Need help identifying live network/data ports

[lb63640]

We've inherited several new offices and there aren't network maps or diagrams to indicate which network/data ports in the walls are live and which port number they correspond to at the patch panel.

Short of walking through with my laptop to all 30+ ports, I know there must be some equipment available to help me identify them. What do the rest of you use for situations like this, and where is the best online source to purchase the tools I'll need?

 

[KXTDIreland]

What you need is a Tone & Probe Kit.

Get someone to give you a hand (saves a lot of walking) and just plug the tone generator into a socket. This little device sends out an oscillating signal which can be picked up at the patch panel end by the Probe tool.

A couple of radios would be handy too, if it's a big place.

The best one on the market (IMO) is the one from Progressive Electronics.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PROGRESSIVE-ELE...temQQimsxZ20090509?IMSfp=TL090509121002r19392

http://www.systemnet.ie

 

[mikeydidit]

http://www.flukenetworks.com/fnet/en-us/products/MicroScanner 2/Overview

These are what we use. They come in around the $400.00 range which is cheap for data test equipment. This unit also has the tone feature built in but this unit sends the tone though all 4 pairs. It also has 4 identifying ends that makes this capable of finding multiple cables at once. OTDR, faults, cable pin outs. And it will also do RG-6/59.

Best bag for the buck as far as I am concerned.

* This unit is not for certifying cables...

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953

For the best response to a question, read faq690-6594

 

[wires]

I know there must be some equipment available to help me identify them. What do the rest of you use for situations like this, and where is the best online source to purchase the tools I'll need?"

If it is a live network I would use a managed switch and MAC addresses of the connected computers to make a diagram. Most managed switched will list what MAC addresses are on what ports. Something like Dell Powerconnect switches can be had on eBay for under $100. I will never use unmanaged switches in any network of over 10 devices anymore.

If the network is not live and I have an assistant I use a Microscanner and a Tempo 200FP to tone, label and verify pinout of all jacks. If I am alone I use the Microscanner remote identifier modules to make the initial map and then walk a bunch to verify pinout.

If the wiring is questionable In many cases I will certify all links with a Omniscanner. This is not as important as it used to be since I am now using managed switches which will report error rates on each port. If a port has an high error rate then the connected link needs to be fixed.


BTW - The Microscanner has a TDR not a OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) built in.

 

[mikeydidit]

Thanks for catching that for me wires. I posted that in between storms this morning..

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953

For the best response to a question, read faq690-6594

 

[crooter]

Try this

http://www.psiber.com/lanmaster30.html

It will tell you what jacks are analog or digital phone signals and what jacks are empty or have data----after you find out which jacks have data, then you will need a toner and I suggest you get a modular adapter to specify what pairs you tone--pairs 1/2 and 3/6 are your ethernet feeds and tone normally cant be heard on 4/5---so use 7/8

Good Luck

 

[overdraft015]

try this:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TEST-UM-NT750-/72-7605

this allows you to identify upto 8 cables at once and test all the pairs are wires correctly. i even has a built in tone generator for finding those lost cables.

i got a cheaper one for bout £100 from blackbox but couldnt find that one for you. but this ones essentially the same.

It's not what you know. It's who's on Tek-Tip's

 

[macphoneguy]

I would have to echo what mikeydidit the fluke Microscanner i have used it a number of times and it will tell me a live network jack, otherwise for the not live locations a toner & probe would be good, i've used the ones by progressive electronics for years, if you really wanted to get technical, the fluke cable IQ would tell you lots of things but it is more expensive the the microscanner