Network Management Activities

• Client and Server configuration
• User connectivity and management
• Data protection
• Network planning and monitoring

Proper management prevents or minimizes many problems.

A comprehensive backup program can prevent significant data losses.

Security Policies

Establish minimum and maximum user password length.
Determine how often users should change their passwords and if they can be reused.
Know the character restrictions.
Determine if separate standards shall be utilized.
Decide how exceptions will be handled.

Documentation should include:
Device address list.
Cable map.
Contact list.
Equipment list.
Network history.
Network map.
Networking hardware configuration.

Policies and procedures.
Server configuration.
Software configuration.
Software licensing.
User administration.

Accounting management.
Configuration management.
Fault management.
Performance management.
Security management.
Network Monitoring

Event Monitoring

System usage statistics.
System performance statistics.
Establish a baseline.

Simple Network Management Protocol

SNMP, part of TCP/IP, is an industry standard protocol that is supported by most networking equipment manufacturers.
Works with programs, called software agents, that are loaded on each managed network device.
Each device stores information in a Management Information Base (MIB).

Troubleshooting Methodology

Troubleshooting skill is not so much taught as it is learned.
Eliminate any potential user errors.
Verify that physical connections are working.
Verify the status of the NIC.
Restart the computer.

Special Tools
Digital Volt Meter

AKA VOM volt ohm meter
Measures resistance.

Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR)

Determines the length of the cable.

Advanced Cable Testers

Can measure message frame counts, collisions, congestion errors, and beaconing information or broadcast storms.

Oscilloscopes

Measure signal voltage over time.

Network Monitors

Software packages that can track all or part of the network traffic. Including packet type, errors, and traffic to and from each computer.

Protocol Analyzers

The most advanced trouble shooting device.

Monitors all traffic.

Can capture traffic as well.

Common Situations

The majority of networking problems occur at the Physical layer of the OSI model.
Include problems with cables, connectors, and NICs.
Power fluctuations can cause unpredictable problems.
Test any upgrade before deploying it.

Internet Resources

World Wide Web
Electronic mail
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Newsgroups
Telenet