Patent ID: 7619981

Claim:
An apparatus for identifying network mis-cabling, the apparatus comprising: a detection module configured to detect a new connection at a first network switch, the first network switch forming part of a data network comprising a plurality of network switches, wherein each network switch is connected to at least one non-switch network device; a record module configured to establish a connection request record stored in a network server in communication with the data network, the connection request record configured to identify the new connection at the first network switch, the new connection facilitated by a first physical termination of a cable, and a corresponding second new connection at a second network device, the second new connection facilitated by a second physical termination of the cable; a comparison module configured to compare the new connection to a switch connection rule if the new connection is a network switch connection, else compare the new connection to a non-switch connection rule, each connection rule defining a network topology and a type of cabling, the switch connection rule allowing communication to a second network switch in a separate sub-network over two loop topology external cables and the non-switch connection rule allowing communication over a point-to-point topology sub-network cable; and a cabling connection module configured to control authorization of a network communication over the new connection in accordance with the connection rules.