How can I best test the ethernet port?

[SheerGold]

I am contemplating buying a G5 tower.

I suspect that the ethernet port may be faulty.

What are the best and simplest ways to test that?

 

[aaronw1986]

Try and connect it to the internet? You need to be more specific. Will you be testing it at your home, or where you will be buying it? Will there be multiple computers? If so, you can network the two as a test.

 

[EricNau]

I don't follow... How can you suspect the ethernet port is faulty if you have yet to buy the computer?

Don't the G5s have two ethernet ports? If you suspect that only one is faulty, you could connect the two using an ethernet cable and ping from one to the other.

 

[forafireescape]

....use an ethernet cord to try to hook it up to the internet?

 

[Silent!Avenger]

Plug it into your router. Why do you think its bad in the first place? Also, it might be the cord itself if you tried testing it before.