Network troubleshooting
Network troubleshooting is the systematic process of identifying, analyzing and resolving network issues. In other words, troubleshooting network issues refers to rectifying problems related to connectivity, security, performance and other aspects of networks. Network troubleshooting is essential to reduce MTTR, restore network uptime and regularize network operations.
Network troubleshooting?
How to troubleshoot network issues?
IT admins need to be prepared to handle network issues and reduce their mean time to repair (MTTR). To achieve a lower MTTR, you should have a clear understanding of network issues. The four-step method discussed below can help you better understand underlying network problems and solutions, prevent network troubleshooting issues and maintain a five-nines network.
Step 1
Identify the network issue.
Step 2
Gather information and track the root cause.
Step 3
Troubleshoot the issue.
Step 4
Document the issue, the process and the network troubleshooting solutions.
Network troubleshooting is the process of solving problems that are occurring on your network, using a methodical approach. When users complain, whether they’re internal or external to your organization — or ideally, before they do — you need to figure out what the cause of their problem is. The goal is to troubleshoot and fix whatever issue underlies the problems. Troubleshooting requires taking a methodical approach to resolving the issue as quickly as possible. Unfortunately for you, the user doesn’t care what your service-level objective for fixing the problem is.
Causes of Network problems
Slow internal network speeds
Jammed requests
A large number of requests at the same time causes slow network speeds. This can be fixed by adding more bandwidth to your network, usually by renegotiating with your ISP.
Multimedia streaming
Streaming or downloading large files over extended periods causes a network slowdown, affecting other critical business functions. You can block media streaming sites behind the firewall. Apart from blocking such sites, you can identify the top talkers via OpManager.
Outdated hardware
Outdated hardware has a severe impact on network speed. Using OpManager, you can continuously monitor hardware devices and identify hardware with high CPU and RAM utilization over extended periods and troubleshoot hardware issues that arise. With the resource utilization data, you can decide to purchase or upgrade the hardware after weighing current and future requirements.
Switching loop
A switching loop occurs when there are multiple connections between two switches in a network or when two ports in the same switch are connected. This floods the network with broadcasts and increases the time it takes to reach the destination. Using OpManager, you can monitor individual switch ports, proactively detect broadcast storms, and troubleshoot looping issues faster.
Poor WAN and VoIP performance
Latency
Latency is the time between a request and its corresponding response. When latency is higher, the response time for requests increases and the end-user experience is greatly affected. OpManager's WAN RTT monitor lets you configure thresholds for round trip time and instantly notifies you when a threshold is breached indicating network issues.
Jitter and packet loss
Jitter is the result of asymmetric data packet transmission. It makes audio and video calls choppy. Packet loss in a network is usually due to network congestion. One to 2.5 percent packet loss is acceptable; anything above that will result in dropped calls. Using OpManager, you can set thresholds to receive real-time alerts on jitter and packet loss issues and troubleshoot them.
Mean opinion score (MOS)
The MOS is a collective measurement of call quality. It’s calculated based on parameters such as latency, jitter, and packet loss. It ranges from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Using OpManager, you can set a lower limit for MOS and get alerted when the call quality drops beyond the set limit. This helps you immediately look into network congestion, troubleshoot the issue, and improve call quality.
Slow network speeds
Slow network speeds and poor WAN performance mostly affect the internal team, but the repercussions of slow response time for an application or application server can be disastrous. Slow response time not only impacts your revenue and reputation but also ends in legal disputes, as you might have a QoS agreement with your clients.
The common causes of slow response time are:
Increased server load
Increased load on your application servers might cause high CPU and RAM utilization, making the server incapable of handling all incoming requests. Naturally, the response time increases, affecting customers.
Server processes
Some processes running in the application server might consume more RAM and CPU, causing slow response time. Also, processes might be listening to important ports that applications need. This blocks the applications from listening to critical ports, causing slow response time and application failure High CPU utilization is a crucial factor for network availability. When a device runs high-end applications and require more resources for execution, there is a chance for CPU utilization to spike to support execution. In this instance, such a high CPU utilization will increase network traffic, overload server, and eventually halt the user interface.
When this happens too often, CPU performance will be impacted as the processing speed of CPU tends to
deplete, and few incoming requests tend to get dropped. In other words, the common cause of high CPU
utilization is increased network traffic that overloads CPU and server.
Wi-Fi issues
Wireless networks are the core part of a network that could disrupt network operations with interferences. In a network, signals from other wireless devices such as bluetooth devices, cordless phones, etc., can also interfere with WiFi signals and create poor Wi-Fi experience for the users. Few Wi-Fi issues include low signal strength, slow internet connection, slow file transfers, intermittent Wi-Fi disconnection etc., When such incidents happen, network admins need to identify the reason for the issue and fix it quickly. A Wi-Fi network test tool can help identify the root cause of the interference.
Impact of slow Network on business
A slow internet connection can be disastrous to any business, large or small. A reliable internet connection is crucial for various activities in the modern business world, from communication and collaboration to access important information and resources. When internet speeds are slow, employees may need help to perform their duties effectively. They may have difficulty accessing essential documents, sending and receiving emails, or using online tools and software. This can lead to delays and decreased productivity.
A slow internet connection can affect a business’s ability to provide good customer service. Customers may experience delays when accessing a company’s website or contacting the firm through online channels. This can lead to frustration and may cause customers to go to competition.
In today’s business environment, companies must quickly adapt to changes and stay ahead of their competitors. This requires access to real-time information and the ability to make decisions and take action quickly. However, slow internet speeds can make it difficult for businesses to access the information they need promptly, hindering their ability to respond to market changes and competitive threats. This can put the company at a disadvantage and may ultimately lead to its decline.
A slow internet connection can have a direct impact to your bottom line. Customers who find your site unreliable and unresponsive will go somewhere else to purchase the same products and services, resulting in lost revenue. New Google research found 53% of mobile visitors will leave if a page fails to load in three seconds or less. This can result in a significant loss in sales. According to another report, 70% of consumers said page speed impacts their willingness to buy from an online retailer.
Network connectivity can hinder the productivity of employees who count on reliable connections to perform their daily tasks. If you are unaware of network connectivity issues and the solutions that resolve them, your organization may fail to meet customer expectations which could lead to lost customers and revenue.