NETWORK DESIGN AND SETUP.

Network troubleshooting

Network troubleshooting is the process of identifying and resolving issues or problems within a
computer network. It involves a systematic approach to diagnose and fix network-related problems,
ensuring the network operates efficiently and reliably.

The key aspects of network troubleshooting include:

Problem identification:

Recognizing and understanding the symptoms of the network issue, such as slow performance,
connectivity problems, or security concerns.

Gathering relevant information about the network, including the network topology, device
configurations, and traffic patterns.

Diagnosis:

Analyzing the collected information to determine the root cause of the problem.

Using various tools and techniques, such as ping, traceroute, network sniffers, and protocol analyzers, to
gather data and identify the point of failure.

Isolation and testing:

Isolating the problematic network segment or component to narrow down the scope of the issue.

Performing targeted tests and experiments to validate the diagnosis and rule out other potential causes.

Resolution:

Implementing the appropriate solution to address the identified problem, such as reconfiguring network
settings, updating software or firmware, or replacing faulty hardware.

Verification and documentation:

Confirming that the problem has been resolved and the network is functioning correctly.

Documenting the troubleshooting process, the root cause, and the solution implemented, for future
reference and to aid in preventing similar issues.

NB. Effective network troubleshooting requires a combination of technical knowledge, analytical skills,
and problem-solving abilities. It often involves a systematic, step-by-step approach to identify and
address network-related issues, ensuring the overall reliability and performance of the network
infrastructure.
Network Troubleshooting Tools
There are various tools that are used for checking the IP reachability issues and to locate where
the packet is lost while communicating with the destination host. These tools make
troubleshooting easier and minimize the time for restoration.

AKIPS is a robust network monitoring and management tool with some impressive abilities. A
single AKIPS server can scale to over 1 million interfaces and 500 thousand flows per second.
Besides the remarkable scalability, the software also facilitates comprehensive real-time
monitoring.
You can rely on the software to monitor various aspects of your network like traffic, bandwidth
usage, performance, and device health in real-time. The software also does a good job of
detecting and alerting you of faults before it is too late. AKIPS also proves to be a great tool for
historical data analysis.
You can use the software to unearth three years of historical data with ease. Integration is
another area where AKIPS shines. AKIPS integrates seamlessly with tools like ServiceNow,
Microsoft Teams, and Slack. You’ll also face no issues deploying or running the tool. AKIPS is
a great software for organizations who wish to monitor and optimize their network
infrastructure.
Auvik is a cloud-based platform for network management. It provides all the information on the
network, across all sites through a single dashboard. It has capabilities for managing and
monitoring multi-vendor network gear.

It has a facility for the automatic backup of config when there is a change. You can instantly
restore the backup and get things back to normal. Traffic analysis tools will help you with
finding anomalies faster. It sends notifications proactively based on pre-configured monitoring
and alerts.

It has functionalities for automatic discovery of distributed IT assets, providing information on

every device’s connection, insights into network configuration and its changes, network data
encryption with AES-256.

Auvik offers a free trial for 14 days. There are two pricing plans: Essentials and Performance.
You can get a quote for their pricing details.

ManageEngine OpManager

OpManager does everything that IT admins have come to expect from a competent network
troubleshooting tool. The software essentially gives you in-depth visibility into the health,
performance, and availability of servers, devices, and other components active on the
enterprise’s network.
It can continuously monitor network systems and visualize the entire network to help IT admins
better troubleshoot network-related issues. You get network visibility across locations. Plus,
there are probe specific controls that the tool lets you leverage to assess network health and
performance across multiple remote probes.

This is a tool that facilitates real-time network monitoring, thus allowing IT teams to get to the
root cause of IT issues so they can fix them effectively.
Ping
By using IP ICMP echo request and echo reply messages, the PING tool verifies the reachability
to the destination host at the remote end.
It contains two messages, first is, if the data packet is competent to send and receive the
messages from the destination IP address and the second is the RTT time for the process (RTT
means round trip time and is calculated in milliseconds).

The exclamation shows that ping is successful. If the ping returns saying the destination is
unreachable then there are many reasons for this. To find out the cause, we will go for the next
tool.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a widely used network management protocol that
allows network administrators to monitor, control, and manage network devices, such as routers,
switches, servers, and other network equipment, over an IP network.

Here are some key notes about SNMP:

Protocol Structure:

 SNMP is based on a client-server model, where the network devices (agents) are managed by a
central management system (manager).
 The manager sends SNMP requests to the agents, and the agents respond with the requested
information.

Data Management:

 SNMP uses a Management Information Base (MIB), which is a hierarchical database that defines
the variables and objects that can be managed on a network device.
 Agents maintain and update the MIB, which can be accessed by the manager to retrieve or
modify the device's configuration and status.

SNMP Versions:

 SNMP has evolved over time, with the most commonly used versions being SNMPv1, SNMPv2c,
and SNMPv3.
 Each version has different security and feature enhancements, with SNMPv3 providing the most
robust security through authentication and encryption.
SNMP Operations:

 The main SNMP operations are Get, Set, GetNext, and Trap.
 Get and GetNext allow the manager to retrieve information from the agent, while Set allows the
manager to modify the agent's configuration.
 Trap is used by the agent to proactively send notifications to the manager about significant
events or changes.

Applications:

 SNMP is widely used for network monitoring and management, allowing administrators to track
network performance, identify issues, and make configuration changes remotely.
 It is commonly used in network management systems, network monitoring tools, and network
device management interfaces.

Limitations:

 SNMP has some limitations, such as the lack of real-time monitoring, the complexity of MIB
management, and potential security vulnerabilities in older versions.
 Newer protocols, such as NetFlow and sFlow, have been developed to address some of the
limitations of SNMP.
Network Subnetting
Subnetting is the process of dividing a larger network into smaller, more manageable
subnetworks, known as subnets. This is done to improve network efficiency, security, and
scalability. The steps involved in subnetting a network are as follows:

Determine the Network Requirements:

 Assess the number of hosts (devices) required in the network.
 Estimate the future growth and expansion needs of the network.
Identify any specific requirements, such as the need for different subnet sizes or IP address
allocation.
Choose the Appropriate Subnet Mask:
 The subnet mask determines the number of available subnets and the number of hosts per
subnet.
 Select a subnet mask that provides the desired number of subnets and hosts, based on the
network requirements.
 Common subnet masks include /24 (255.255.255.0), /25 (255.255.255.128), /26
(255.255.255.192), and so on.
Calculate the Number of Subnets and Hosts:
Determine the number of subnets that can be created using the chosen subnet mask.
Calculate the number of available host addresses within each subnet.
Consider the network address and the broadcast address, which are not available for host use.
Assign Subnet Addresses:
 Divide the original network address into smaller subnet addresses, based on the chosen subnet
mask.
 Assign a unique subnet address to each subnet, ensuring that they do not overlap.
Ensure that the subnet addresses are within the range of the original network address.
 Allocate IP Addresses to Hosts:
 Assign IP addresses to the devices within each subnet, ensuring that they are within the valid
host address range.
 Ensure that the IP addresses do not conflict with the network address or the broadcast address.
Distribute the IP addresses to the devices, either manually or using dynamic IP address
assignment (e.g., DHCP).
Update Network Configurations:
 Update the network devices (routers, switches, firewalls, etc.) with the new subnet information,
including the subnet masks and gateway addresses.
 Ensure that routing and forwarding rules are configured correctly to allow communication
between subnets.
 Update any relevant documentation, such as network diagrams and IP address allocation tables.
Test and Verify the Subnetting:
 Test the connectivity between devices within the same subnet and across different subnets.
 Ensure that devices can communicate with the appropriate gateway and access the necessary
network resources.
 Troubleshoot any issues that arise during the testing phase.

Network management

Network management refers to the processes, tools, and techniques used to monitor, control, and
optimize the performance and availability of a computer network. The primary goals of network
management are to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of the network infrastructure, as well as
to provide visibility into the network's health and performance.

Here are the key aspects of network management and what one should do in each area:

Monitoring and Observation:

 Continuously monitor the network for any issues, such as connectivity problems, performance
degradation, or security threats.
 Use network monitoring tools to collect and analyze data on network traffic, device status, and
resource utilization.
 Establish performance baselines and thresholds to identify anomalies or potential problems.

Configuration Management:

 Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of the network's topology, device

configurations, and IP address allocation.
 Implement standardized configuration management practices to ensure consistency and
minimize errors.
 Automate the deployment and management of network device configurations, where possible.

Fault Management:

 Quickly identify and diagnose network faults or failures, such as device malfunctions, cable
breaks, or software issues.
  Implement effective troubleshooting processes to isolate and resolve problems, minimizing
downtime and service disruptions.
 Establish incident management procedures to ensure timely and coordinated responses to
network incidents.

Performance Management:

 Continuously monitor and analyze network performance metrics, such as bandwidth utilization,
latency, and packet loss.
 Identify and address performance bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the network infrastructure.
 Optimize network configurations and resource allocation to improve overall performance and
user experience.

Security Management:

 Implement security measures to protect the network from unauthorized access, malware, and
other security threats.
 Monitor and analyze security logs and events to detect and respond to potential security
incidents.
 Regularly update network security policies, access controls, and firewall configurations to
address evolving security risks.

Change Management:

 Establish a structured process for planning, testing, and implementing changes to the network,
such as hardware upgrades, software updates, or network topology modifications.
 Ensure that changes are properly documented and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
 Implement rollback procedures to quickly revert changes in case of unexpected issues.

Reporting and Documentation:

 Generate regular reports on network performance, utilization, and incidents to provide visibility
and support decision-making.
 Maintain comprehensive documentation, including network diagrams, device configurations,
and troubleshooting procedures.
 Regularly review and update the documentation to reflect the current state of the network.

NB Effective network management requires a combination of technical expertise, process-oriented

thinking, and a proactive approach to ensure the continuous availability, reliability, and optimization of
the network infrastructure. By focusing on these key areas, network administrators can maintain a
healthy and efficient network that supports the organization's business objectives.