exercise a hub

[Leonard Isham]

On 9/22/05, THUFIR HAWAT <hawat.thufir at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have a hub I'd like to run some tests on.  For this purpose I've
> acquired two older desktops, I know that sounds backwards, but there
> you are.  I'm going to put a minimal, one-cd install on both desktops
> and connect them with the hub.  There won't be an internet connection,
> nor any other computers connected to the hub but the two old desktops.
>
> Why exercise the hub you ask?  Great question.
>
> My neighbor has a SMC7004VWBR 802.11b wireless router which I connect
> through.  I have an Asus WL-330g 802.11g ethernet adapter which I use
> for the wi-fi connection.  It's supposed to be possible to connect the
> adapter to hub, and then several computers to the hub.  I've spoken
> with Asus, who tried it with a similar SMC router and confirmed the
> setup.  I spoke with SMC, who confirm that it's not the router.
>
> I haven't totally eliminated the Asus WL-330g adapter as a suspect in
> this, but the net, so to speak, is closing on the hub.  The SMC tech
> alternately suggested that a firewall running on the computer is
> causing the problem, or that the hub is at fault.  I looked through
> the Windows2000 software installer, nothing there.  Similarly, there
> wasn't a firewall under linux, this is on a dual boot machine, of
> course.  Again, this points to the hub.  I went through my browser
> settings with SMC and have tried multiple browsers.  I want to stay
> focused on the hub for the moment.
>
> The SMC tech suggested a "managed" hub, and definitely I'll check that
> out.  In the meantime, though, I have these two older desktops and
> want to find out, if possible, if there's something wonky with the
> hub.
>
> Unfortunately, the only diagnostic tool I really have is "ping."
> Obviously the two machines should be able to ping each other through
> the hub.  I'll also try and set up some ftp, but I'd like to go at
> this systematically.
>
> Is there a list of tests that I could run on this hub to confirm, one
> way or the other, if the hub is up to snuff?
>
> Here are the details for the hub:
> "WiseCOM 8-Port 10BASE-T HUB
>
> Compliant with 10BASE-T, 10BASE2 and 10BASE5 specifications of the
> IEEE 802.3 standard.
>
> Automatically partitioning function to isolate network failure.
>
> Equipped with a variety of informative LEDs for easy viewing and
> troubleshooting.
>
> MDI-X/MDI selection switch, allowing you to swap the last 10BASE-T
> port transmit and receive ping assignments to link your hub to another
> hub.
>
> easy to instll on a desktop environment
>
> Emission:  FCC Part 15 Class A
>
> Ethernet HUB for Workgroup"
>
> -from the box cover
>

Use larg packets of at least 1500


--
Leonard Isham, CISSP
Ostendo non ostento.