LinkRunner™ Pro & Duo Network Multimeter

Most of today’s new PCs and switches are Gigabit-capable. As such, Gig to the desk is rapidly proliferating without a concerted effort. Whether network users actually need this bandwidth is often unclear. However, they expect it because their equipment can support it. When they can’t link at Gig, they complain. These complaints often result in trial and error troubleshooting and unnecessary escalations.


LinkRunner Pro and Duo are the first frontline tools to establish a network link at Gigabit speeds. That means frontline technicians now have the power to troubleshoot Gigabit link problems before they’re escalated to higher levels. LinkRunner Pro and Duo will show nearest device capabilities and actual speed/duplex status. If a device is capable of 1000 Mb/s, but only negotiates at 100, configuration settings may need adjusting, or low-grade patch cords may need replacing.

 

LinkRunner Pro and Duo give technicians the convenience of a dedicated connectivity test tool to the LAN and beyond. Plus, they provide flexibility to be configured for different network environments. Use DHCP to attain an IP address from the network, ping the default router, and the DNS server. Or, manually enter up to 10 IP addresses to observe response times from other devices and servers. IP addresses can be entered on the test tool or downloaded from a PC with LinkRunner Connect Software.


 

Because of the convenience and security provided by 802.1X, it is quickly catching on for wired networks. LinkRunner Pro and Duo not only will discover the presence of 802.1X, but can also gain authentication on 802.1X networks. The included LinkRunner Connect Software can be used to select EAP type, provide certificates, and enter passwords. With LinkRunner Pro or Duo, technicians can quickly resolve 802.1X conflicts and get users back up and running fast. (LinkRunner Duo supports up to 2k certificates. LinkRunner Pro supports up to 1k certificates.)

From VoIP phones to wireless LAN access points, many of today’s network devices receive their power over the Ethernet through twisted-pair data cables. Lack of power to a device has therefore become a network problem rather than a facilities problem. Network tools now need the visibility to detect power issues that may cause a device to fail. LinkRunner Pro and Duo support standard 802.3af methodology to detect voltage level by cable pair – whether from a switch or a mid-span device.

A key part of resolving connectivity issues is finding which port a user is connected to. LinkRunner Pro and Duo are the first connectivity tools to support the new IEEE Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) in addition to the Cisco and Extreme Discovery Protocols (CDP and EDP). That allows technicians to speed problem resolution by quickly and precisely locating the nearest switch port. In just seconds, LinkRunner Pro or Duo will display make, model, address, slot, and port of the nearest LLDP device. The new LLDP standard has been adopted by Cisco, Avaya, Extreme, Nortel, Mitel, and many others.



 

Although today’s cabling plants are much more stable than in the past, cabling faults still account for the vast majority of basic continuity problems. LinkRunner Pro and Duo will detect all basic cabling faults including miswires, crossovers, reverals, breaks, shorts, and splits.  It also speeds cable troubleshooting with built-in TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) to measure the distance to breaks and shorts.

LinkRunner Pro and Duo give technicians two ways to optimize locating and ID-tagging cables. IntelliTone digital toning and the hub-blink feature can be used to:

• Locate cables on active networks
• Isolate cables within bundles
• Zero in on ports at a patch panel 
• Visibly locate port on nearest switch

Or, the optional Wireview Cable Identifiers can be used to test and ID-tag up to six cables in a short period of time.

When no test documentation is available, closing trouble tickets can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. Finger pointing among groups and redundant testing are just a couple of the wastes that occur. LinkRunner Pro or Duo significantly reduce this waste by generating objective, professional test reports that can be printed or routed electronically. With the included LinkRunner Connect Software, all of the following connectivity status indicators can be saved, uploaded, and printed:

• Link status, including device capabilities and actual link speed/duplex
• 802.1X security settings, including EAP type and username
• DNS, DHCP, and default router information, including IP, subnet, and MAC address
• Ping results for each device, including min, max, and average response times
• PoE service availability, including voltage level and pairs
• Nearest switch name, slot, and port information (CDP/EDP/LLDP)
• Cable test results, including length, wiremap, and faults

Download sample report