Re: Mid-span ethernet monitor

"Don Y" <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote in message news:1020c8h$2oq18$1@dont-email.me...

I need a device that can sit midspan (at a "splice point") and monitor
an ethernet connection for integrity.  At the very least, that continuity
exists to both ends of the span.
>
While these are PoE/PoE+ drops, I don't want to place any significant
burden on the PSEs; an external power supply is therefor likely.

In that case I'd just put an unmanaged four port non PoE switch at mid run and look into getting access to the LEDs on the switch
which tell me what the link is doing.
The last design I did which had an ethernet port used KS8721BL

>
I can tolerate brief interruptions in traffic (e.g., during "testing")
and even continuity (less desirable but tolerable as the testing is
only sporadic)
>
Active, in-line solutions are complicated by power delivery over the pairs.
So, I'm wondering if I could passively monitor signals coming in/out and
communicate that status through a different channel?
>
Cost isn't too critical.  Though physical size might be.  (the wet-dream ideal
would be something that could fit in a 8P8C coupler)