Week 4 posting- Network Troubleshooting

 When it comes to networks, it becomes pretty scary to see or hear that a network is down. Checking to make sure the physical side of the network is an important step in troubleshooting network issues. Are there issues with the network interface cards (NIC)? Is it a software problem over hardware?

If one application is having difficulties connecting to the network but everything else is connecting to it fine, that is a sure sign that it is a software problem and not a hardware problem. Are there only certain computers unable to connect to the network while all the others can connect? That is normally a sign of hardware issues. It could be that the NIC card in these workstations have gone out, or it could be an issue with cabling. Using network cable testers in your telecommunications room can help you determine if there are any issues with the cabling. If you are able to find faulty cabling, you then know where to start looking for the area of cabling that needs to be replaced.