Patent ID: 8634304

Claim:
An Ethernet test-set cable comprising: first mutually-insulated conductive paths interconnecting a first Ethernet port of an Ethernet test-set and a first Ethernet port of a first network element; second mutually-insulated conductive paths, sheathed together with said first mutually-insulated conductive paths within said cable, interconnecting said first Ethernet port of said first network element to a second Ethernet port of said Ethernet test-set; and wherein said first conductive paths conduct a test signal from said first Ethernet port of said Ethernet test-set to said first Ethernet port of said first network element which, in turn, forwards said test signal along a first test signal path to a far-end Ethernet port with interconnected transmit and receive pins, said far-end Ethernet port included in a second network element which returns said test signal to said first network element along a second test signal path; and said second conductive paths conduct said returned test signal from said first Ethernet port of said first network element to said second Ethernet port of said Ethernet test-set.