1. Context

Cables are present in all electrical or electronic systems, often unobtrusively because they are considered unimportant: yet their role is fundamental, whether for power supply or information transmission. However, their maintenance is often neglected, and few systems exist to provide rapid, accurate diagnosis of their condition.

The aim of this article is to present the state of the art in methods and tools for diagnosing wired networks with complex topologies, along with their advantages, performance and limitations.