How to physically test ports on Cisco 2960X?

[Anon01013]

Hello, I'm pretty new to networking. My boss would like me to physically test the ports on 24/48 port Cisco switches ranging from 2960X, 3560X, 3750X, etc. Is there a way to physically test all the ports simultaneously without having to do it one by one on each switch? How would I set that up or is there a command that will show me all the ports if it's good or not. I know I can run show interface status but it only shows if the port has been connected to or not.

I checked the forums before posting https://community.cisco.com/t5/switching/testing-port-functionality/td-p/912034

But this is for CatOS.

I did more digging and found https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-6500-series-switches/12027-53.html#hepr and ran the show post command but it doesn't show the port information/tests. What's the command to show if a port Passes or Fails?

Also, random question but say if the pins in port 1 was damaged, if I run a command can the switch still tell that port 1 has been damaged even if nothing is plugged into it?

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you! 

[balaji.bandi]

Generally Switch does the Asic testing while booting, but some model of switches operate differently

look at the below document :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-6500-series-switches/12027-53.html

if the boss told you to check, you can have cable tester plugged in to each port see if the device got IP address, that is full Quality wise test.

[Anon01013]

Thanks for the quick reply. Would the cable tester be ideal if I had to test like twenty 2960X-48 port switches that need to go out in like three days or is there a faster way of physically testing the ports?

[Anon01013]

I think basically my question is, can I have one master switch (say a Cisco 2960x 48 port) and hook up another switch (2960x 48 port) via ethernet to test ports of the second one? I'm not setting up any networks or VLANS or anything, I'm just doing factory resets and have to test the ports before we send them out.

If I can do this, is there a certain configuration I'd have to setup the master switch and can I test other models (Cisco 3560x, 3750x) with the master switch or do they have to be the same model?

Thanks!

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@Anon01013 wrote:

My boss would like me to physically test the ports on 24/48 port Cisco switches ranging from 2960X, 3560X, 3750X, etc. Is there a way to physically test all the ports simultaneously without having to do it one by one on each switch?

---

What is the "real" objective of this exercise?  Is the boss trying to test your "skills" in asking (relevant) questions or is he trying to determine if you will blindly do the task given.  

NOTE: The "sh post" is not "reliable" if the switch has a long uptime. "sh post" is good if the uptime is only under an the hour.

[Anon01013]

There's no test, the business I work with is quite small and they buy/sell refurbished switches, servers, etc. So he's asking me to factory reset and test the ports to make sure they're working before we ship them out.

[Leo Laohoo]

Plug a console and boot the appliances.
Make sure to WATCH the entire boot-up process. If anything is wrong with anything, it'll show up there (and may not necessarily show up in "sh post").
That is my experience.

IMPORTANT:  
To save the seller any embarrassment, once the switch has boot-up erase the flash (leave the IOS folder alone).