Utility to make network port flash?

[theeldergeek]

I currently use a Fluke tester for much of my day to day network diagnostics, but at roughly £1000 a piece, a 2nd one for a technician at a remote site isn't about to happen any time soon...

 

So, on the Fluke I do have, there is the facility to make a network switch port 'flash' in such a way so you can tell which data node goes to which port on the switch. I simply plug the Fluke into a node, set the correct mode on the Fluke, and the port on the switch 'flashes' (differently to how they normally flash with data so it's easy to recognise which port is being polled).

 

Great for mapping rooms where no prior knowledge of what goes where is known!

 

I am looking for a freeware software utility to run under Windows XP/7 that may be able to do the same; something the 2nd technician can run on a laptop. They could plug the laptop into the node, run the software, and it will flash the LED lights in such a way so they can see which port their node terminates at on the switch.

 

Hope that makes sense? Any ideas?

Edited March 20, 2012 by theeldergeek

[plexer]

The cheaper test-um tools have that functionality.

 

Ben

[plexer]

NT750 LanScapertm Network Testing Kit

 

NT750 LANScaper Kit - 8 Remotes

 

Ben

[theeldergeek]

Thanks guys - helpful info, especially as the technician at the remote site already has one of the Test-Um kits! Shame he doesn't yet know how to use it...

Following on from that though, is there such a freeware utility such as I described that will do this sort of thing? It'd be damn useful to have installed on my technician laptop!

[MYK-IT]

Configure technician's laptop NIC to 10(or 100mbps) and/or half duplex, select appropriate mode on switch (to show speed / duplex mode) and connected port should show up alot easier???

[theeldergeek]

Configure technician's laptop NIC to 10(or 100mbps) and/or half duplex, select appropriate mode on switch (to show speed / duplex mode) and connected port should show up alot easier???

 

That'd be one way, I guess, but I can't see how to do that on the switches in question, Cisco SG2xx series, if at all.

 

Another factor is that the technician in question doesn't have (and I'm not going to give them) administrator access to the switches, so they can't log into them and make any changes. You obviously didn't know that prior to your suggestion 'cos I never told you!

 

Ideally, this is a 'look see' exercise to see what goes to where as opposed to administration of switches.