Network diagnostics

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by handygal, Jan 7, 2011.

  1. handygal

    handygal First Sergeant

    Anyone have any good suggestions and procedures for testing network activity. I have something going on that I can only guess at. Bottlenecks, switches going bad, cabes going bad, some server or workstation with a data problem or sending bad packets. I really haven't any direction for looking for issues but there are some data slowdowns.

    The corporate network --
    35 workstations
    11 network printers
    2 Sun Microsystems servers
    1 Server hosting CCTV security
    1 Server 2000
    1 Server 2003
    2 Server 2008

    Connected to the internet via a new Sonicwall firewall that is professionally managed (just took out a Watchguard firewall) to a 2-T1 connection. There are two VPNS to our two other locations. Their setup is similar except that they are smaller (fewer workstations, only one T1) and they don't have servers. We have slowdowns all over but especially over the tunnels even though the firewalls don't show a lot of traffic. Watchguard techs came in and examined the setups and tried to help troubleshoot. They found nothing and new firewall didn't fix anything.

    I want to test the network extensively and will probably need to bring in the tech team to help me but I'd like to at least start some of it on my own.
     
  2. rustyjack

    rustyjack MajorGeek

    Try downloading Wire Shark learn how to use it and that will help you anylize your network packets, and help you check your network out !
    Hope this helps !
     
  3. handygal

    handygal First Sergeant

    I will try that again. I probably should have spent more time learning how it works instead of just loading it and expecting it to spit meaningful info out at me.
     
  4. rustyjack

    rustyjack MajorGeek

    There are some good info vids on youtube on how to use Wire Shark, they might help ! :)
     
  5. foogoo

    foogoo Major "foogoo" Geek

    Is that all tied together with switches or hubs?
    10/100, or gig? What do the PC's say they are connected at?
     
  6. foogoo

    foogoo Major "foogoo" Geek

  7. handygal

    handygal First Sergeant

    Thanks so much, all good info.

    They all say they are running at 100. There are multiple switches, various floors and miles of cable. I don't think it's security related.

    There are a few bizarre happenings though including one application that seems to be running it's data in a loop somewhere. The firewalls on both sides don't show a large amount of activity but the ISP shows almost a full T1 download being used at the remote and barely a blip in increase of outgoing at the host office. Various techs and senior advisers on all sides have chased this and conferenced about it and blamed me, basically. Since it's so illogical, I refuse to take that and also couldn't possibly even begin to fix it if it was in my network. I built that network from the first wire. I've replaced switches and cables along the way, it's a solid network, nothing else has a problem.

    Thanks again for the references and the direction.
     

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