Debugging arrangement for active ethernet cable

A cable that comprises:

• a first end connector having a first connector plug connected to a first data recovery and re-modulation (DRR) device and to a first controller device, the first controller device operable in response to a host command to initiate a debug dump by the first DRR device and to store the debug dump in a first nonvolatile memory;
• a second end connector having a second connector plug connected to a second DRR device and to a second controller device;
• and
• electrical signal conductors that convey electrical transit signals between the first and second DRR devices.

A communications method that comprises:

• supplying power via a first connector plug to a first end connector of a cable, the first end connector having a first data recovery and re-modulation (DRR) device connected to the first connector plug to convert outgoing data lanes into electrical transit signals for transmission to a second end connector and to convert electrical transmit signals received from the second end connector into incoming data lanes, and further having a first controller device that configures operation of the first DRR device in response to power-on events;
• monitoring for packet loss or link failure while sending the outgoing data lanes and receiving the incoming data lanes;
• and
• upon detecting packet loss or link failure, triggering the first controller device to initiate a debug dump by the first DRR device.