how does tester for ethernet work?

[luv2liv]

i have 1 cat5 cable, the ends are labeled A and B.

is there a tester that would let me know if the cable is straight or if it's going through a switch? as seen in this illustration

meaning, if there's a switch, would continuity fail?
i am looking for a tester that would let me know if it can differentiate.

thanks!

 

[sdifox]

I dont think cable testers work through switch.

 

[luv2liv]

I dont think cable testers work through switch.

you are right, the test will fail with a cheap cat 5 tester.

i wonder if this tool will work
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BDI6O7Q/

 

[Railgun]

You can't test a cable through a switch.

A wiremap tester will tell you how your cables are wired.

 

[luv2liv]

now im curious what that wiremap tester does and how it works.
im going into a building and all i see are wires. no idea if those wires have internet or going through any type of switch.....

 

[JackMDS]

While devices like Routers and Manage switches maintain MAC addresses and other info about the Network's Devices connected to them, Simple Switches are not designed for it.

Thus the way to id cables in an installation like you described involves old type faithful "legwork".

Get a device like this http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Network...1496990&sr=8-2&keywords=fluke+ethernet+tester

You start by unplugging the cable from one computer and plugging the cable into the toner. Then unplug from the switches one cable at the time and see if the tester id it. Lable the cable and then move to the next computer, and so on and so on.

It it is much easier to do so with a second person (does not have to be a big computer savvy) walking from one computer to the other while the other person (the more technical savvy) works at the switches (can use a cell phone or walky-talky to communicate between them).

 

[Railgun]

It it is much easier to do so with a second person (does not have to be a big computer savvy) walking from one computer to the other while the other person (the more technical savvy) works at the switches (can use a cell phone or walky-talky to communicate between them).

The nice ones will ever let you talk through the testers. But that's well beyond budget in this case.

 

[luv2liv]

awesome. thanks for the link and advice Jack!

 

[luv2liv]

ok, i got this wire tracker for $25
http://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-VicTsing®-Ethernet-Telephone-Tracking/dp/B008G8KE90/

it works as advertised. i placed the transmitter on 1 end of the cable, side A. then placed the receiver near the cables on the other side near the switch, side B. if cable's end matches, A and B is the same cable, the receiver will beep. BUT isnt there a better tracker whereby i dont have to unplug the cables on side B? ideally, i dont want to unplug anything at the switch side. it would be nice if the receiver will beep if a cable matches without me unplugging any cables

update 1:
looks like this is the one to get from fluke! $200!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-MT-8200-63A-IntelliTone-Pro200/dp/B0001FSCQS/
it will detect the cable on the other side without even unplugging the cable from the switch. wish theres something cheaper with same functionality

update 2:
so i found out my cheap $24 cable tracker works fine even when the cable is plugged into the switch. the catch? i have to turn the switch off! i guess with the switch on, it interfere with the toner's signal.