How to track unused cables

zackburf · October 25, 2017, 12:44:06 PM

Hey everyone. I started at my current job and I manage the network for about 5 campuses and 15 remote sites. I took over for what 3 people before have set up.

My problem is that we have multiple closets that have entire patch panels filled up and ready to use, but I have no idea where the majority of those wires run too. It has gotten so bad that we have patch panels that are completley punched down but only have a couple or ports in use and then bundles of extra cable running into the switch right beside them. I would like to know where those un-used cables that are already punched down, run too so that we can put them to use and stop running extra cable when its not needed. Do anyone know of any tools to simply tracking those cables outside of climbing into the ceiling?

icecream-guy · October 25, 2017, 12:50:15 PM

need a toner, plug one end of the cable into the base unit, and walk around with the toner wand, which will BEEP or whistle when the other end is near. some of the better toner have cable length indicators, so if it reads 300' you know the other end is nowhere close .

deanwebb · October 25, 2017, 04:58:05 PM

Quote from: ristau5741 on October 25, 2017, 12:50:15 PM
need a toner, plug one end of the cable into the base unit, and walk around with the toner wand, which will BEEP or whistle when the other end is near. some of the better toner have cable length indicators, so if it reads 300' you know the other end is nowhere close .

Yep. It's toner time. This is a network cable toner, not printer toner. Document as you go along so you'll have a reference guide for the future.

SimonV · October 26, 2017, 01:57:45 AM

Check port statistics on the switches (last input/output) and remove everything that wasn't used for more than a month.

icecream-guy · October 26, 2017, 08:02:05 AM

Quote from: SimonV on October 26, 2017, 01:57:45 AM
Check port statistics on the switches (last input/output) and remove everything that wasn't used for more than a month.

There are some companies that like to have all ports available/connected to switch, sometimes in a shutdown state, activated when needed, (which is a PITA to find sometimes without good documentation), and some companies use some sort of control to allow users to come up online in a secure manner, I think ForeScout has a product like that. so it's not always best to disconnect unused cables. It would depend on the corporate security policy.

zackburf · October 26, 2017, 10:21:08 AM

Alot of the cables run to unused wall jacks and my boss wants to keep those 'hot'. But there are tons that I am sure are just laying un-used in the ceiling and those are the ones I want to track and put into use or at least map for the future.

Thank you again for the help. Time to start toning I guess.

deanwebb · October 26, 2017, 10:35:22 AM

Quote from: zackburf on October 26, 2017, 10:21:08 AM
Alot of the cables run to unused wall jacks and my boss wants to keep those 'hot'. But there are tons that I am sure are just laying un-used in the ceiling and those are the ones I want to track and put into use or at least map for the future.

Thank you again for the help. Time to start toning I guess.

Toning and documenting.

icecream-guy · October 26, 2017, 10:36:03 AM

Quote from: zackburf on October 26, 2017, 10:21:08 AM
Alot of the cables run to unused wall jacks and my boss wants to keep those 'hot'. But there are tons that I am sure are just laying un-used in the ceiling and those are the ones I want to track and put into use or at least map for the future.

Thank you again for the help. Time to start toning I guess.

if he want's them to remain hot, put the ports into an unused vlan and turn off dynamic trunking for security

int e1/48
switchport access vlan 999
desc (999 is unused vlan)
switchport nonegotiate

if they get active, you can find the connected port by MAC address