ksteurer wrote::FYI: I have no computer background, but I am trying to magnify my STS calling regardless::
Well, that's a shame. While it's not stated explicitly in the Handbook, I'd think the STS is supposed to be someone with respectable technical skills, even if they are not experts at every aspect of their job. Mostly because the job seems to be "hands on" rather than overseeing others.
ksteurer wrote:None of the ethernet cables are labeled so no one has a clue as to what is FHC, what is access points, what is clerk computers, what is building facility data, etc.
Oh, fun.
There's are few tricks that can help. First, it's really not necessary to identify every line (although I have). In this case, you have 2, maybe three classes of devices: "VPN" (the FHC zone), FM (for FM's devices - if any), and everything else (AP, computers, wall jacks, etc.) While it's nice to know exactly each wire, for the purpose of the upgrade, you only need to identify what class it belongs in.
Anytime there is a "live" device, the link light on both that device and the switch will be on. Unplug it, and the both lights will go out. So here's what I'd do: Go to the switch by the firewall. Take careful note of which link lights are on. Go to the FHC. If the switch is on, turn it off. If it was off, turn it on. Go back to the firewall and see which port has changed status. That's your FHC cable. Label it and plug it into the second to last port. (Port 2 for the 881W).
The next part depends on how nice you want to be with the FM group. You could tell them that you're going to upgrade the firewall and they'll have to figure out which cable are the ones for their devices. (And if there's more than one, install a second switch.) Either way, all the "public" stuff and the FHC stuff should work after the upgrade.
Or, you could try to locate as many other cables by the same technique. Unplug things, turn them on/off and see what ports light up or go dark. I think it takes me about an hour and a half for a building. Just one thing to keep in mind: If a computer has power, even if it seems to be off, it will usually establish a link. So you may need to unplug the computer to see which line that one uses. Do take note what color the cables are. They may all be the same, or they might be different. Everything helps to narrow down what's what.
APs are likely to either use a power brick or the port on the switch will have an extra light indicating "POE" - that the switch is powering the device on the other end. That will help narrow down the options.