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    What is in your Toolkit?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved IT Discussion
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    • scottalanmillerS
      scottalanmiller @gjacobse
      last edited by

      @gjacobse said:

      @JaredBusch said:

      The Fluke LinkRunner is a nice simple tool to verify connectivity all the way to the internet.

      • Flash drive
      • iPad
      • Laptop
      • Patch cable (I love the flat white 6' one the Buffalo sends with their gear for my bag)
      • Screwdriver tool (prefer the StorageCraft blue metal one from SpiceWorld 2014).

      Yes the LInkrunner is nice,.. but how many of us want to drop $1,500 on just one tool?

      $1,500, they are nowhere near that price.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • gjacobseG
        gjacobse
        last edited by

        Bluetooth headset - makes it nice to have both hands available when working.

        Pen and paper... yes,.. it can be useful

        External battery for your phone. And proper cable. You should take photos too.. Between those uses,.. you'll kill your battery.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • scottalanmillerS
          scottalanmiller
          last edited by

          Here is a LinkRunner for just $995...

          http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-LRAT-1000-LinkRunner-Ethernet/dp/B007B60F6A

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • scottalanmillerS
            scottalanmiller
            last edited by

            LinkRunner is great but not for an entry level tech or someone primarily doing desktop work. That's more for someone actually working on the network.

            For the "every day" tech to carry around you want something more like a Fluke LinkSprinter 100. Very cheap, very handy. Does most of what you need.

            http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-LinkSprinter-Network-Tester/dp/B00I5CKF3M

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • gjacobseG
              gjacobse
              last edited by

              @scottalanmiller said:

              $1,500, they are nowhere near that price.

              0_1449081810288_2015-12-02 13_42_26-LinkRunner.png

              Maybe I'm looking at the wrong model?

              coliverC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • coliverC
                coliver @gjacobse
                last edited by

                @gjacobse said:

                @scottalanmiller said:

                $1,500, they are nowhere near that price.

                0_1449081810288_2015-12-02 13_42_26-LinkRunner.png

                Maybe I'm looking at the wrong model?

                That's for copper and fiber, check out just the copper one. It should be around 1,000$.

                gjacobseG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • scottalanmillerS
                  scottalanmiller
                  last edited by

                  Yeah, not many of us need that fiber gear. If I was in a Fortune 500 and working for the networking department, absolutely. But then I'd not be in the MSP world and supporting SMBs 🙂

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • gjacobseG
                    gjacobse @coliver
                    last edited by

                    @coliver said:

                    @gjacobse said:

                    @scottalanmiller said:

                    $1,500, they are nowhere near that price.

                    Maybe I'm looking at the wrong model?

                    That's for copper and fiber, check out just the copper one. It should be around 1,000$.

                    That is still way out of my available budget.

                    coliverC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • coliverC
                      coliver @gjacobse
                      last edited by

                      @gjacobse said:

                      @coliver said:

                      @gjacobse said:

                      @scottalanmiller said:

                      $1,500, they are nowhere near that price.

                      Maybe I'm looking at the wrong model?

                      That's for copper and fiber, check out just the copper one. It should be around 1,000$.

                      That is still way out of my available budget.

                      Mine too... I found the Fluke toning kit worked for 90% of cabling issues when I was with an SMB.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • gjacobseG
                        gjacobse
                        last edited by

                        I have a toner and a LinkMaster cable tester. Nothing fancy.

                        I have wondered for several years about building one from a Basic Stamp, Beagle Bone or now the Raspberry Pi...

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • J
                          Jason Banned
                          last edited by Jason

                          I have one of these http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-MS2-100-MicroScanner2-Verifier/dp/B000QJ3G42

                          Along with the toner for it and Office IDs. Rarely use it. Most of that stuff we contract out.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • gjacobseG
                            gjacobse
                            last edited by

                            USB Linux boot system..
                            Hirens boot CD/ USB - but there are questions of it's legality.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • JaredBuschJ
                              JaredBusch
                              last edited by

                              Ah, yeah. I mean the Sprinter for the tech bag.

                              gjacobseG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • stacksofplatesS
                                stacksofplates
                                last edited by

                                Here's most of the stuff in my bag:

                                • Small toolkit. I got one from iFixit that has a screwdriver set, prying tools, and some nice tweezers.
                                • Couple flash drives
                                • Power Supply tester
                                • Some small pliers
                                • Box of RJ45 ends
                                • Cable crimper and wire strippers
                                • Small HDD duplicator

                                I'm sure there's a couple more things but that's the main stuff.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • gjacobseG
                                  gjacobse @JaredBusch
                                  last edited by gjacobse

                                  @JaredBusch said:

                                  Ah, yeah. I mean the Sprinter for the tech bag.

                                  That is something I could be add to my box:

                                  FlukeSprinter
                                  0_1449089258203_513B5mzLl7L.SL1000[1].jpg

                                  scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • scottalanmillerS
                                    scottalanmiller @gjacobse
                                    last edited by

                                    @gjacobse yup, we have several of those. You don't do field work so you probably have not seen them. I know that we have multiple and they get loaned out to people heading to the field. They upload to a central account which is pretty cool because it alerts the tech alias and we can see stuff come in in a central console. Love those.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • nadnerBN
                                      nadnerB
                                      last edited by gjacobse

                                      Ideally

                                      • Large capacity USB
                                        PSTools
                                        Process Explorer
                                        Process Monitor
                                        Portable Chrome/Firefox
                                        GetFileSize Portable
                                        BlueScreenView
                                        OpenHardwareMonitor
                                      • Torch with a mounting magnet (Flashlight)
                                      • Linux Boot CD/USB
                                      • Command line Ninja-ery
                                      • Network Cable tester
                                      • Screw drivers
                                      • Torx set
                                      • Spare Cat5e or 6
                                      • Laptop
                                      • Smartphone (with hotspot capabilities)

                                      (Edit: Added Flashlight notation - You English and your terms.)

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • KendallHersheyK
                                        KendallHershey Vendor
                                        last edited by

                                        Hey guys! I'm Kendall with Fluke Networks, for those of you who don't know me. Seems like there's a few questions, so let me see what I can help with 🙂

                                        You definitely got the main delineation between LinkRunner AT 1000 & 2000 right - 2000 also offers network testing over fiber. LinkRunner ATs have a lot of functionality over LinkSprinters, but I tend to lean towards grabbing my LinkRunner for unmanaged environments. They allow for faster wire mapping and tracing, and are actually tone generators as well. The main crowd pleaser for LinkSprinter is it's ability to get the switch advertisement info (CDP/LLDP/EDP) and check PoE, test DHCP, Gateway/router, and make sure you can get an internet connection at that drop (all of this is also built into the LinkRunner ATs).

                                        It packs a punch and the starting model is only $199. It was really made to solve 80% of your troubleshooting issues at a better price point for SMBs. Solid addition to a tool kit!

                                        Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm kinda new here, but I'll be around 🙂

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                                        • scottalanmillerS
                                          scottalanmiller
                                          last edited by

                                          Welcome! Great to see Fluke here, that is awesome.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • Reid CooperR
                                            Reid Cooper
                                            last edited by

                                            Fluke makes great stuff. Hard to go wrong with their stuff in your "go bag." And another vote for a large USB stick. And if you can find a small screwdriver kit with a lot of different sizes and types and don't forget about Torx.

                                            gjacobseG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
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