Wired Network Troubleshooting Flashcards

(54 cards)

1
Q

Signal loss

A
  • Usually gradual
  • Signal strength diminishes over distance
  • Attenuation
  • Loss of intensity as signal moves through a medium
  • Electrical signals through copper, light through fiber
  • Radio waves through the air
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2
Q

Decibels (dB)

A
  • Signal strength ratio measurements
  • One-tenth of a bel
  • Capital B for Alexander Graham Bell
  • Logarithmic scale
  • Add and subtract losses and gains
  • 3 dB = 2x the signal
  • 10 dB = 10x the signal
  • 20 dB = 100x the signal
  • 30 db = 1000x the signal
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3
Q

dB loss symptoms

A
  • No connectivity
  • No signal!
  • Intermittent connectivity
  • Just enough signal to sync the link
  • Poor performance
  • Signal too weak
  • CRC errors, data corruption
  • Test each connection
  • Test distance and signal loss
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4
Q

Latency

A
  • A delay between the request and the response
  • Waiting time
  • Some latency is expected and normal
  • Laws of physics apply
  • Examine the response times at every step along the way
  • This may require multiple measurement tools
  • Packet captures can provide detailed analysis
  • Microsecond granularity
  • Get captures from both sides
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5
Q

Jitter

A

• Most real-time media is sensitive to delay
• Data should arrive at regular intervals
• Voice communication, live video
• If you miss a packet, there’s no retransmission
• There’s no time to “rewind” your phone call
• Jitter is the time between frames
• Excessive jitter can cause you to miss information,
“choppy” voice calls

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6
Q

Troubleshooting excessive jitter

A
  • Confirm available bandwidth
  • Nothing will work well if the tube is clogged
  • Make sure the infrastructure is working as expected
  • Check queues in your switches and routers
  • No dropped frames
  • Apply QoS (Quality of Service)
  • Prioritize real-time communication services
  • Switch, router, firewall, etc.
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7
Q

Crosstalk (XT)

A

• Signal on one circuit affects another circuit
• In a bad way
• Leaking of signal
• You can sometimes “hear” the leak
• Measure XT with cable testers
• Some training may be required
• Near End Crosstalk (NEXT)
• Interference measured at the transmitting end
(the near end)
• Far End Crosstalk (FEXT)
• Interference measured away from the transmitter

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8
Q

Troubleshooting crosstalk

A
  • Almost always a wiring issue
  • Check your crimp
  • Maintain your twists
  • The twist helps to avoid crosstalk
  • Category 6A increases cable diameter
  • Increased distance between pairs
  • Test and certify your installation
  • Solve problems before they are problems
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9
Q

Avoiding EMI and interference

A

• Electromagnetic interference
• Cable handling
• No twisting - don’t pull or stretch
• Watch your bend radius
• Don’t use staples, watch your cable ties
• EMI and interference with copper cables
• Avoid power cords, fluorescent lights,
electrical systems, and fire prevention components
• Test after installation
• You can find most of your problems before use

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10
Q

Opens and shorts

A
  • A short circuit
  • Two connections are touching
  • Wires inside of a cable or connection
  • An open circuit
  • A break in the connection
  • Complete interruption
  • Can be intermittent
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11
Q

Troubleshooting opens and shorts

A
  • May be difficult to find
  • The wire has to be moved just the right way
  • Wiggle it here and there
  • Replace the cable with the short or open
  • Difficult or impossible to repair
  • Advanced troubleshooting with a TDR
  • Time Domain Reflectometer
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12
Q

Troubleshooting pin-outs

A
  • Cables can foul up a perfectly good plan
  • Test your cables prior to implementation
  • Many connectors look alike
  • Do you have a good cable mapping device?
  • Get a good cable person
  • It’s an art
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13
Q

T568A and T568B termination

A

• Pin assignments from EIA/TIA-568-B standard
• Eight conductor 100-ohm balanced twisted-pair cabling
• T568A and T568B are different pin assignments
for 8P8C connectors
• Assigns the T568A pin-out to horizontal cabling
• Many organizations traditionally use 568B
• Difficult to change in mid-stream
• You can’t terminate one side of the cable with
568A and the other with 568B
• It won’t be a straight-through cable

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14
Q

Incorrect cable type

A
  • Excessive physical errors, CRC errors
  • Check your layer 1 first
  • Check the outside of the cable
  • Usually printed on the outside
  • May also have length marks printed
  • Confirm the cable specifications with a TDR
  • Advanced cable tester can identify damaged cables
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15
Q

Incorrect cable type

Troubleshooting interfaces

A
  • Interface errors
  • May indicate bad cable or hardware problem
  • Verify configurations
  • Speed, duplex, VLAN, etc.
  • Verify two-way traffic
  • End-to-end connectivity
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16
Q

Transceiver mismatch

A

• Transceivers have to match the fiber
• Single mode transceiver connects to single mode
fiber
• Transceiver needs to match the wavelength
• 850nm, 1310nm, etc.
• Use the correct transceivers and optical fiber
• Check the entire link
• Signal loss
• Dropped frames, missing frames

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17
Q

Reversing transmit and receive

A
• Wiring mistake
• Cable ends
• Punchdowns
• Easy to find with a wire map
• 1-3, 2-6, 3-1, 6-2
• Simple to identify
• Some network interfaces will
automatically correct (Auto-MDIX)
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18
Q

TX/RX reversal troubleshooting

A
  • No connectivity
  • Auto-MDIX might connect
  • Try turning it on
  • Locate reversal location
  • Often at a punchdown
  • Check your patch panel
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19
Q

Damaged cables

A
  • Copper cables are pretty rugged
  • But they aren’t indestructible
  • Cables can be out in the open
  • Stepped on, folded between a table and wall
  • Check your physical layer
  • Cables should not be bent or folded
  • Check for any bent pins on the device
  • It’s difficult to see inside of the cable
  • Check your TDR, replace the cable (if possible)
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20
Q

Bottlenecks

A

• There’s never just one performance metric
• A series of technologies working together
• I/O bus, CPU speed, storage access speed,
network throughput, etc.
• One of these can slow all of the others down
• You must monitor all of them to find the slowest one
• This may be more difficult than you might expect

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21
Q

Interface configuration problems

A
  • Poor throughput
  • Very consistent, easily reproducible
  • No connectivity
  • No link light
  • No connectivity
  • Link light and activity light
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22
Q

Interface configuration

A
  • Auto vs. Manual configuration
  • Personal preference
  • Light status
  • No light, no connection
  • Speed
  • Must be identical on both sides
  • Duplex
  • If mismatched, speed will suffer
23
Q

VLAN mismatch

A
  • Switch is configured with the incorrect VLAN
  • Configured per switch interface
  • Link light, but no surfing
  • A DHCP IP address may not be on the correct subnet
  • Manually IP addressing won’t work at all
  • Check the switch configuration for VLAN configuration
  • Each port should have a VLAN setting
  • VLAN 1 is usually the default
24
Q

Duplex/speed match

A
• Speed and duplex
• Speed: 10 / 100 /1,000 / Auto
• Duplex: Half / Full / Auto
• Incorrect speed
• Many switch configurations will auto-negotiate speed
• Less than expected throughput
• Incorrect duplex
• Again, the switch may auto-negotiate
• Needs to match on both sides
• A mismatch will cause significant slowdowns
• Increase in Late Collisions
may indicate a duplex mismatch
25
Reflection
• Wireless signals can bounce off some surfaces • Depends on the frequencies and the surfaces • Too much reflection can weaken the signal • A little multipath interference actually helps with MIMO • Position antennas to avoid excessive reflection • May not be a problem for MIMO in 802.11n and 802.11ac
26
Refraction
• Signal passes through an object and exits at a different angle • Similar to light through water • Data rates are affected - Signal is less directional • Outdoor long-distance wireless links • Changes in air temperature and water vapor
27
Absorption
* Signal passes through an object and loses signal strength * Especially through walls and windows * Different objects absorb differently as frequencies change * 2.4 GHz may have less absorption than 5 GHz * Put the antennas on the ceiling * And avoid going through walls
28
Latency and jitter
* Latency - Delays between transmission and reception * Jitter - Deviation from a predictable data stream * Wireless interference and signal issues * Slower data rates * Increase in retransmissions * Capacity issues * Many people using the same wireless frequencies
29
Attenuation
• Wireless signals get weaker as you move farther from the antenna • The attenuation can be measured with a Wi-Fi analyzer • Control the power output on the access point • Not always an option • Use a receive antenna with a higher gain • Capture more of the signal • Move closer to the antenna - May not be possible
30
Interference
``` • Interference • Something else is using our frequency • Predictable • Florescent lights, microwave ovens, cordless telephones, high-power sources • Unpredictable - Multi-tenant building • Measurements • netstat –e • Performance Monitor ```
31
Incorrect antenna type
* The antenna must fit the room * Or the distance between sender and receiver * Omnidirectional * Useful on the ceiling * Not very useful between buildings * Directional * Used often between two points * Or on a wall-mounted access point * The access point may provide options * Connect different antennas
32
Incorrect antenna placement
* Interference * Overlapping channels * Slow throughput * Data fighting to be heard through the interference * Check access point locations and channel settings * A challenge for 2.4 GHz * Much easier for 5 GHz
33
Overcapacity
* Device saturation * Too many devices on one wireless network * There are only so many frequencies * The 5 GHz can really help with this * Bandwidth saturation * Large data transfers * Common in large meeting places * Conferences * Airports * Hotels
34
Frequency mismatch
• Devices have to match the access point • 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz • Verify the client is communicating over the correct channel • This is normally done automatically • May not operate correctly if manually configured • Older standards may slow down the newer network • 802.11b compatibility mode on 802.11n networks • Every access point has an SSID • But did you connect to the right one? • This can be more confusing than you might think • Public Wi-Fi Internet • Guest Internet • Internet • Confirm the correct SSID settings • Should be listed in the current connection status
35
Wrong passphrase
* Wireless authentication * Many different methods * Required to connect to the wireless network * If not connected, check the authentication * Shared passphrase * Common in a SOHO, not in the enterprise * 802.1X * Used for the enterprise * Make sure the client is configured to use 802.1X
36
Security type mismatch
• Encryption on wireless is important • Make sure the client matches the access point • This is much easier these days • Almost everything is at the level of WPA2 • Some legacy equipment may not be able to keep up • If you change the access point, you may not be able to support it • Migrate all of your WEP to WPA2 • And any WPA
37
Signal to noise ratio
* Signal * What you want * Noise * What you don’t want * Interference from other networks and devices * You want a very large ratio * The same amount of signal to noise (1:1) would be bad
38
Names not resolving
* Web browsing doesn’t work * The Internet is broken! * Pinging the IP address works * There isn’t a communication problem * Applications aren’t communicating * They often use names and not IP addresses
39
Troubleshooting DNS issues
* Check your IP configuration * Is the DNS IP address correct? * Use nslookup or dig to test - Does resolution work? * Try a different DNS server - Google is 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4
40
IP configuration issues
* Communicate to local IP addresses * But not outside subnets * No IP communication - Local or remote * Communicate to some IP addresses - But not others
41
Troubleshooting IP configurations
* Check your documentation * IP address, subnet mask, gateway * Monitor the traffic * Examine local broadcasts * Difficult to determine subnet mask * Check devices around you * Confirm your subnet mask and gateway * Traceroute and ping * The issue might be your infrastructure * Ping local IP, default gateway, and outside address
42
Duplicate IP addresses
* Static address assignments - Must be very organized * DHCP isn’t a panacea * Static IP addressing * Multiple DHCP servers overlap * Rogue DHCP servers * Intermittent connectivity * Two addresses “fight” with each other * Blocked by the OS - Checks when it starts
43
Troubleshooting duplicate IP addresses
* Check your IP addressing - Did you misconfigure? * Ping an IP address before static addressing * Does it respond? * Determine the IP addresses * Ping the IP address, check your ARP table * Find the MAC address in your switch MAC table * Capture the DHCP process * What DHCP servers are responding?
44
Duplicate MAC addresses
``` • Not a common occurrence • MAC addresses are designed to be unique • May be a man-in-the-middle attempt • Mistakes can happen • Locally administered MAC addresses • Manufacturing error • Intermittent connectivity • Confirm with a packet capture, should see ARP contention • Use the ARP command from another computer • Confirm the MAC matches the IP ```
45
Expired IP addresses
* A DHCP address should renew well before the lease expires * The DHCP server(s) could be down * Client gives up the IP address at the end of the lease * APIPA address is assigned * Checks in occasionally for a DHCP server * Look for an APIPA assigned address * 169.254.*.* * Check the status of your DHCP server
46
Rogue DHCP server
* IP addresses assigned by a non-authorized server * There’s no inherent security in DHCP * Client is assigned an invalid or duplicate address * Intermittent connectivity, no connectivity * Disable rogue DHCP communication * Enable DHCP snooping on your switch * Authorized DHCP servers in Active Directory * Disable the rogue * Renew the IP leases
47
Untrusted SSL certificate
* Browsers trust signatures from certain CAs * A certificate was signed by a CA that’s not in our list * Error message on the browser * Certificate Authority Invalid * Check the certificate details * Look for the issuing CA * Compare to the CA list on your computer * If it’s an internal server, it may be internally signed * Add your internal CA certificate to the list
48
Incorrect time
• Some cryptography is very time sensitive • Active Directory requires clocks set within five minutes of each other • Kerberos communication uses a time stamp • If the ticket shown during authentication is too old, it’s invalid • Client can’t login • Check the timestamp of the client and the server • Configure NTP on all devices • Automate the clock setting
49
Exhausted DHCP scope
* Client received an APIPA address * Local subnet communication only * Check the DHCP server * Add more IP addresses if possible * IP address management (IPAM) may help * Monitor and report on IP address shortages * Lower the lease time * Especially if there are a lot of transient users
50
Blocked TCP/UDP ports
* Applications not working * Slowdowns with other applications * Firewall or ACL configuration * Security choke points * Confirm with a packet capture * No response to requests * Run a TCP- or UDP-based traceroute tool * See how far your packet can go
51
Incorrect host-based firewall setting
``` • Applications not working • Based on the application in use and not necessarily the protocol and port • Check the host-based firewall settings • Accessibility may be limited to an administrator • Managed from a central console • Take a packet capture • The traffic may never make it to the network • Dropped by the operating system ```
52
Incorrect ACL setting
``` • Only certain IP addresses accessible • Or none • Access Control Lists • IP address, port numbers, and other parameters • Can allow or deny traffic by filtering packets • Confirm with packet captures and TCP/UDP traceroutes • Identify the point of no return ```
53
Unresponsive service
* No response to an application request * No answer * Do you have the right port number? * And protocol (TCP/UDP)? * Confirm connectivity * Ping, traceroute * Is the application still working? * Telnet to the port number and see if it responds
54
Hardware failure
* No response * Application doesn’t respond * Confirm connectivity * Without a ping, you’re not going to connect * Run a traceroute * See if you’re being filtered * Should make it to the other side * Check the server * Lights? Fire?