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From: owens@acsu.buffalo.edu (bill owens)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re:  An informal survey [slide-locks]
Message-ID: <72554@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 23 Apr 91 16:06:57 GMT
References: <9104191503.AA25029@uh.msc.umn.edu> <1991Apr23.001727.26953@phri.nyu.edu>
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In article <1991Apr23.001727.26953@phri.nyu.edu> roy@phri.nyu.edu (Roy Smith) writes:
>In article <9104191503.AA25029@uh.msc.umn.edu> tjs@MSC.EDU (Tim Salo) writes:
>> I once believed, without evidence, that slide-lock connectors were the
>> largest single source of [LAN] network downtime.

They're certainly the biggest cause of sudden network failures, anytime
someone has to do anything inside a crowded rack cabinet they're liable
to wipe out whole buildings. They're the only component that, once it
works, is likely to fail 'spontaneously'. Coax, taps, etc. may not work
immediately, but once they're set they seldom give you any more
trouble...

I have had some luck 'tuning' the slide-locks by bending them with pliers
or a screwdriver, but that's obviously not practical for the hundreds we
have in use. Unfortunately, replacing them with screws is also considered
impracitcal for the same reason.

>	I once heard a horror story (probably on the net but I've long
>since forgotten when and who told it) about a tranciever cable that came
>partially detached.  The power and transmit pins made contact, but the
>receive circuit was broken; the damn thing could talk, but couldn't hear.
>Apparantly it did very bizarre things to the network.

That just happened to me two weeks ago; someone moved a small EOT to
see its lights, and partially disconnected the cable; the power and
receive pins were still in contact, but not transmit. So it could hear,
but couldn't talk; my traffic was getting there, but his wasn't coming
back. About two hours to find the problem...

Bill.