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Anticipating Problems With Your IT Network


Every company will experience network problems at one point in time or another. Anticipating these potential problems can help to ensure that you fix them quicker and more easily.
Common problems can often be anticipated ahead of time and working to prevent or avoid them is the best way to reduce calls to the Help Desk and ensure a less bumpy experience. When we receive calls related to network issues the problems themselves tend to be similar in nature. This is because there are some common problems that can present themselves in any network environment.
One of the major and more frequent problems that occurs is "the duplicate IP address." This means that the address that the network uses when identifying specific network equipment or computers is duplicated for 2 or more devices. For a network to function properly each device needs its own unique IP address. Instructions on what to do or how to handle information are sent to each unique IP. Every single PC and laptop - possesses a unique IP address, but sometimes two devices may receive the same IP address as the result of an error. When this occurs, communication problems arise within the network and services may begin to stop working. When there is a duplicate IP within the network, it will often require a Systems Administrator or Network Engineer to change the address on one of the computer terminals in order to fix the problem.
It's a sad truth but sometime cabling and connections just simply go bad. Connections and connectors can break or go bad, or short out. If nothing appears to be physically damaged or disrupted, then cable testers can be utilized to test for other types of electrical and networking problems. These include connection problems, electrical shorts in the cabling, incorrect cable connections and the interference level.
Another common issue relates to connectivity. These issues can often be caused by the malfunction of connectivity devices, such as in the case of a switch, router/hub or can happen as the result of configuration changes on the same devices. Its wise to always look at the simplest possible solution first, like for instance, did you accidentally unplug yourself. (so check your physical connections). If something is disconnected, reconnect it, and see if the problem is resolved. If all connections are in order, work your way backwards, check that the port on the hub or switch to which the cabling is connected is on and working properly. There should be a green light on at the port site which indicates that the port is live and ready to connect. Similar testing can be done with other switches and routers. If there doesn't appear to be an issue with cabling, it may be that the equipment used to connect to the network needs to be reconfigured to accommodate any changes to the network.
The next thing to look at is potential software problems. Software issues can also cause networking problems. A variety of configuration problems may be at the root of the situation. Registry problems may also cause a networking issue, as well as a number of other software-related possibilities. Depending upon the cause of the problem, you'll need to either make configuration changes or, perhaps, reinstall a specific piece of the software that may have malfunctioned.
If you should find that your connectivity is lagging or running unusually slow, this may be a sign of excessive network collisions. A collision is the result of two devices on the same Ethernet network attempting to transmit data at exactly the same time. The network detects the "collision" of the two transmitted packets and discards them both. This is sometimes the result of a poorly planned network. Also these transmission lags can happen when a user ends up transferring an inordinate amount of information at one time, which floods the network. Network cards can also become stuck in the transmit mode which can also cause excessive network collisions. This can be easily detected because the transmission light will remain on meaning the network card is transmitting continuously. Removing the "jabbering device" can return some of the bandwidth to the network.
Having a well-planned out network, and engaging in active monitoring of your systems and network components can help to minimize any exposure your organization might have to these problems.
AM Data Service is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner providing reliable, cost effective information technology, network implementation and computer support services to businesses of all sizes in Michigan and Central Florida. For more information on how AM Data can help your organization please visit us at: http://www.amdataservice.com/contact-form.html
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