Network Troubleshooting Tools

Question 1

Cable Testers

Answer 1

• Relatively simple
  
  • Continuity test
• Can identify missing pins
  
  • Or crossed wires
• Not usually used for frequency test
  
  • Crosstalk, signal loss, etc

Question 2

Loopback Plug

Answer 2

• Useful for testing physical port
• Serial / RS-232 (9 pin or 25 pin)
• Network connections
  
  • Ethernet , T1 , Fiber
• These are not crossover cables
• Diagnostic use only

Question 3

Punch-down Tools

Answer 3

• Punch a wire into wiring block
  
  • 66 Block
  • 110 Block
• Can be tedious
  
  • Every wire individually punched
• Trims the wires during the punch
  
  • Most efficient way

Question 4

Punch-down Best Practices

Answer 4

• Organization is key
  
  • Lots of wires
  • Cable management

-Maintain your twist

• Document everything
  
  • Written documentation
  • Tags
  • Graffiti

Question 5

Toner Probe

Answer 5

• Where does the wire go?
  
  • Follow the tone

Tone generator
-Puts analog sound on the wire

• Inductive probe
  
  • Doesn’t need to touch the copper
  • Small speaker

Question 6

Cable Crimpers

Answer 6

• “Pinch” the connector onto a wire
  
  • Coaxial , twisted pair , fiber
• Connect the modular connector to the Ethernet
  
  • Final step of the process

-Metal prongs pushed through the insulation

Question 7

Wireless Locators

Answer 7

• Software
• Hardware analyzers
• Identify all wireless network
  
  • View configurations channel , frequency setting