13
One flash, one packet? (programming.dev)
submitted 2 weeks ago by emotional_soup_88@programming.dev to c/networking@sh.itjust.works
13 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've always wondered whether network interfaces that have these flashing lights flash as a gimmick or do they actually indicate the flow of traffic? Perhaps one flash per packet in or out? I wish I could remember what my call up modem looked like to make a historical comparison too.

TL-SG105E

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago

Very insightful! Are those the speeds that I can cat from /sys/class/net/[interface name]/speed? Assuming you know Linux, that is. Those negotiated speeds, are they hardcoded into the NIC and selected/negotiated based on what category cable I'm using and other such hardware related factors? Also, is there any "wiggle room"? As in, does it do a speed test to check the limits of the physical layer or does it just follow some vendor specifications?

this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2026
13 points (100.0% liked)

networking

3434 readers
20 users here now

Community for discussing enterprise networks and the ensuing chaos that comes after inheriting or building one.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
manifex@sh.itjust.works