System information

Third-Party Troubleshooting Tools
Book Title
2-12
TrafficDirector multilayer traffic summary provides a quick, high-level assessment of network
loading and protocol distributions. Network managers then “zoom in” on a specific segment, ring,
switch port, or trunk link and apply real-time analysis and diagnostic tools to view hosts,
conversations, and packet captures.
TrafficDirector threshold monitoring enables users to implement a proactive management
environment. First, thresholds for critical Management Information Base (MIB) variables are set
within the RMON agent. When these thresholds are exceeded, traps are sent to the appropriate
management station to notify the network administrator of an impending problem.
The VlanDirector Switch Management Application
The VlanDirector switch management application simplifies VLAN port assignment and offers
other management capabilities for VLANs. VlanDirector offers the following features for network
administrators:
• Accurate representation of the physical network for VLAN design and configuration verification
• Capability to obtain VLAN configuration information on a specific device or link interface
• Discrepancy reports on conflicting configurations
• Ability to troubleshoot and identify individual device configurations that are in error with
system-level VLANs
• Quick detection of changes in VLAN status of switch ports
• User authentication and write protection security
Third-Party Troubleshooting Tools
In many situations, third-party diagnostic tools can be more useful than commands that are
integrated into the router. For example, enabling a processor-intensive debug command can be
disastrous in an environment experiencing excessively high traffic levels. However, attaching a
network analyzer to the suspect network is less intrusive and is more likely to yield useful
information without interrupting the operation of the router.The following are some typical
third-party troubleshooting tools used for troubleshooting internetworks:
• Volt-Ohm meters, digital multimeters, and cable testers are useful in testing the physical
connectivity of your cable plant.
• Time domain reflectors (TDRs) and optical time domain reflectors (OTDRs) are devices that
assist in the location of cable breaks, impedence mismatches, and other physical cable plant
problems.
• Breakout boxes and fox boxes are useful for troubleshooting problems in peripheral interfaces.
• Network analyzers such the Network General Sniffer decode problems at all seven OSI layers
and can be identified automatically in real-time, providing a clear view of network activity and
categorizing problems by criticality.
Volt-Ohm Meters, Digital Multimeters, and Cable Testers
Volt-ohm meters and digital multimeters are at the lower end of the spectrum of cable testing tools.
These devices measure parameters such as AC and DC voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and
cable continuity. They are used to check physical connectivity.