port, and then
check for integrity using the spanning tree algorithm.  By default,
the catalysts check the integrity of the spanning tree first, and then
enable the port.  Autonegotiation for speed on the port is no problem, however.

Below is an example of how to set this parameter on a catalyst 2948.  Command
syntax may vary with different software releases or other catalyst machines.


shinker@powerdoc [17] $ telnet cisco-2
Trying 192.168.1.249...
Connected to cisco-2.
Escape character is '^]'.

Cisco-2    --  Cisco 2924

     BCG Langen

User Access Verification

Password: 
cisco-2>ena
Password: 
cisco-2#conf term
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
cisco-2(config)#inter fast 0/16
cisco-2(config-if)#spann portfast
cisco-2(config-if)#exit
cisco-2(config)#exit
cisco-2#exit
Connection closed by foreign host.