this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2025
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Ghost ports (lemmy.world)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by westo232@lemmy.world to c/sysadmin@lemmy.world
 

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.

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[–] Blaster_M@lemmy.world 152 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (4 children)

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.

[–] simpleslipeagle@lemmynsfw.com 82 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This guy networks.

The lights are even labeled...

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Monument@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

By the authority conferred to me through the “ownership” of approximately 25cm^2 of Scottish highland from a well-intentioned holiday present, I’m invoking my right as a Lord to grant you a pass on that one.
It would take me a few minutes, too

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As a Glencoe lord I support this.

[–] Monument@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 11 months ago

The council has spoken.

They may go forth, unburdened.

[–] gressen@lemm.ee 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

So #5 is disconnected on the other end, right?

[–] orris@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yes, or the systems etc. Or the port is disabled if the switch has the ability.

[–] abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Could've also just caught the photo in a flash of down activity depending. Still tho.

[–] gressen@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago

It's a gif and the LED is permanently off.

[–] reddthat@reddthat.com 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] orris@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] reddthat@reddthat.com 2 points 11 months ago

Hmm maybe I was wrong. Either way I think we can both agree this is everything just working normally...

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

Really? I've never seen that. In my experience, those labels are for the ports themselves, not the lights.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 37 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Does... Does nobody see the clear arrows showing these are indicators for the ports below?

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?

[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

Should probably check that #5 cable or port…

[–] Big_Boss_77@lemmynsfw.com 4 points 11 months ago

Those are just designating which port is where. Each port usually has its own lights.

[–] argh_another_username@lemmy.ca 24 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] sudo42@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

It's like people have never heard of wireless networking. Sheesh.

/s

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 21 points 11 months ago

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.

[–] nyankas@lemmy.ml 8 points 11 months ago

Someone‘s probably just using those ports wirelessy!

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 8 points 11 months ago

Who ya gonna call?

[–] computergeek125@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

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

[–] ThermonuclearCactus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

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

[–] owenfromcanada@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Listen, the ghosts gotta get online somehow

[–] secret300@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 11 months ago

Idk why but this gif is art to me

[–] QProphecy@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] Leeks@lemmy.world 21 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Actually it’s by design! Right side is for the lower ports, that’s why there’s the number with an arrow above it.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

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)

[–] QProphecy@lemmy.world -3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Okay Oscar

Edit: Oscar Martinez?

[–] majestictechie@lemmy.fosshost.com -1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

"Who's been looking at 1800's ankle porn on my PC?"

[–] nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl 2 points 11 months ago

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.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip -2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

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