Network Maintenance

1
Network Maintenance TroubleshootingMeyers 11

• An ounce of prevention
• A pound of cure

2
Prevention Preparation

• Documentation
• Manufacturer
• User-created
• Managing Documentation
• Baselines and Tools
• Virus
• Recoverability

3
Documentation

• External Documentation
• Mfr
• Readmes , Help files, Installation Instructions
• Internet URLs - FAQs, ftp sites, knowledge bases
• Help lines
• Usenet
• Linux. (115 groups)
• Microsoft. (1054)

4
Internal Documentation (1)

• Machine and software ID
• Serial, model, parts, inventory ID
• OS, software installed, license
• IP address, subnet
• Change log, date description
• Location
• Exceptions
• Network map
• Servers
• Workstations
• Printers
• Switching equipment

5
Internal Documentation (2)

• Procedures
• Policies
• Dont forget dissemination.
• Responsibilities Administrators
• Permissions Rights for Groups, Users
• Orientation standards
• What does what?

6
Managing Documentation

• Databases, Spreadsheets, other docs.
• Change log, service pack
• Where is information kept?
• Hardcopy
• Compared to what
• Baseline measurements
• Perfmon Objects and counters
• Win UNC \\servername
• Logging text file spreadsheet.
• System monitor

7
Virus Issues

• Sources
• E-Mail
• Programs
• Boot disks
• Hackers
• Treatment
• Virus protection software
• Periodic update
• Firewall

8
I want my data backed up !

• Redundancy
• Accessibility
• Security
• Periodicity
• Media reuse and longevity
• Business cycles

9
Types of Backups

• When was the last backup? What has changed?
• The archive bit (attribute)

10
Pay me now or pay me later

• Ease of backup number of tapes
• Full easy many tapes
• Differential tapes grows each day since full
• Incremental fewer tapes
• Ease of restore
• What tape (set) is the file on?
• Full yep.
• When did the file change?
• Incremental must know date, 1 tape
• Differential must know date, more tapes
• Full restore
• Restore full
• Restore all incrementals or 1 differential

11
Backup Strategies

• Prioritize according to critical use
• Document backup schedule procedures
• Storage plan
• Offsite affiliate for catastrophic recovery

12
Troubleshooting, Triage Recovery

• Whats the Problem?
• What tools are available
• Hardware Tools
• Software Tools
• Examples

13
What is the problem?

• Diagnose the problem
• Extent
• Where is it?
• Who is affected?
• What is it they cant do?
• Determine causes
• What might be responsible for the observed
  problem?
• Remain consistent with the extent of problem.
• Investigate and Test possibilities (variables)
• Eliminate many first.
• Recreate or replicate or control the problem.
• Document the problem/diagnosis/solution

14
Tools

• Synthetic
• Touchy
• Steps leading to the problem
• Error messages
• What has user tried so far
• Baseline current comparisons
• Hardware
• Loopback
• Cable testers
• Toners
• Protocol analyzers
• Swap
• Lights

15
Tools (2)

• Software
• Perfmon, netmon
• System logs
• Event viewer

16
Tools(3)

• Perfmon
• NIC utilities

17
Tools(4)

• TCPIP utilities
• Ping - software loopback (127.0.0.?)
• Tracert
• Netstat
• Nbtstat
• Ipconfig (win9x.winipcfg)
• Others.Nslookup

18
The ..

• I cant
• It wont

19

• http//www.dlttape.com/roadmap.htm
• http//www.aittape.com/hardware.html
• http//www.networkcomputing.com/1114/1114ws3.html
• http//www.hostingsupport.com/KBase.asp
• http//www.cbe.wwu.edu/deptHome.asp?deptISTS