How to Check if Ethernet Port Is Working
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The guy that I replaced apparently didn't know what he was doing when he set up the networking for one of our buildings. In a closet (that the cleaning people store their brooms in that often fall on the open lines..ugh) we have a fiber line coming in. It goes to a 16-port switch, where ethernet cables then are taken to a 48-port router. That 2nd device has numbered ports, 1-48. My problem is that when he hooked all of this up, he put everything in all willy-nilly and mislabeled everything. So we have several cubes that are labeled, and some aren't labeled. For example, a cube with an ethernet outlet labeled 11D (port 11, data) is also labeled as active but then I go into the room with the switch and see that there isn't anything plugged into port 11. Also, none of the cables themselves have any labels or indicators stating where they're coming from/going to. I'm guessing that numbers weren't his strong suit. So now I have to try and guess which 16 ports are actually active, and which aren't, and put them all in the right place.
So what I need to know is, what is your favorite device for testing the activity on an eithernet outlet? I need to be able to plug it into each cube's outlet and see if it actually has a signal or if it's just going nowhere. Alternatively, is there a better way to find out where everything is coming from or going to so that I can figure out which unlabeled outlets go to which numbered port? Also, I won't be able to just unplug everything all at once as most of those lines are being used, so at most I would be taking out one at a time.
Thanks in advance!
I finally got it all sorted out!
The switch is a managed switch, but the issue with it was that it wasn't marked with any sort of IP. I had been using Angry IP scanner to identify the IP's that were in use, but it wasn't giving me results on any of the switches or routers. As per the suggestion of rjones1, I was able to use Advanced IP Scanner V2 to correctly identify which devices were switches and the IP/MAC of each. Through trial and error I found the IP of the switch in question.
From that point, it was just a matter of identifying ports and their respective outlets. I didn't have the proper toner here onsite, and I didn't wanna wait for one to get shipped, so I got a little crafty. I used a router with an active connection indicator LED, and plugged it into each of the outlets. I was able to use that to identify which ports were active/inactive. For each outlet, I had to do some unplugging/plugging with the switches until I got the connectivity indicator LED to turn on, that told me which numbered port was which.
Long story short, the ports are now properly labeled and are in their correct place, and the dang switch finally has it's IP on there.
Thanks everyone for all of your help and suggestions, I really appreciate it!
Viva La Spice!
28 Replies
Petes PC Repairs is an IT service provider.
usually best with the network testers that come with multiple end sockets so you can do say a room at a time
usually best with two of you and a set of walkie talkies
Petes PC Repairs is an IT service provider.
If the switch is a managed switch you can see what ports are used and what MAC addresses are connected to them via the management interface.
Rockn wrote:
If the switch is a managed switch you can see what ports are used and what MAC addresses are connected to them via the management interface.
This is the exact same thing I did, everything seemed to be labeled but some ports were going to hubs and hubs to switches and little bit of the "willy nilly" here. Ended up using advanced IP scanner V2 to print out all the IP's and Mac-addresses, telneted to the switch and made a spread sheet of which port went to which IP and MAC-address. Now have a fully detailed spread sheet of our network layout.
May not be instant gratification but you'll stay busy for a good amount of time.
sounds like the exact setup I have! I recently replaced my switch and stupidly did not go with a managed switch
Merryworks is an IT service provider.
Cable tester and a toner so you can trace lines easier.
If it were me, I'd be itching to fix it all to make sure the labeling matched and to add labels to the ones that aren't labelled.
I assumes the runs all terminate into a patch panel? Even if they don't I'd start by using a toner (like this one) to match the ports in the cubicles to the cables in the closet (and label them), then move them to the appropriate ports on the switch and program the switch accordingly. A decent day's work, but well worth it in the long run IMO.
I think i would start with Managed switches. Your will get easier from there.
I got one of these from Home Depot and have been VERY happy with it:
http://www.kleintools.com/sites/kleintools/files/product-information/KleinTools-VDV-Scout-Pro-LT_Brochure.pdf
It includes four numbered tips to plug into ethernet ports (as well as a set of four for coax). When you plug the tester into the other end, it tells you which tip it corresponds with, so you can trace four jacks at a time.
It can also send tones, but you'll need to get a probe to go with it to find ports that way.
If I recall, it was about $55.
I finally got it all sorted out!
The switch is a managed switch, but the issue with it was that it wasn't marked with any sort of IP. I had been using Angry IP scanner to identify the IP's that were in use, but it wasn't giving me results on any of the switches or routers. As per the suggestion of rjones1, I was able to use Advanced IP Scanner V2 to correctly identify which devices were switches and the IP/MAC of each. Through trial and error I found the IP of the switch in question.
From that point, it was just a matter of identifying ports and their respective outlets. I didn't have the proper toner here onsite, and I didn't wanna wait for one to get shipped, so I got a little crafty. I used a router with an active connection indicator LED, and plugged it into each of the outlets. I was able to use that to identify which ports were active/inactive. For each outlet, I had to do some unplugging/plugging with the switches until I got the connectivity indicator LED to turn on, that told me which numbered port was which.
Long story short, the ports are now properly labeled and are in their correct place, and the dang switch finally has it's IP on there.
Thanks everyone for all of your help and suggestions, I really appreciate it!
Viva La Spice!
I highly recommend buying a Fluke Linkrunner. I have one in my kit and they are the best thing since sliced bread. Especially if you get the kit with the 6 other Cable ID's. Also, the nice thing with Fluke is they can put tone on a cable to an active port. Some testers/toners are unable to do so.
PCSmart Solutions is an IT service provider.
I use a Black Box model TS029A-R3, it pretty much does all what I need to test cables, switches ports, etc. Very inexpensive too.
Yeah if you just need a simple "pass/fail" you can get by even with Ideal cable tester. I just like the Fluke because you can test up to 8 cables at a time with their Cable ID RJ-45 jacks.
ByteBrothers Real World Certifier and ByteBrothers Power Panel.
One avenue to test for activity is to graph/monitor the switches themselves:
Cacti @ http://www.cacti.net/
Cacti will show activity, but does not tell you what or who...
Netdisco @ http://www.netdisco.org/
Will track MAC/IP addresses.. by port and of course show edge switches etc..
Cacti is an easy install.
Netdisco, can cause grey hair and ulcers.
You need a buddy and a free Saturday. This mess might not bite you in the ass immediately, but Murphy's Law will rear its ugly head at some point at which you'll have to do it at a time that isn't of your choosing.
Here's an idea . . . 48 port switches are not that expensive these days. Why not just buy a 48 port switch and some patch cables and just make every cable in the office "hot". The amount of time you are going to spend toning out and labeling all of this wiring will probably exceed the cost of the switch!
If the switch is managed and Spiceworks can scan it, and the devices connected to it, you should be able to pull a report from inventory per device containing the switch and switch port the device is connected to. Take list of devices, switches, ports -> make labels and then sort out the odd ones out. (Multiple devices showing up the same switch and port are connected to an unmanaged switch which is connected to the managed switch on the port showing up in the inventory scan.)
I was able to resolve this issue. I re-marked the best answer to indicate the post that says as much.
The cheapest and easiest--
I just make a loopback plug and stick it in the rj45 jack - this will light up the port on the switch assuming that the switch is patched to the panel.
We do this all the time to test if the int is up or if the drop is patched correctly. Or if the Telco guy didn't config the smart jack correctly.
Easy to make -- check out this article on cisco's site.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk713/tk628/technologies_tech_note09186a008010059a.shtml
Expensive-
get yourself a fluke tester!!!
Well if you are testing quite a few cables a tester comes in quite handy. I just had to test an office of over 80 network drops, be able to use the Fluke with 8 cable ID's saved me a ton of time. The devices pay for themselves.
Though a slower process, you could have also used Spiceworks inventory to identify computer/port combos. LanTopoLog could have also done it.
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How to Check if Ethernet Port Is Working
Source: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/286009-test-ethernet-outlets-active-or-not