Resolution
In order to check to see how long the port is in Up or Down status, use the show interfaces [interface id] command.
In the example, under the show interfaces FastEthernet0/1 command, look at a line that shows something such as: Last input 00:00:41, output 00:00:00, output hang never. This shows the last time a port sent or received traffic. Likewise, the Last input never, output never, output hang never status means the port is not in use.
This is an example of output from the show interfaces command for an interface:
Switch#show interfaces FastEthernet0/1
FastEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up
Hardware is Fast Ethernet, address is xx.xx.xx.xx
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 100000 Kbit, DLY 100 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
Keepalive not set
Auto-duplex (Full), Auto Speed (100), 100BaseTX/FX
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input 00:00:41, output 00:00:00, output hang never
!--- This line shows the uptime or downtime status.
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue 0/40, 0 drops; input queue 0/75, 0 drops
5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 1000 bits/sec, 1 packets/sec
103876 packets input, 62915296 bytes
Received 103875 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 6831 multicast
0 input packets with dribble condition detected
610233 packets output, 83504453 bytes, 0 underruns
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 1 interface resets
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier
