4w ago

Ghost ports

In the middle of a live VLAN readressing of a 200-node company, I encountered this gem. The ports just kept blinking on even after plugging out the cables. (HP aruba 24 port switch)

One turned off after a reboot.

34 comments

The lights are combined link/act, not separate link act. left for upper side, right for lower side. 2 and 4 are blinking, 1 and 3 (the empty ports) are not.
- This guy networks.
  The lights are even labeled...
  
  client had 2 near identical switches, one had LEDs on each port, one had LEDs all on top, I was looking at each port wondering why they weren't lighting up and thinking they were disabled in admin panel. took me a few minutes, I was an idiot that day.
- So #5 is disconnected on the other end, right?
  
  Yes, or the systems etc. Or the port is disabled if the switch has the ability.
- Port 4 is slightly pulled out, you can see the cable difference between 2and4. which I think is what OP was getting at.
  It's probably touching just enough pins to keep active
  
  It doesn’t seem to be, they look like different cables, look at the strain relief after the clear part, looks like a different pattern and shorter. They are probably both fully seated.
- Really? I've never seen that. In my experience, those labels are for the ports themselves, not the lights.

Does... Does nobody see the clear arrows showing these are indicators for the ports below?
- Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?
- Should probably check that #5 cable or port…
- Those are just designating which port is where. Each port usually has its own lights.

Those are WiFi ports.
- It's like people have never heard of wireless networking. Sheesh.
  /s

The ports are numbered with arrows. Port one’s LED is on the left, port two is beneath port one and has its LED on the right. The two blinking above open ports are for even-numbered ports that are actively plugged in on the bottom row. I dunno why the LED for port five isn’t blinking; maybe the other end of the cable is connected to a device that is powered off.

Who ya gonna call?

Someone‘s probably just using those ports wirelessy!

The Netgear M4300 I got works like that, it's a feature not a bug. There's no link lights on the bottom, so the top row does the ports in alternate left/right patterns matching the label on the case right above the light.
Edit: a word

Listen, the ghosts gotta get online somehow

It's the vengeful spirit of that 2012 mac mini that I put out of its misery last year!

Idk why but this gif is art to me

That ain't right
- Actually it’s by design! Right side is for the lower ports, that’s why there’s the number with an arrow above it.
  
  Yeah, which is how we know that 5 isn't patched into a machine, (likely goes to patch panel, then through the walls to an office/cubical with no machine connected to that port.)... Often means someone was fired and not replaced, or else the patch would be swapped to another place if they replaced the user and placed them elsewhere.
  (Doesn't have to be that, could be other things of course, like a laptop someone took home, a dead VoIP phone... A disconnected media station, etc)
  
  Okay Oscar
  Edit: Oscar Martinez?

"Who's been looking at 1800's ankle porn on my PC?"
- Not sure why people are downvoting, uncovered ankles were indecent in those days. IIRC there’s even a mention in ’Dracula’ when Mina goes outside at night to run after Lucy.

That's normal.
The switch doesn't immediately detect that there is nothing plugged in. It keeps transmitting.
Edit: the lights are not even lit if you look closer

34 comments