Identifying patch panel connections with their remote jacks

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Inherited a building in which the people doing the ethernet runs didn't really know what they were doing. They just pulled a bunch of wire across the building and terminated at a patch panel. 40+ jacks throughout the building.

The prior guy didn't do any mapping and I'm needing to sort out some network issues.

What's the easiest/best way to go about mapping these things?

I'm guessing a tester at the wall and then run through the patch panel until the unit lights up. Cheap and easy solution, just time consuming.

Any better ideas?

 

[her209]

Do you have spare laptops?

What you could do is attach a managed Cisco switch to the patch panel and enable sticky mac address. As you power on the laptops and they start sending frames, the mac address of each laptop will get written into the running configuration.

 

[Fardringle]

No matter what process you choose, it is going to take some time to map all of the ports if you don't have a reference map already.


You can also do this with a standard switch if you don't want to buy a signal tester.

Wire all of the ports on the patch panel to ports on the switch. Make sure the connections are as straight and organized as possible so you don't have to sort through a pile of "spaghetti" while doing your testing. Turn off or disconnect all network devices in the office. One at a time, connect a laptop to each office/wall port (or just turn on the device attached to that port) and look for the active port on the switch. Follow the ethernet cable from that port on the switch to the corresponding port on the patch panel to determine which port is currently active. Mark that port number on your map. I also recommend writing the number on the actual wall panel with a permanent marker to make it easier to find the numbers in the future, particularly if something happens to your map. Turn the current device off (or just make a note of its port on the switch so you don't get confused), then repeat the process with the next wall port and continue until you have completed your map.

 

[Modelworks]

Easiest way without having to use computers is buy one of the cheap network cable checkers. They only test if the wires are connected to the right pins, not the bandwidth or any of that , basically a power source at one end and led that lights at the other end, runs off 9 volt battery. Cost about 5-$15
http://www.a1components.com/itemdisplayn.aspx?item=10635

Or if you want to do it quicker there are 8 way and 16 way versions
http://www.a1components.com/itemdisplayn.aspx?item=12039

 

[spidey07]

Just use a toner. No need to make it complicated.

 

[Emulex]

yup toner and a dude with a walkie talkie. map it out.

also if its telco too make sure some a-hole didn't split a cat5 for 4 phones (2wire).

Hell i've seen standard cat6 split in half to run two 100 meg lol. stupid. pin specific toner might be helpful in those whacky times.

sometimes a job just has to get done and pulling an entire new patch panel isn't going to happen in old buildings. things can get ghetto real fast

 

[Zargon]

Just use a toner. No need to make it complicated.

yup

 

[ViviTheMage]

Just use a toner. No need to make it complicated.

This would be my way ... much easier. Might take a while, but any method will, if they're not labeled at all. This requires the least amount of tools/work if you ask me.

 

[skyking]

The second person and cellphones with headsets really shortens that task up.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Damn, just typed out a response and it timed out. Grrr.

Didn't think about just shutting it all down and turning them on one by one to see what lights up. Nice, free solution.

Ended up with a 77HP and 200EP toner kit. Have walkie-talkies so will just get someone to help me some weekend to generate while I figure out where it's going.

Thanks again all

 

[spidey07]

Damn, just typed out a response and it timed out. Grrr.

Didn't think about just shutting it all down and turning them on one by one to see what lights up. Nice, free solution.

Ended up with a 77HP and 200EP toner kit. Have walkie-talkies so will just get someone to help me some weekend to generate while I figure out where it's going.

Thanks again all

Make sure you don't plug a RJ11 into a RJ45 jack with your toner kit.

And don't lick your finger of your left hand while you hold the wand in your right running your now wet left finger down the wall field to quickly identify the tone.

Sounds like a good idea, works great!

RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Sorry guys, been doing this shit way too long.

 

[seepy83]

And don't lick your finger of your left hand while you hold the wand in your right running your now wet left finger down the wall field to quickly identify the tone.

Sounds like a good idea, works great!

RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Sorry guys, been doing this shit way too long.

Can you clarify what you mean? I never licked my finger first, but I used to do this all the time to trace phone lines on 66 blocks. Never got zapped or anything...

 

[spidey07]

Ring voltage.

 

[Emulex]

hell i was stripping a phone cable at home and some ahole called when i was like 10

learned that one quick.

 

[skyking]

I do a lot of what you are doing, and I have a couple of different generators. I made adapters to 4 pair and hook up the tone generators, and then go tag those two or three drops based on the different sound. That saves me time when working alone.