Luke S Crawford wrote: > Richard A Steenbergen <r...@e-gerbil.net> writes: >> You've never seen a single port go bad on a switch? I can't even count >> the number of times I've seen that happen. Not that I'm not suggesting >> the OP wasn't the victim of a human error like unplugging the wrong port >> and they just lied to him, that happens even more. > > I know it happens; it's happened to me, and I have probably touched fewer > switches than you. Still, from what I can understand, it can be > prevented/minimized by the use of a grounded port. > > > from: > http://support.3com.com/documents/switches/baseline/3Com-Switch-Family_Safety-Reg-Info.pdf > > > "CAUTION: If you want to install the Switch using a Category 5E or > Category 6 cable, 3Com recommends that you briefly connect the cable > to a grounded port before you connect to the network equipment. If you > do not, the cable’s electrostatic discharge (ESD) may damage the Switch's > port. > > You can create a grounded port by connecting all wires at one end of a > UTP cable to an earth ground point, and the other end to a female RJ-45 > connector located, for example, on a Switch rack or patch panel. The > RJ-45 connector is now a grounded port." >
HP chassis switches ship with a grounding jack accessory you attach to the DB9 port (I assume it ties all RJ-45 pins to shied/ground) explicitly for this purpose. The instructions say to always plug a cable into the grounding device before connecting to a switch port. ~Seth
