I used to think the network switch was a master detective, capable of solving all my cable mysteries with a single, glowing link light, and remote management cable tests. We’ve all seen these features on managed switches, select a port, perform a cable test, and watch for the results to be displayed as either pass, fail, split pair, and the length of the cable.
It wasn't until the feature-packed LinkRunner AT 4000 entered the scene that I realized the switch cable test was actually the network equivalent of a Magic 8-Ball, answering every complex problem with a confident “Yes, cable pass!” and not knowing why it passed.
Most technicians assume that if the switch reports “Cable Pass” the cable is having a great day. But if you want to know if that cable is suffering from a hidden split pair or just a minor existential crisis, you call in the Linkrunner AT 4000.
The LinkRunner AT 4000 is a handheld advanced network cable tester, it’s the stern, white-gloved proctor administering the final exam, it has a follow-up list of diagnostic questions, starting with “Did you remember to terminate correctly on both ends of the cable?” The LRAT 4000 conveniently draws out the pin-to-pin wire mapping on the LCD screen, it can precisely measure cable fault via TDR, indicating cable problems such as split pairs, shorts, opens, mis-wired, and crossovers. It also can test for port speeds, PoE, network and connectivity issues, and perform a full network map of your environment.
Follow along with me and watch as I show you the difference between what a basic switch cable test reports versus a LinkRunner AT 4000 advanced precision cable tester.
A switch's primary job is forwarding packets, not diagnosing copper. Its "cable test" feature is an inexpensive, software-driven utility built for management; it exists primarily to allow a remote network administrator to quickly triage a downed port with the binary question: Is this a cable failure or a switch configuration issue?
Precision and certification (the "where" and "why"), while the M4352 offers convenience and triage (the simple "if").
The
intellectual core of differentiating the NetAlly LinkRunner AT 4000 from the
cable test feature embedded in a Netgear M4352 switch boils down to
establishing their separate philosophical purposes. It's the difference between
buying a specialized, high-resolution microscope versus getting a perfectly
functional, low-resolution magnifying glass built into a multi-tool. My
immediate realization was that this wasn't merely about which product had
better specifications, but about two tools serving completely different
masters: the on-site field technician who demands surgical precision and
certified documentation, and the remote data center administrator who needs
instant, high-level triage status. This core conflict—precision vs.
convenience—is what dictated the entire feature comparison.
Forget
comparing apples to apples—we're comparing a specialized, surgical scalpel to a
convenient, plastic butter knife when it comes to cable diagnosis. The
intellectual fun of contrasting the NetAlly LinkRunner AT 4000 with the
simple cable test feature baked into a Netgear M4352 switch isn't about
feature lists; it's about dissecting the critical difference between a tool
that's been sent to college (the LinkRunner, designed for certified,
precise troubleshooting) and a switch that just has a convenient check-engine
light glued to its dashboard. My thinking immediately centered on this
critical divide: one is a field agent built for precise, distance-to-fault
heroism, and the other is a homebody admin perk meant only for initial
triage—and that difference fundamentally dictates everything they can, and
cannot, tell you about a broken wire.
When troubleshooting complex network cabling, you need a surgeon, not a guess. The NetAlly LinkRunner AT 4000 is the gold standard: a dedicated, handheld diagnostic powerhouse built for field technicians. It goes far beyond a simple continuity check by utilizing Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to measure cable length and pinpoint the exact distance-to-fault for shorts, opens, or split pairs—a critical feature no switch can match. Moreover, the LinkRunner offers comprehensive validation, including full wiremapping, fiber optic testing, cable toning to locate runs, and crucial Power over Ethernet (PoE) load testing. It provides certified, documented proof of physical layer performance before you even consider blaming the network configuration.
In stark contrast, the Netgear M4352 switch’s cable test feature is an operational management utility, not a diagnostic instrument. It is designed for the network administrator sitting in the data center who needs a quick, remote check via the CLI or GUI to see if a port is down because of a basic cable fault. While it can confirm opens or shorts and provide a rough length estimate, it lacks the TDR precision to tell you exactly where the problem lies and offers no deep wiremap analysis for split pairs or fiber diagnostics. In short: the M4352 tells the network manager if the cable is broken, but the LinkRunner tells the technician where and why so they can fix it fast.
When your network is having a bad day, you need a superhero, not just a suggestion. The NetAlly LinkRunner AT 4000 is the rugged, field-ready Sherlock Holmes of cabling. This handheld genius uses Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to not only confirm that your cable is having a meltdown but to point a highly precise finger at the exact spot: "The short circuit is located precisely 47.3 feet down the line, right where Kevin spilled his coffee last month." It’s the only tool that gives you certified, graphical wiremaps, validates fiber links, hunts down elusive split pairs, and stresses your PoE setup to ensure your security cameras won't stage a walkout. It’s the dedicated detective that brings back irrefutable evidence.
Then there’s the Netgear M4352 switch’s cable test feature, which is essentially the switch giving you a diagnostic shrug from inside the rack. This function is a fantastic, internal perk for the admin who doesn't want to leave their desk—it quickly checks a port and reports back with the digital equivalent of "Looks okay... or maybe it's broken at the end? Who knows!" It's great for confirming basic opens or shorts but offers the diagnostic depth of a fortune cookie. It can’t tell you the crucial distance-to-fault, nor does it dabble in advanced features like wire-pair integrity or cable toning. The M4352 gives you a helpful hunch to get started; the LinkRunner gives you the detailed blueprint to finish the job.
"The great debate: Testing an Ethernet cable with a switch is like asking, 'Are you breathing?' A handheld cable tester, however, asks, 'Are you breathing, and what are your lung capacity, blood oxygen level, and life goals?'"
I’m a big
believer when it comes to hand held diagnostic tools, in that they should have
several key features that can help you identify, validate, and report statistics
to you. Some common tools a network engineer
has in their toolbox is a network cable tester, primarily used for testing network
cable termination. These tools are great
when you’re trying to perform a quick check to see if a network cable is
terminated properly. And that right there
is the issue-- it’s a quick check and not a complete comprehensive network
cable test, validation, and reporting tool.
Enter NetAlly LinkRunner AT 4000 (LRAT-4000), a hand-held advanced network discovery and cable testing tool for multi-gigabit and fiber networks. With a touch of a button, the LRAT-4000 will immediately and comprehensively perform a network discovery of all your devices, across multiple VLANS and subnets, with a path analysis. It tests and verifies network cable and termination, coupled with advanced PoE testing up to 90W with TruePower loading, it displays device IP settings, DHCP, DNS with response time statistics, verifies link speed and duplex settings, performance testing with iPerf, packet capture at line-rate and so much more.
What I’m trying to tell you here is that the LRAT-4000 removes all of the guesswork of a basic cable tester/wire mapper and puts you in a position as a network admin to confidently know how your devices will perform without second guessing a single thing.
In this first video installment with the LRAT-4000, we perform a custom installation of a surveillance video camera system for a business site. We begin with a network discovery of the site, followed by path analysis, test network cables, PoE load test, validate VLAN, IP, DNS, DHCP response times, performance test, packet capture, and reporting. Follow along with me and watch how the LRAT-4000 makes this custom installation project a breeze.
Carlo Zakarian is a network engineer with over 15yrs
experience in the networking implementation, design, and diagnostics field
specializing in LAN, WAN, and Wireless.
Owner of NetFocus Technologies, an IT Managed consulting firm based in
Chicago, specializes in setting up, configuring, diagnosing software, hardware,
and network infrastructure.
He can be reached via his website at https://www.NetFocusTech.com
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