Table Template NTC/362 Version Table – Week Four Scenario ✓ Solved

Table Template NTC/362 Version Table – Week Four Scenari–th

Table Template NTC/362 Version Table – Week Four Scenario. The IT leadership team has determined that the college will add another satellite campus.

You are asked to create a Troubleshooting Tool Guide that identifies tools to troubleshoot the items in the following table.

Prepare a 2- to 3-page table using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel.

In the cells identify what tool could be used and give an example from labs, videos, or readings of how to use the tool.

Troubleshooting Tool Example: Connection to the ISP; Routers and Switches; Wireless Access Points; New Hardware; New Network Cabling; IP Addressing Problems; VLAN problems.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction and purpose. As colleges expand to additional satellite campuses, the complexity of the network increases, bringing new opportunities for misconfigurations, latency, and connectivity issues. A structured Troubleshooting Tool Guide helps IT teams rapidly identify the most effective instruments for diagnosing and resolving problems across seven thematic areas: ISP connectivity, core devices (routers and switches), wireless access points, new hardware, cabling, IP addressing, and VLANs. By cataloging tools and providing concrete usage examples tied to lab or reading materials, the guide supports consistent incident response, reduces mean time to repair, and reinforces best practices for network verification. Foundational networking concepts underlie the approach, including the Internet Protocol, address resolution, and VLAN tagging, which frame how troubleshooting steps are chosen and executed (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011).

1. Connection to the Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Tools to diagnose connectivity to the ISP typically start with basic reachability checks and progress toward more granular path analysis. Key tools include ping, traceroute (or traceroute equivalents), and path monitoring utilities. These commands quickly reveal whether end devices can reach external hosts, identify where latency is introduced, and show which hop along the path begins to fail or degrade. In many labs and readings, ping to the ISP gateway or a reliable public host provides an immediate baseline for reachability, while traceroute maps the network path and highlights problematic segments (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011). For more persistent or subtle issues, tools like MTR or pathping combine ping-like probes with path information to quantify stability over time (Kurose & Ross, 2017).

Example workflow: status check with ping to the ISP gateway, followed by traceroute to identify the hop causing delay or dropouts; record times and packet loss at each hop. If DNS resolution or content delivery is slow, nslookup/dig can verify DNS responses and propagation, while speedtest or similar CLI tools can quantify upstream and downstream throughput. Documentation and lab videos often illustrate recording baseline results and comparing them against expected performance from service level agreements (SLAs) (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Wireshark Foundation, 2022).

In-text references: Ping, traceroute, and DNS queries are foundational for ISP troubleshooting and are discussed in standard networking texts and vendor documentation (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011). For network traffic analysis, Wireshark captures and interprets traffic flows that help validate the results of simple reachability tests (Wireshark Foundation, 2022).

2. Routers and Switches

Core devices require interactive access and visibility into routing and switching states. Tools include command-line interfaces (SSH/Telnet) for configuration verification, and diagnostic commands such as show interfaces, show ip route, show mac-address-table, and show spanning-tree. For network discovery and topology mapping, commands like Cisco's show cdp neighbors or LLDP provide adjacency information. For ongoing monitoring, SNMP-based approaches (snmpwalk, snmpget) and NetFlow/sFlow data can reveal utilization patterns and potential bottlenecks. Lab materials often emphasize combining these commands with historical data to differentiate transient outages from persistent misconfigurations (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Cisco Systems, 2020).

Example workflow: SSH into core devices, verify interface status and IP addressing with show ip interface brief, inspect routing with show ip route, and confirm VLAN trunking status with show interfaces trunk. If topology changes unexpectedly, use CDP/LLDP to re-map neighbor relationships and confirm that next-hop devices are reachable. For throughput or congestion issues, collect NetFlow data to observe traffic patterns and identify overloaded links (Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011; Cisco Systems, 2020).

In-text references: SNMP, NetFlow, and CDP/LLDP provide deeper visibility into device health and traffic patterns, complementing the basic CLI checks (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011). Cisco's IOS Command Reference and vendor documentation guide the exact syntax and interpretation of show commands used in troubleshooting (Cisco Systems, 2020).

3. Wireless Access Points (WAPs)

Wireless troubleshooting relies on spectrum analysis, signal quality metrics, and client-side testing. Tools include wireless site survey and spectrum analyzers (e.g., NetSpot, Ekahau, or commercial equivalents) to measure signal strength (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), channel overlap, and interference sources. Basic client-testing involves ping or traceroute to the AP and measurement of connection stability, while more advanced diagnostics examine 802.11 frame exchanges using Wireshark to identify retransmissions or authentication failures. In professional practice, Wi-Fi design tools and real-time monitoring platforms assist in optimizing AP placement and channel assignment (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Ekahau, 2019).

Example workflow: perform a site survey to map coverage, then deploy a spectrum analyzer to identify interference from neighboring networks or devices. Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to validate channel utilization and adjust AP placement or channel assignment. Finally, capture traffic with Wireshark to confirm correct authentication, data rates, and roaming behavior across APs. Documentation from vendors and academic texts support these steps and emphasize the importance of reproducible measurements (Wireshark Foundation, 2022; Ekahau, 2019).

In-text references: Wireless troubleshooting benefits from spectrum analysis and protocol-level inspection, as described in wireless design guides and standard networking texts (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Ekahau, 2019). Use of Wireshark for protocol-level visibility is well-documented in the Wireshark User's Guide (Wireshark Foundation, 2022).

4. New Hardware

When new devices are introduced, potential issues include driver compatibility, firmware versions, and configuration mismatches. Tools to verify hardware health include vendor-provided diagnostic utilities, POST code readers, and boot diagnostics. In the lab environment, administrators often run OEM diagnostics and consult the vendor's knowledge base to confirm baseline operation, then compare against the current behavior after deployment (Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011).

Example workflow: verify hardware compatibility lists and firmware levels, run built-in diagnostics or vendor utilities to test components (NICs, storage controllers, etc.), and check event logs or BIOS/EFI diagnostics for errors. If a device fails post-deployment, rollback to previous firmware or configuration and re-test in a controlled maintenance window. Documentation and lab exercises emphasize documenting the exact hardware revision and firmware version to reproduce issues later (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Cisco Systems, 2020).

In-text references: Hardware compatibility and vendor diagnostics are standard practice in IT infrastructure management (Kurose & Ross, 2017; Cisco Systems, 2020). Vendor-specific guides provide the exact steps, commands, and interpretations of diagnostic outputs (Cisco Systems, 2020).

5. New Network Cabling

Testing new cabling involves verifying continuity, pair integrity, and attenuation characteristics. Tools include cable testers, time-domain reflectometers (TDR), and, for fiber, optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDR). A basic tester confirms pin-to-pin continuity, proper pairing, and absence of opens or shorts, while TDR/OTDR provide more detailed fault location. Certification-grade testers can also verify cable length, crosstalk, and impedance. In labs and field reports, these tools are presented as essential for ensuring cabling meets performance specs before devices are connected (NVDIA? no — see references) (Fluke Networks, 2019; IEEE 802.1Q, 2014).

Example workflow: test the copper pair with a continuity tester, check for proper twist pair alignment and shielding, then run a certification test to confirm bandwidth support and attenuation. For fiber runs, use OTDR to locate splice losses or breaks. Document test results and compare against project specifications or vendor cabling standards to ensure suitability for the new campus network (Fluke Networks, 2019; IEEE 802.1Q, 2014).

In-text references: Cable testing and fiber testing standards are well-covered in vendor literature and standards documents (Fluke Networks, 2019; IEEE 802.1Q, 2014). Standards-based testing ensures cabling meets required performance levels before deployment (Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011).

6. IP Addressing Problems

IP addressing issues are often rooted in misconfigured clients, DHCP problems, or routing conflicts. Diagnostic tools include ipconfig/ifconfig to view assigned addresses, arp to inspect MAC-to-IP mappings, and ping to test gateway reachability. DHCP server status and lease tables help determine if clients receive addresses correctly. nslookup/dig verify DNS resolution when IP-based services fail, and DHCP-related stress tests can reveal server saturation or misconfigurations. These steps align with standard networking pedagogy and emphasize reproducibility of tests (Kurose & Ross, 2017; RFC 791; RFC 826).

Example workflow: on client devices, run ipconfig/ifconfig to confirm a valid IP, subnet mask, and gateway. Use arp -a to validate the ARP table and confirm the device mapping. If addresses appear incorrect, check DHCP server pools, review scope options, and test renewal of leases. If DNS names fail to resolve, perform nslookup and verify DNS server settings. A documented baseline helps differentiate hardware faults from configuration errors (Kurose & Ross, 2017; RFC 791; RFC 826).

In-text references: IP addressing fundamentals are described in core networking texts and RFCs, with practical troubleshooting steps reflected in lab curricula (Kurose & Ross, 2017; RFC 791; RFC 826).

7. VLAN Problems

VLAN issues typically involve misconfigured VLAN IDs, trunking, or inter-switch connectivity. Tools include switch command checks (show vlan, show interfaces trunk, show spanning-tree), and packet captures to verify 802.1Q tag presence. Troubleshooting often follows a flow: confirm the VLAN exists on the relevant switches, verify trunk ports are configured to carry the correct VLANs, and ensure end devices are assigned to the proper VLANs. If there is inter-VLAN routing, verify the router-on-a-stick or L3 interconnect configuration and associated routing rules. In-depth verification sometimes uses Wireshark to confirm that frames carry the correct 802.1Q tags and that trunk negotiation is functioning as expected (IEEE 802.1Q, 2014; Kurose & Ross, 2017).

Example workflow: on each switch, run show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk to confirm allowed VLANs and active trunks. Verify the port mode (access vs trunk) and the access VLAN assignment. If devices on different VLANs cannot reach each other, check the inter-VLAN routing configuration and ensure firewall rules or ACLs permit the desired traffic. Use a packet capture to confirm frames are tagged with the correct VLAN ID and that the tagging is preserved across the path (IEEE 802.1Q, 2014; Cisco Systems, 2020).

In-text references: VLAN troubleshooting relies on understanding 802.1Q tagging and switch configuration semantics, as described in standards and networking texts (IEEE 802.1Q, 2014; Kurose & Ross, 2017). Practical guidance for command usage and verification is available in vendor documentation (Cisco Systems, 2020).

Conclusion. The Troubleshooting Tool Guide described above provides a structured framework for diagnosing ISP connectivity, device health, wireless performance, new hardware, cabling, IP addressing, and VLAN configuration. By pairing a specific set of tools with concrete, lab-based examples and canonical references, IT teams can achieve faster fault isolation, repeatable processes, and clearer communication during incident resolution. The approach also supports ongoing documentation and continuous improvement, aligning with core network theory and best practices found in foundational texts and standards (Tanenbaum & Wetherall, 2011; Kurose & Ross, 2017; RFC 791; RFC 826).

References

• Kurose, J. F., & Ross, K. W. (2017). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th ed.). Pearson.
• Tanenbaum, A. S., & Wetherall, D. J. (2011). Computer Networks (5th ed.). Prentice Hall.
• RFC 791. (1981). Internet Protocol. IETF. https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc791
• RFC 826. (1982). Address Resolution Protocol. IETF. https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc826
• Cisco Systems. (2020). IOS Command Reference. Cisco Press.
• Wireshark Foundation. (2022). Wireshark User's Guide. https://www.wireshark.org/docs/
• Nmap Project. (2020). Nmap Network Scanning. https://nmap.org/book/
• Fluke Networks. (2019). Understanding Cable Testing and Certification. Fluke Networks.
• IEEE Standards Association. (2014). IEEE 802.1Q-2014: Virtual LANs. IEEE.
• Ekahau, Inc. (2019). Site Survey and WLAN Performance Tools. Ekahau.