Joanne Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 SCENARIO: You swapped all the switches in summer and unpatched all points. You patched in only those that were needed. Since then a whiteboard has been installed in a room which is infrequently used. I have put a machine in there, BUT this monstrosity awaited me: I need to patch it in, but have no idea what number it is. The closest points are in my room, but I don't think the number will be close to mine (they are jumbled up around the school!!) I don't have a network cable tester. I'm thinking plug pc into point and have it continuously ping, then at the panels, go one at a time to see which one it is. This is time consuming... What would you do? I'm close to finding a laptop to slam in there!!!
halbaradkenafin Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 SCENARIO: You swapped all the switches in summer and unpatched all points. You patched in only those that were needed. Since then a whiteboard has been installed in a room which is infrequently used. I have put a machine in there, BUT this monstrosity awaited me: [ATTACH=CONFIG]27932[/ATTACH] I need to patch it in, but have no idea what number it is. The closest points are in my room, but I don't think the number will be close to mine (they are jumbled up around the school!!) I don't have a network cable tester. I'm thinking plug pc into point and have it continuously ping, then at the panels, go one at a time to see which one it is. This is time consuming... What would you do? I'm close to finding a laptop to slam in there!!! Port tester tool like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/RJ11-Ethernet-Network-Cable-Tester/dp/B004N5J7UC Should be able to plug one end into what you think is the main network cable and then use the other end at your patch panels and work your way along till you get a signal. Pretty simple job but very tedious if you've got lots of ports. Failing that I'd do a bit of checking in the ceiling (if you've got a false ceiling anyway) for stray ports that were installed for whatever reason and were taken over for this.
timbo343 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 They all have to go somewhere so I guess I would put something in to network sockets around the area and then disconnect devices from there. Is there only you on site or is there someone who can help you?
sonofsanta Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 So you need to find which unconnected patch port is the other end of the cable? Oof. Personally I'd plug a PC/laptop into that cable with a known static IP, then go to the switch cab with another laptop, set it pinging that static IP, plug a cable into the switch then go along the patch panel with the other end. When you see pings answer you, you've got your answer. Alternatively go along and wait for the little green light on the switch port to come on, but you won't know if that's this device or another hidden thing you're not expecting...
Joanne Posted December 10, 2014 Author Posted December 10, 2014 Just lil' ol' me. The lazy Joanne says, "FIND A LAPTOP TO PUT IN THERE!!" Lazy Joanne is winning at the moment. I should really invest in a cable tester for myself anyway. Also, we do have false ceilings, but I don't think they like me to be moving the tiles. County put out a notice about not doing it because of fire regs!
plexer Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Also, we do have false ceilings, but I don't think they like me to be moving the tiles. County put out a notice about not doing it because of fire regs! They're just stupid, as long as you put them back when you're done theirs no issue so they can bite me. Ben
sonofsanta Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Also, we do have false ceilings, but I don't think they like me to be moving the tiles. County put out a notice about not doing it because of fire regs! lolwut? On what grounds? What's the point in suspended ceilings if you're not allowed to go into them? Daft. Network cable testers are brilliant, though. You should get one.
smithson83 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 I'd be looking to buy a Tone Generator / Probe Kit something like this. Plug the tone generator in to the cable you want to trace, then use the wand to pick up the tone and follow it back to the cabinet
halbaradkenafin Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 I'd be looking to buy a Tone Generator / Probe Kit something like this. Plug the tone generator in to the cable you want to trace, then use the wand to pick up the tone and follow it back to the cabinet That's going to be my next upgrade. Normal cable testers are great but that's even better.
Domino Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Also, we do have false ceilings, but I don't think they like me to be moving the tiles. County put out a notice about not doing it because of fire regs! I think by that they mean 'moving them and not putting them back' - which would have an impact on the fire safety report.
Joanne Posted December 10, 2014 Author Posted December 10, 2014 I'd be looking to buy a Tone Generator / Probe Kit something like this. Plug the tone generator in to the cable you want to trace, then use the wand to pick up the tone and follow it back to the cabinet Place I worked at before had these... I like the wooo wooo sounds they make!!
andydis Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 what switches do you have ? i would plug a laptop in and note the mac address and get on these switches to find out what port the mac address is paired with ( i think this can only be done on HP procurve and cisco's)
smithson83 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Place I worked at before had these... I like the wooo wooo sounds they make!!
Joanne Posted December 10, 2014 Author Posted December 10, 2014 what switches do you have ? i would plug a laptop in and note the mac address and get on these switches to find out what port the mac address is paired with ( i think this can only be done on HP procurve and cisco's) That'd be all well and good, but I need to patch in this monstrosity first. I have TP-Link thoooooooo innit. Basic.
sonofsanta Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Place I worked at before had these... I like the wooo wooo sounds they make!! @Joanne - dispelling female technician stereotypes since 2007. "I like the wooo wooo sounds they make!!" 1
Dkeen94 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 what switches do you have ? i would plug a laptop in and note the mac address and get on these switches to find out what port the mac address is paired with ( i think this can only be done on HP procurve and cisco's) I would go down this route, aslong as you know what switch it goes back to you should be able to find mac address by looking at the ports on the switch. If it is a HP Procurve switch log into the switch and type "sh mac-address" it will list all ports and the mac address of the device plugged into it.
Joanne Posted December 10, 2014 Author Posted December 10, 2014 Sorry, I should elaborate, a cable sticks out of the wall. This goes back to a patch panel. The cable isn't labelled. The patch panel isn't patched into the switch. Mah dilemma!! I've got a cold too... so don't fancy spending all my time stood on a chair at the switch cabinet #FirstWorldProblems
Dkeen94 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Unfortunately... without a cable tester you might have to keep going back and forth from the cab to figure this one out. Sorry to break the bad news!
Joanne Posted December 10, 2014 Author Posted December 10, 2014 I could just set a laptop pinging the server... but can't be bothered standing at the switch cabinet patching in each port one by one until I get flashes...
tmcd35 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 I take it the problem is nothing is patched between the patch panel and the switch? If so there is only one answer without a cable tester. Plug in a laptop. Get a patch lead plugged into the switch, keep moving the lead along the patch panel until the switch lights up. Remove the laptop and double check the patched port on the switch is deactivated (incase you unwittingly discovered another PC not patched in). Rinse and repeat on all possible patch panels until you find the one you're looking for. Even with a standard cable tester it'd be the same - test every port until you find it. The only quick way is one of those fancy sonic fable finders. I gotta get me one of those.
sted Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 I could just set a laptop pinging the server... but can't be bothered standing at the switch cabinet patching in each port one by one until I get flashes... dont need a laptop to ping to do that just needs to be on to light it up. infact as there is an 8 port switch there that will light up the other end ok with no extra hardware you could probably cobble something together with a 9v battery and an led if you were so inclined to make a temporary tester but as other have said a tone generator will be the quickest easiest way you could probably even just set one end to transmit and then just run the wand over all the unpatches in leads in your cab end till it sings out
Andrew_C Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 They're just stupid, as long as you put them back when you're done theirs no issue so they can bite me.Intact, with no missing springs... They can be critical to the prevention of the spread of fire. They can also form part of ventilation plenums.
timbo343 Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 Disconnect the cables from the switch. If anyone complains you know where the cable goes to
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