TROUBLE-SHOOTING: 3
Common hardware problems are
- workstation and server hardware,
screens, disks, memory, keyboards
- cabling, connectors
- network interface cards
- peripheral devices, mice, printers,
modems, bridges, routers
The majority of PC-LAN problems occur
with cabling. Cabling problems fall into the following categories
- faulty connectors and terminators
- faulty cable, crimps, splices
- excess noise voltages, extraneous
voltages and ground loops
- shorts and open circuits
- excessive cable lengths and
workstation limits
The tools available to test cable are,
- time domain reflectometer(tdr)
tests for cable imperfections, terminations, open and
short circuits
- voltmeter
tests for voltage, ground loops, noise voltages,
spikes
- ohm-meter
resistance test, presence of terminators, shorts and
open circuits
General Principles
- know the cable type and
characteristics
- know the cabling layout/scheme,
access points and numbering
- know what to expect for good and
bad measurements
- visual inspection is important
- start with what you know is good,
isolate the rest
- segment/divide where possible, make
one big problem into several smaller ones
© Copyright Brian Brown, 1988-2000. All rights reserved.