We have a 400 desktop network - Windows XP & Win2K - and have had major network outrages due to faulty cable (carpenter working on a table cut through the cable).
We are clean of viruses and trojans and the like.
We have a pair of Cisco 3750s at the core with Dell PowerConnect at the access layer
Both have broadcast storm control enabled.
We have a number of VLANs defined on the 3750s to isolate network traffic.
But a faulty network cable still seems to bring down all the VLANs.
If the cable is a main trunk then I could see if taking it down but a single cable to 1 computer shouldnt.
As for main trunk lines you could try running redundant connections and use STP to block those connections untill a break is detected.
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