Does anyone know if an hardware ethernet on/off switch exists to buy? Or if it would be possible to build one?
I currently have an issue in my software development environment that can only be resolved by pulling the ethernet cable out of my my machine. I know it does not make much sense, but it is the fastest solution I have to solving this issue (see my open question on StackOverflow)
What I am looking for is some type of dongle that would sit between my ethernet cable and my machine. I envision a simple on/off switch on it. Does this exist? If not, would I be able to build one? Is there some physical limitation to doing this?
I am really looking for a hardware solution here. As far as a software solution is concerned, I have exhausted most of the possibilities (firewalls, turning off network connection, etc) and most have either not worked or caused some other issues.
SOLUTION:
I took the advice of @tom-wijsman and implemented a software solution. I created a small C# application that adds and deletes an entry in the HOSTS file. This entry will point our database server to a nonexistent IP address. Its kind of a hack, but it solves our problem.
74 Answers
You could try something like this. While not an on/off switch it would do the same thing:
I imagine what you could do, is place the cat-5 into the switch and then switch to the other port when you need to turn it off.
Note: while this looks like a RJ-11 it says it's a RJ-45 (Cat-5) switch. I would triple check to make sure.
3I have never heard or seen of such a device. in lieu of a better answer:
Depending on your operating system, it may be easiest to write a small script to enable/disable the port.
If however you want hardware, All I can recommend is you use a 1-2 meter ethernet cable from your computer to your desk (or wherever convenient), and plug it in to a ethernet coupler.
(Non cross over, but, in most cases it won't make a difference)
Then plug the cable that was in your machine in to this.
This should make it a lot easier than what you are currently doing (unless you are using a laptop!)
Low tech solution: Use a small extra network switch and just pull the plug or use a switched socket-outlet for its wall-wart.
Or you can simply build a "lag switch".
Like this.
Just use a switch which can hold all the cables. There you go.
