12 simple and easy to follow steps to help you answer those day to day questions...
- There are really two types of network analysis, the first is who is out there and how there are configured. The second is traffic, errors and performance.
- Different tools are required to do these different jobs.
- Switches limit the amount of traffic you can see from a device, but they are not perfect.
- When you plug into a switch, you will naturally get all the broadcast information plus the “leakage” from the switch network.
- If you want to see how busy a device is you need to get between it and the switch or reconfigure the switch to copy you the data, just plugging in is not good enough.
- Packet analysers (sniffers) give a lot of detail, but only on one part of the network at a time. When we say a lot of detail we mean a lot, in fact most of the time too much.
- All the IP configuration mistakes will cause problems when that PC or device wants to go through the Routers. This causes partial connection issues and is very confusing.
- Most people think the network runs slowly because of too much traffic. This is not usually true, but you need to prove it.
- All the junk protocols you never got around to turning off on the network (Apple Talk, IPX etc) add to the general level of “noise” that all PCs see. Eventually the PCs will get deaf.
- When you have a problem break it down in order. Cable, NIC card, PC configuration (IP settings), Network Hardware (switch port). Most problems are caused when humans configure and install things.
- A simple SNMP management station covers the basics of network performance and errors. This may not be the problem, but it is the question you will be asked the most.
- The Network will be blamed, it’s just the way it is.
Last Updated: 07/12/2009