TOPIC:

I know this idea will likely get shot down because of specific needs of a project but pinging may be a simple idea thats being overlooked.

You could right a simple macro that pinged things and sent out the results to twitter, email or your phone/ipod by sms if to many packets were dropped.

Many thanks for all your contributions guys!

My vote goes to the photodiodes!!!

My vote goes to the photodiodes!!!

yes, or maybe some highly trainined monkey, or other suitable primate (teenager?) to sit in your server room, and watch the LED's

you could train them by giving them a reward everytime an interface is identified as down. but then you have to hope they do not evolve to the level that they would unplug the interface in order to get a reward!!!

I just thought of another way - do nothing at all and wait for someone to complain. Then you could tell management that the end-user experience is your primary concern when setting your work priorities...