Network Engineering Hardware Tools

[Dawud Beale]

I wanted to get some tools for Network Engineering, so that I can make up Ethernet cables, test cables for connectivity, crimping and other similar tasks.

What are some essential tools I will need to build a good toolkit?

 

[aigomorla]

Things i use when i need to debug the actual hardware..

1. A Lan Cable tester...
http://www.amazon.com/Tonor-RJ45-Ne...TKGg+sL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_

Something like this lets you know you got your pins correct on both ends of the cable. Remember tho lan cables have a A or B wireout, which can be googled fairly easily. I would really recommend u following a A or B wireout. USA mostly uses B wireout.
99% of the time a newbie makes a mistake is they do not follow a wire diagram and do there own wiring. The wire layout must be crossed on 2 lanes to cancel noise, or you will not get 1GB connectivity PERIOD.

I usually wire with the B...

2. Wire Tracer
http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Network...F8&qid=1442435679&sr=1-2&keywords=wire+tracer

This is good when u need to figure out what jack + line goes to what on the other end.
Good electricans will label all the LAN cable, however LAZY underpaid ones wont.
So u need to figure out what wire is what... that tracer does just that.

3. punchdown tool:
http://www.amazon.com/Bemodst®-Impa...d=1442435793&sr=1-15&keywords=punch+down+tool

When working with keystone jacks, they are a time saver....

4. Crimper...
http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-RJ-4...cHpGOhL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_
DO NOT CHEAP on the crimper... infact, this is probably one of the cheapest i'll buy.
A good Crimper makes a big difference when crimping / opening the cable up to expose the 8 wires.

5. Cutter Stripper.. (optional)
http://www.amazon.com/Uxcell-a12022...sim_469_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=1TJ9SR3PCK9FZXQSQ4NZ
I can use a the crimper to do this fine, however some people do not have light hands, so sometimes they end up cutting into the wire.
If your the later, this stripper is recommended as it will prevent you from cutting into the 8 wires under the sleeve protector.

 

[JackMDS]

Maybe this can Help.

http://www.lanshack.com/Tools-Testers-C8.aspx

 

[aigomorla]

Maybe this can Help.

http://www.lanshack.com/Tools-Testers-C8.aspx

lol... i think u just linked him toys r us, when he's asking for legos...

 

[brshoemak]

Don't get a crimper for network cables - you won't need it.

You should only terminate UTP cabling into a patch panels and keystone jacks.

Everything else makes for pretty good recommendations. I actually have that same tone generator/probe and it works really well, although it's quieter than I would like even at max volume - hard to hear in a loud server room. If I had to do it again I would probably get this tone generator/probe:
http://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-701K-G-Professional-Probe-Tracing/dp/B0042VII7A/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1442689993&sr=1-4&keywords=tone+generator+probe

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Don't get a crimper for network cables - you won't need it.

You should only terminate UTP cabling into a patch panels and keystone jacks.

Everything else makes for pretty good recommendations. I actually have that same tone generator/probe and it works really well, although it's quieter than I would like even at max volume - hard to hear in a loud server room. If I had to do it again I would probably get this tone generator/probe:
http://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-701K-G-Professional-Probe-Tracing/dp/B0042VII7A/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1442689993&sr=1-4&keywords=tone+generator+probe

My personal preference is for everything to be put into a keystone, but you can crimp stranded cable without issue, I never try it on solid core though, you are just asking for problems.

 

[aigomorla]

My personal preference is for everything to be put into a keystone, but you can crimp stranded cable without issue, I never try it on solid core though, you are just asking for problems.

really?

ive never had issues with solid core and rj-45 jacks.

I prefer to crimp all my own cables because i can control exactly how long i need them, and well, i buy cat6 cables in bulk, so i always have excess cat6 cables around..

Its true tho, you can get premade ones for cheaper then it would probably cost to make you one.

 

[fkoehler]

I think this sounds more like cable installation training than engineering.

Not sure why one wouldn't want a crimper and some ice cubes though.
I never make cables as that what the cabling guys are for, however if I needed one of a specific length, is nice to have the tools to do so rather than invariably only find a 50' patch cable or worse, having none of the length needed, with a spool of cable sitting in the IDF.......

Though I agree, you can get them very cheap, and no one goes to the effort unless they are OCD-ish, or really, really like futzing around with cable. And everyone knows you need less than an inch at the rack termination to keep that crosstalk down right?

And your toner may just have a resistor in series with the speaker/piezo, so replacing that with a smaller one should raise the volume quite a bit, or you could try adding an LED.