So often in network management, we must follow steps in order to properly troubleshoot network problems. Network issues can usually be solved in a linear fashion unlike other jobs that require you be creative. Instead of creativity, it is more about thinking logically about the problem in a systematic way.
Was there a change made recently? Can we retrace the steps to the root of the problem? Also, did you check the logs?
Ah, the logs. This is always a venerable treasure trove of information in IT. Often, this is overlooked, usually accidentally. But it really should be one of the first things a networking professional should check when there is a problem. The great thing about technology is all of the data that computers throw out and store for one to analyze if an issue pops up. Sometimes the messages in logs can be cryptic and frustrating, but it’s better than nothing, right?
Proper syslog reporting is important, and it can be even more beneficial when you have this information coming to you through a central resource. Network management systems are a great way to get your various logs into one central, organized place for you to monitor them. Because logs sometimes can tell you a lot, they really save you time when you are trying to troubleshoot performance problems on your network.
Additionally, using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)to report information to your networking devices is also crucial to winning the information war on a network. Along with servers that can provide logging, you can also get SNMP information delivered directly to your network management software, giving you a great dashboard of statistics. This may even give you an advantage of seeing connectivity or performance issues before your users do.
With all of the incoming information, make sure that you find the right tools that will let you best analyze your network. Don’t spend your time polling machines or using funky tools to look at SMNP data, get it all in one place so you can save yourself some time.