Network hardware tools Unit objective Given a scenario, use appropriate hardware tools to troubleshoot connectivity problems Use the appropriate software.

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 802.3 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

Test leads

Amplifier

Probe

Modular plug connectors

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

0 Emergency: system is unusable

1 Alert: action must be taken immediately

2 Critical: critical conditions

3 Error: error conditions

4 Warning: warning conditions

5 Notice: normal but significant condition

6 Informational: informational messages

7 Debug: 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