By Fahmida Y. Rashid Have a network problem at your business, but aren't quite sure exactly what's wrong? The new LinkSprinter handheld device from Fluke Networks can help you investigate. Is the problem with the Ethernet port on the network switch? Is the device having trouble grabbing an address from the DHCP server? Or perhaps there's a problem with the DNS. Instead of trying to run various tests from a computer, you plug the small handheld Ethernet test device in to the network to troubleshoot wiring and connectivity (but not Wi-Fi connectivity) quickly and easily. Fluke's Linksprinter 200 ($299) is our Editors' Choice for network troubleshooting tools because it brings smart, simple testing capabilities in a reasonably affordable package.
The latest tool from Fluke Networks, LinkSprinter comes in two models, the $199 LinkSprinter 100 ($199) and LinkSprinter 200, for $100 more. I tested the LinkSprinter 200 on various networks for this review. The only difference between the LinkSprinter 100 and LinkSprinter 200 is that the 200 comes with a built-in Wi-Fi access point that lets you connect the handheld with a mobile device (more on that below). It's important to reiterate, however, that the LinkSprinter tests wired Ethernet networks, not Wi-Fi. The access point is just for viewing the test results stored on the device from a mobile device. You will find the Wi-Fi capability well worth the extra money if you are experiencing gateway or Internet connectivity issues, since that access point would be your only way to view the test results while troubleshooting the problem network. With the base 100 model, you would have to wait until you are on a working network in order to upload the test results and see the details. The LinkSprinter 100 is a good device; the LinkSprinter 200 is a great one. If you can swing the extra $100, the more expensive unit is the one you want.
What the Linksprinter does is run a series of tests on your network. The first test connects with the network switch to check for Power over Ethernet or PoE, and the voltage. Then it connects with the switch to test network connectivity and determines link speed (10/100/1000 Base-T) and duplex (half or full). It also logs wiring pair and polarity in the report, along with switch information such as the name, model, slot, and port being tested. The third test tries to obtain a client IP address, subnet mask, DHCP server IP address, and the IP addresses for the DNS servers from the DHCP server. The fourth test checks the gateway by pinging it three times and logging the response times in the report. The final test looks at Internet connectivity by pinging www.google.com on port 80 three times. The report shows response results, port number, and protocol used. It's a nifty way to quickly isolate problems on your wired network.
Unpacking the Box
The LinkSprinter looks like other Fluke Networks products, with the company's familiar yellow rugged case. It measures 4.36 by 1.6 by 1.28 inches (HWD) and weighs a mere 4 ounces.
There are five indicator lights on top, along with a gray Power button, and a RJ-45 Ethernet port on one side. The unit uses 2 AA batteries and is quite portable. The indicator lights include a lightning icon for PoE, a chain that represents network connectivity, the letters DHCP for (obviously) DHCP status, a cloud over a box for DNS and gateway, and a cloud icon for Internet connectivity.
The Getting Started Guide is very easy to follow. To use the LinkSprinter 200 with your mobile device, all you have to do is pop the batteries in, and you're ready to start testing. If you're not always going to use the mobile device, or want the results emailed to you, you need to create an account on the optional LinkSprinter Cloud Service.
I had to "claim" the handheld by entering the MAC address so that the cloud service could recognize my devices. The wizard process is easy to follow. I did make a mistake at first, however, because the instructions say the cloud icon on the LinkSprinter will illuminate—I thought that meant the icon would be a solid green. In fact, it's a quick double flash, and it's easy to miss.
The Cloud Service makes it possible to track multiple LinkSprinters and keep all the test results in one place, as well as make notes on each report. If you have multiple handhelds, or if you need to regularly check networks and maintain detailed logs, this is a good service to have.
Using LinkSprinter
Using the device is simple: Turn it on, plug an Ethernet cable in, and the indicator lights light up green, yellow, or red to show the status. I found it easy to customize the DHCP test and the Internet connectivity somewhat via the Cloud Service. For example, I configured a static IP address instead of testing DHCP, and I changed the website and port as part of the Internet Connectivity test. I also found that it was possible to use an IP address to bypass the DNS lookup or to test an internal server, for example.—Next: Testing with LinkSprinter 200
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