Thanks Bryan, good report as always!  The big networking problem last spring (and into the 1st 1/2 of the summer) was because of a loop created in the IDF plugging &mdash; which either was created :( , :( or (marginally less discouraging &ndash; hence just one frowny face) was accentuated :( when CUIP upgraded the off-the-shelf hubs/switches in the lefthand column of the IDF rack.
But that was solved mid-summer (we were on hand for our summer program conducted in the lab ... BTW, see your private email) when an OTS networking guy came by to work on the new switching equipment in the MDF and we pulled him over to the IDF, where he solved the problem within the space of 5 minutes by putting in a crossover cable at a certain place.  

But you're right, there are dead ports in classrooms, not connected with that problem. We haven't gotten to the point of finding out whether the spot-failures are in the CBOX switches or in the wiring itself.  In the former case it might help to climb up and try different ports on the switch.  In the latter case it would require probably-exorbitant rewiring.

The workaround is of course to toss some hubs or mini-switches into the classrooms.  That works okay! The only problems  in general have been (1) excessive daisy-chaining, and (2) teachers not familiar with the hubs/switches re-plugging in computers on their own and not understanding the role of the dedicated <i>uplink</i> port, or the reserved <i>alternate to the uplink</i> port, on the brands which use that system rather than auto adjusting  (or using a manual setting toggle). 

So IMO it's a safe strategy to continue throwing some 8-port or even 5-port hubs/mini-switches at the classroom port shortage problem.  Don't use any strictly 10MBPS devices, go for the 10/100 or even 100/1000 ones.

  =Mitch
(also going into email on second thought)