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Smallest IP Target Device?

Posted by Cliff on from the latest-from-Q-branch dept.

Donimo asks: "I have seen many tiny ethernet loopback jacks and keyfobs, and I'm looking for the smallest IP equivalent for my toolkit. It just needs to plug into an RJ45 ethernet port and respond to ping. If the IP address is configurable, so much the better. I have looked at small IP print servers, and I could probably knock one up from a Gumstix but these are comparatively expensive solutions. Any ideas?"

6 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. picotux by ach1000 · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.picotux.com/

    1. Re:picotux by mapinguari · · Score: 2, Informative

      You mean the technical specs page?

  2. You don't really ping yourself by klossner · · Score: 4, Informative
    Pinging yourself doesn't test your hardware. When you ping your own IP address, the network stack handles the response internally. Nothing goes out on the wire.

    Having a real device with a distinct IP address lets you send and receive actual packets and so verify that the PHY and MAC layers are working.

  3. XPort by nebbian · · Score: 5, Informative

    What you're probably after is an XPort in a box with a battery. These devices use 3.3V, have a full TCP/IP stack, a web server, some flash memory, all somehow shoehorned into an RJ45 connector. Yep that's right, the thing is about the size of an RJ45 connector! If it runs at 3V you could probably run it off a 3V lithium battery, of not then use 6V with a 3.3V low power regulator.

    These retail for around $30 in bulk, with a bit of digging you should be able to get one for less than $50 I'd think...

    With a switch, battery, regulator and heatshrink around it, it will still be quite small enough to lose easily :-)

    hth,
    Ben

    --
    I am artificially intelligent.
  4. Why get something with only one purpose? by Trepalium · · Score: 2, Informative
    Something like the Fluke NetTool is far more useful. Not only can you use it for basic connectivity testing, but you can also do cable length and wiring tests. You can use it inline with a computer attached to the switch to monitor how traffic is flowing through. Far more useful than a simple pingable device. It costs about $900-$2,500 (USD, depends on which version you buy), and in my opinion, it's worth it. We use the inline version ($1,500 USD) here.

    If you don't like Fluke, there are plenty of other people in the game testing business, but I don't have any experience with their products.

    --
    I used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in dead.
  5. Re:XPort - Buy It by yamcha666 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here is a link to an online store selling 4 types of the XPort starting at $50

    Semi-Conductor Store