A Gigabit Ethernet PHY has to do quite some signal processing (line equalization) for its normal function. And there are a few chipsets that allow you to inspect the link parameters in quite some detail. For example, have a look here for screenshots of the broadcom advanced control suite.
The link has to run in 1000BaseT-Mode to make the tools show any meaningful output, so have a known-good switch connected to the "other" side. I had used them in a distant past (must have been 10 years ago or so) to find the "best" links in an otherwise messed up building installation that could be reliabily be used for higher transmission speeds.
It's of course much less information that what you'd get from a proper ethernet cable analyzer, but much, much more than what a simple "yes, I can ping the other side" can give you.
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A Gigabit Ethernet PHY has to do quite some signal processing (line equalization) for its normal function. And there are a few chipsets that allow you to inspect the link parameters in quite some detail. For example, have a look here for screenshots of the broadcom advanced control suite.
https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~brecht/servers/docs/PowerEdge-2600/...
The link has to run in 1000BaseT-Mode to make the tools show any meaningful output, so have a known-good switch connected to the "other" side. I had used them in a distant past (must have been 10 years ago or so) to find the "best" links in an otherwise messed up building installation that could be reliabily be used for higher transmission speeds.
It's of course much less information that what you'd get from a proper ethernet cable analyzer, but much, much more than what a simple "yes, I can ping the other side" can give you.