Network hardware tools Unit objective Given a scenario, use appropriate hardware tools to troubleshoot connectivity problems Use the appropriate software tools to troubleshoot connectivity problems Monitor and analyze network traffic Explain the methods and rationales for optimizing network performance Explain the purpose and features of various network appliances

Topic A Topic A: Network hardware tools Topic B: Network software tools Topic C: Monitoring and analyzing network traffic Topic D: Network performance optimization Topic E: Network appliances

Cable testing device Test cables and network functions Can use a device for your particular LAN or one that’s compatible with multiple network types

Physical cable tests Locating incorrectly wired cables, open cables, and shorts Locating missing cables Locating cables that don’t support your network type Testing hub connections Testing PC connections Testing installed cables Testing patch cables Locating and tracing inactive cables

Network function tests Verify that PC or switch is powered on Determine whether device is network PC or switch Display maximum network connection speed to device Verify PC-to-switch speed, and data transmission and port speed or duplex mismatch Verify switch-to-switch data transmission Determine if straight-through or crossover patch cable is required Find speed bottlenecks on LANs Monitor LAN link between two devices

Cable certifier Used to conduct cable quality tests Measures speed and performance Verifies that network cable can perform at IEEE speed rating Available for copper and fiber optic cabling Has display and remote handsets

Additional features Measure cable length and distances to opens and shorts Test cables for continuity, proper termination, and polarity Create wiring maps to locate and identify cable routes Create customer floor plans with outlets and wire runs

Testing a basic permanent link 1.Select the cable type 2.Separate cable line to be tested from all network components 3.Connect adapter and patch cord to display handset and to remote handset 4.Connect patch cord of display handset to one end of cable line to be tested 5.Connect patch cord of remote handset to other end of cable line to be tested 6.Follow directions for your cable certifier to begin testing

Activity A-1 Using a cable certifier

Crimpers

Coax crimper Terminating a coaxial Thinnet cable to a BNC connector

Activity A-2 Terminating with a BNC connector

Twisted-pair cable crimper

Activity A-3 Terminating with an RJ-45 connector

Using a fiber optic cable crimper Tools needed: –3mm fiber-jacket stripper –Kevlar cutter –Fiber stripper –SC connector cable crimper –Fiber scribe tool Additional items needed: –Fiber optic safety glasses –Fiber disposal bottle –Fiber optic cleaning kit –Epoxy mixer and injection syringe –Epoxy curing oven with thermometer and fiber stand –Fiber optic polishing kit –Fiber optic inspection microscope with 200X+ magnification

Terminating fiber optic cable 1.Prepare fiber optic cable 2.Prepare epoxy 3.Inject epoxy into ferrule 4.Insert fiber cable into SC connector 5.Crimp connector 6.Cure epoxy 7.Remove excess fiber from ferrule tip 8.Polish and clean ferrule 9.Verify that fiber optic cable has been correctly terminated 10.Place dust cap over ferrule

Activity A-4 Discussing the steps to terminate a fiber optic cable

Butt set Lineman’s handset Used to install and test local-loop POTS or MDC lines Local loop: physical connection between demarc and switch house Tool includes: –Earpiece –Mouthpiece –Set of test leads

Butt set uses Check for dial tone Monitor active calls Answer incoming calls Make outgoing calls Determine if phone or wiring is the problem with “dead” phone Determine if noisy or dead line is before or after demarc

Modapt ® device

Activity A-5 Using a butt set to test an analog phone line

Toner probe Amplifier probe Locate, identify, and trace wires or cables Works with a tone generator

Using a toner probe 1.Set tone generator to tone 2.Test tone generator 3.Connect tone generator to one end of cable to be traced 4.Use probe to identify where cable comes into patch panel or 110 block Move to cable bundle and identify cable that runs to where you’ve connected tone generator 5.Disconnect tone generator and turn it off

Activity A-6 Using a toner probe

Punchdown tools

Using a punchdown tool 1.Insert wire between two metal blades on punchdown block (one wire per contact in block) 2.Place punchdown tool on top of wire (have correct side of tool facing up) 3.Apply pressure to wire until you hear snap from tool’s spring mechanism

Activity A-7 Terminating a CAT 5e or CAT 6 cable in a punchdown block

Network analyzer Identify problems with –Cabling –Jacks –Network cards –Hubs –Lower-level OSI hardware –TCP/IP

Activity A-8 Testing the physical network

Loopback plugs Test ports Specific to type of port Ethernet loopback –10 and 100 Mbps –Gigabit Network loopback plug: can make your own or buy commercial

Activity A-9 Using a loopback plug

TDR Locate cabling problems: –Sheath faults –Broken conductors –Water damage –Loose connectors –Crimps –Cuts –Smashed cables –Shorted conductors –Variety of other fault conditions Verify impedance and termination

OTDR TDR for optical cable Transmits series of optical pulses Measures amount of light that is scattered and reflected back Uses data to estimate fiber’s length and attenuation Used to locate faults

Activity A-10 Using a TDR to find a split pair and the electrical end of a cable

Multimeters Used to measure electricity from power supply or computer component Available in digital and analog models

Measuring resistance 1.Turn off device you’re measuring and disconnect it from power source 2.Disconnect device from its circuit 3.Set multimeter to read resistance 4.Touch two leads of multimeter together 5.Touch black and red probes to either side of circuit to be measured, and read resistance from meter’s display

Measuring voltage 1.Power supply must be on 2.Set multimeter to read either DC or AC voltage 3.Touch black probe to ground, and touch red probe to spot where you want to measure voltage

Measuring current 1.Break circuit 2.Insert meter in break 3.Read current flowing through circuit Can also use ammeter or clamp-on ammeter to measure current flow

Measuring continuity 1.Set multimeter to display resistance 2.Look for circuits with zero resistance If multimeter includes a continuity mode, you can use that In continuity mode, multimeter sounds a tone whenever it detects a closed circuit

Activity A-11 Measuring electrical values

Environmental monitor Connects to network Allows remote monitoring of environmental conditions in equipment rooms Monitors: –Temperature –Power –Humidity –Water –Smoke –Air flow –Room entry

ASHRAE 9.9 guidelines Temperature range of 64.4° to 80.6° F Constant relative humidity of less than 60%, with: –Lower dew-point temperature of 41.9° F –Upper dew-point temperature of 59° F

Activity A-12 Observing an environmental monitor (instructor demonstration)

Topic B Topic A: Network hardware tools Topic B: Network software tools Topic C: Monitoring and analyzing network traffic Topic D: Network performance optimization Topic E: Network appliances

TCP/IP utilities ARP ARP ping DIG Getmac Hostname Ifconfig IPConfig Nbstat Netstat NSLookup Ping Route Traceroute

IPConfig Use switches to display and modify TCP/IP properties –/all –/release, /release6 –/renew, /renew6 –/flushdns –/displaydns –/registerdns

Ifconfig UNIX command to display IP addressing information Enable and disable network cards

Activity B-1 Using IPConfig to display TCP/IP settings

Ping (Packet Internet Groper) Sends packet to another computer to test connectivity Use NetBIOS name, DNS name, or IP address

Ping troubleshooting If you used ping with a domain name, use IP address of remote host instead Try to ping a different computer Use IPConfig to verify that the computer has been assigned an IP address Verify all network configuration settings Reboot the computer to verify that TCP/IP has been loaded Check the physical connections

Activity B-2 Testing TCP/IP connectivity

NSLookup and Tracert NSLookup –Verifies communication with a DNS server –Single or multiple DNS servers Tracert –Verify network path between two computers

Activity B-3 Using NSLookup and Tracert

Topic C Topic A: Network hardware tools Topic B: Network software tools Topic C: Monitoring and analyzing network traffic Topic D: Network performance optimization Topic E: Network appliances

Performance Monitor Create a baseline to compare system performance over time Monitor system resource usage Locate performance problems Identify performance bottlenecks

Performance objects Network Interface Memory Paging File PhysicalDisk Process Processor TCPv4 and TCPv6 UDPv4 and UDPv6

Bottlenecks IPv4 and IPv6 Network Interface Redirector Server TCPv4 and TCPv6 UDPv4 and UDPv6

Activity C-1 Monitoring network performance

Configuration Toolbar Properties dialog box

Activity C-2 Configuring Performance Monitor

Event Viewer Application Security Setup System Forwarded Events

Event information Source Event ID Level User OpCode Logged Task Category Keywords Computer

Event types Critical Error Warning Information Success Audit Failure Audit

Activity C-3 Viewing the event logs

Device and application logging Antivirus software Router Firewall Wireless access point and RADIUS DNS server Domain controller

Activity C-4 Discussing device and application logging

Syslog Originator Relay Collector

Syslog alert levels 0Emergency: system is unusable 1Alert: action must be taken immediately 2Critical: critical conditions 3Error: error conditions 4Warning: warning conditions 5Notice: normal but significant condition 6Informational: informational messages 7Debug: debug-level messages

SNMP Managed devices Agents NMS Versions –V1 –V2: Added security –V3: Added encryption, message integrity, and authentication

Network Monitor Free Microsoft download Packet analyzer/sniffer Capture and examine packets

Activity C-5 Capturing network traffic by using Network Monitor

Topic D Topic A: Network hardware tools Topic B: Network software tools Topic C: Monitoring and analyzing network traffic Topic D: Network performance optimization Topic E: Network appliances

Rationales Reduce network latency –Latency sensitivity of high-bandwidth applications –Jitters in video or voice transmissions Increase uptime –Employee productivity –Revenue

Methods QoS Traffic shaping Load balancing High availability and fault tolerance CARP Caching engines

Activity D-1 Discussing network performance optimization

Topic E Topic A: Network hardware tools Topic B: Network software tools Topic C: Monitoring and analyzing network traffic Topic D: Network performance optimization Topic E: Network appliances

Networking appliances Load balancers Proxy servers Content filters VPN concentrators

Activity E-1 Discussing network appliances

Unit summary Given a scenario, used appropriate hardware tools to troubleshoot connectivity problems Used the appropriate software tools to troubleshoot connectivity problems Monitored and analyzed network traffic Explained the methods and rationales for optimizing network performance Explained the purpose and features of various network appliances