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Problems with connections from patch panel to switch

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10 replies

by arozanski

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Hello All,
I have a connection problem that I am working on at the school that I am at. The complaint is that the teacher since yesterday no longer gets an IP address, thus no internet connection. In the room is an RJ45 box with Ethernet cable connected from the box to the pc. I removed the Ethernet from the box and connected a patch cable from the box to my laptop and could not connect. This tells me the problem should be from the box back to the patch panel were this is connected to a Linksys switch which i noticed no light lit for the port that the Ethernet cable is plugged in to. If I connect the port directly to my laptop, it is fine. So, any idea's as to how the connection from the RJ45 box to the patch panel went bad? Am I on the correct track here? Sorry this was so lengthly.

Thank You

10 replies

by cg it

best way to determine if it's a bad cable.

rule of thumb on troubleshooting: rule out a hardware problem first.

by arozanski

Actually no, I do not have a tester. If it is the cable run from the box back to the patch panel, this has been installed for several years with no problem.

Thanks very much

by mjd420nova

If it works at the input to the panel but not at the end of the cable, then the cable is bad. A cable tester can be too expensive, but an ohmmeter will tell you which wire is bad. Shorting different pairs at the RJ45 wall outlet end will identify the bad sire. Replace the cable or if you have extra wires in the cable, switch to a good wire, otherwise it's crawling thru the overhead or walls. Try slicing in a new cable length to the old and pull it thru as you pull out the old.

by arozanski

thank you for the input. This all confirms my thought's as well.
I appreciate it.

by david.wallis

how long is the cable that goes into the patch panel?

If its not hugely long and a lot of work you could patch another cable in your self :) its not hugely difficult to cable :)

might be some useful info here http://www.datacottage.com/

you may also find if you unscrew the network point from the wall and disassemble it you may find a loose cable in there that you can punch back into its holder :)

its a quick check only 2 screws :)

by arozanski

Dave,
The cable run is from a room on our 3rd floor to the 2nd floor were the patch panel and switches are. I already took off the from plate from the RJ45 Box in the classroom and everything looks fine. I suspect the cable somehow went bad. I also check the patch panel connection and that looks good. Anyhow, I may need an outside firm to come in and run a new line.
Thanks very much,
Al

by robo_dev

check where the wire is punched-down in the connector.

Either a pin inside the connector is bent and/or hung up (out of it's groove), or the cat 5 wire is not punched down properly to the jack module. Remove it, and make sure the two rectangular 'punch-down' blocks are seated all the way, if not squeeze with pliers.

by sue t

check the connector at the wall port. sometimes all you need to do is replace the connector or fix the pins in the connector.

by lyman26

Cross check your wiring at both ends. If there is no link act light on the switch then I suggest you have to open the "box" and verify the wiring on the keystone jack. also make sure to verify on the patch panel. If you are sure you have used the same standard, probably T568B on both ends and nothing materialise, then obviously the cable is cut somewhere and need to change the cable. Hope this will work

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