International Business Machines Corporation

Katja Gebuhr

Lee Jason Sanders

Gareth John Nicholls

Mark Keith Elliott

Provided is a computer-implemented method, system, and apparatus for a visual identification of a port and a previously connected cable of a link in a network environment including a network switch or a network device. The apparatus having an LED arrangement at a port assembly configured for illumination at the port and configured to provide illumination via the cable to a remote end of the link. An identifier providing component controls the LED arrangement based on a unique attribute of the link including: detecting a status change of a link; obtaining the unique attribute related to the link from a layer of a protocol received on both ends of the link; selecting an identifier based on the unique attribute related to the link; and instructing the LED arrangement to be configured to provide a light output of the selected identifier.

Growing community of inventors

Southampton, United Kingdom

Katja Gebuhr