7.6 Basic Ethernet 10Base-T Troubleshooting 7.6.1 Troubleshooting workstations Instructor Note The purpose of this target indicator is to present the students an approach to problem-solving based on the OSI model. Often lower layer problems (layer 1, layer 2) underlie our inability to use layer 7 network applications. Working from the wires up can help us rule out, systematically, different categories of problems. There are many approaches to network troubleshooting. The first is to work up through the layers of the OSI model. This method isolates problems that can masquerade as other problems. You can waste a lot of time troubleshooting a browser that does not function properly, only to find that the computer is not connected to the network. It is best to start troubleshooting at Layer 1. Ask yourself whether things are plugged in and connected before you go to the next higher level, with its more complicated issues. An effective troubleshooting approach by OSI layer is summarized in the graphic. 7.6 Basic Ethernet 10Base-T Troubleshooting 7.6.2 Network Inspector discovery lab Instructor Note The purpose of this lab is to discover the features of the Network Inspector (or equivalent) software. Network Inspector provides many advanced network administration capabilities. However, the focus in this lab is the Network Discovery feature, which, among other things, discovers the MAC addresses of all connected devices. Lab Activity In this lab, you will use the help menu, and the process of experimentation, to learn the basics of navigating within the Network Inspector (NI) environment. 7.6 Basic Ethernet 10Base-T Troubleshooting 7.6.3 Network Inspector protocol log lab Instructor Note The purpose of this lab is to introduce some of the troubleshooting capabilities of the Network Inspector software. Again, the software has many advanced capabilities but the purpose here is to simply familiarize the students with the errors, warnings, and changes features. Lab Activity In this lab, you will learn about the problems/symptoms that the NI program can detect. 7.6 Basic Ethernet 10Base-T Troubleshooting 7.6.4 Protocol Inspector frame statistics Instructor Note The purpose of this lab is to introduce network analysis (sniffing) software, either the Fluke Protocol Inspector or equivalent. Throughout chapters 6 and 7 frames are discussed. The Protocol Inspector can help bring these frames to life by making showing frame flow as the heartbeat of the LAN. The transmission and reception of frames can be captured, counted, and analyzed by this software. Lab Activity In this lab, you will work on a series of troubleshooting exercises that focus on problems, changes, and errors. Summary In this chapter, you learned that: the term token-ring refers both, to IBM's token-ring and to IEEEs 802.5 specification FDDI has four specifications: Media Access Control (MAC) Physical Layer Protocol (PHY) Physical Layer Medium (PMD) Station Management (SMT) Ethernet and IEEE 802.3 currently maintain the greatest market share of any LAN protocol the term Ethernet is often used to refer to all carrier sense multiple access/collision detection (CSMA/CD) LANs that generally conform to Ethernet specifications, including IEEE 802.3 Additionally, you learned about Layer 2 devices and their effects on data flow. Finally, you were introduced to basic Ethernet 10Base-T troubleshooting. In the next chapter, you will be introduced to network design and documentation.
