ethernet cable state recognition

Hi to everyone.
I need to write a little application to recognize if the ethernet
cable is up or down. Not ethernet interface but really ethernet cable.
Someone can tell me where I will start? I try to see some files in
/proc/ directory but everithing "speak" about interface state.
I also tryed to start to write a simple C program. In this program I
read the infos in the ifreq structure like ifr_flags but I didn't find
the infos that I want.
I want to say that my kernel doesn's recognize cable state when I put
in/out it.
I must insert something in my kernel configuration?

I hope in some help...

Claudio Melis

Claudio Melis wrote:
> Hi to everyone.
> I need to write a little application to recognize if the ethernet
> cable is up or down. Not ethernet interface but really ethernet cable.
> Someone can tell me where I will start? I try to see some files in
> /proc/ directory but everithing "speak" about interface state.
> I also tryed to start to write a simple C program. In this program I
> read the infos in the ifreq structure like ifr_flags but I didn't find
> the infos that I want.
> I want to say that my kernel doesn's recognize cable state when I put
> in/out it.
> I must insert something in my kernel configuration?

Have a look at the source code of 'mii-tool' or just
call it from shell.

It's about
- cable connected or not
- Half- or FullDuplex
- 10 or 100 MBit/sec
- ...

Toni

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 07:57:25 -0700, Claudio Melis wrote:
> I need to write a little application to recognize if the ethernet
> cable is up or down. Not ethernet interface but really ethernet cable.
> Someone can tell me where I will start? I try to see some files in

http://www.scyld.com/ - it might already be written.
--
/dev/rob0 - preferred_email=i$((28*28+28))@softhome.net
or put "not-spam" or "/dev/rob0" in Subject header to reply

Claudio Melis wrote:
> Hi to everyone.
> I need to write a little application to recognize if the ethernet
> cable is up or down. Not ethernet interface but really ethernet cable.
> Someone can tell me where I will start? I try to see some files in
> /proc/ directory but everithing "speak" about interface state.
> I also tryed to start to write a simple C program. In this program I
> read the infos in the ifreq structure like ifr_flags but I didn't find
> the infos that I want.
> I want to say that my kernel doesn's recognize cable state when I put
> in/out it.
> I must insert something in my kernel configuration?
>
> I hope in some help...
>
> Claudio Melis

Have a look at ifplugd:

<http://www.stud.uni-hamburg.de/users/lennart/projects/ifplugd/>.

The interfaces with 100 Mbits/s capability have a standard connection
to the physical level, called MII (Media Independent Interface).

With 10 Mbits/s only, it's dependent whether the driver is capable
and willing to give the information.

Tauno Voipio
tauno voipio @ iki fi

"/dev/rob0" <rob0@gmx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.04.29.20.12.18.421639@gmx.co.uk...
> On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 07:57:25 -0700, Claudio Melis wrote:
> > I need to write a little application to recognize if the ethernet
> > cable is up or down. Not ethernet interface but really ethernet cable.
> > Someone can tell me where I will start? I try to see some files in
>
> http://www.scyld.com/ - it might already be written.
> --
> /dev/rob0 - preferred_email=i$((28*28+28))@softhome.net
> or put "not-spam" or "/dev/rob0" in Subject header to reply
>

Hi,
If you want the physical cable status you have a problem 'cos this will be
hardware specific. Are you sure this is what you need? Or do you want to
know if the device is sending/receiving IP packets?