Track down network problems with Wireshark
wireshark.org
Ethernet networks can run remarkably well for long periods of time, lulling IT admins into a false sense of security. Unfortunately, disaster can strike at anytime, and to the under-equipped, network issues can be downright debilitating.
Some of the most serious network problems can include broadcast storms, in which a defective or misconfigured network device floods the network with traffic. Broadcast storms tend to amplify themselves until they completely shut down your network, which is bad. Another common threat is a malware-infected computer, which can send a barrage of e-mail or attempt to replicate to computers on your LAN or across the internet. An infected computer can slow down internet traffic and put you on bad terms with your ISP.
And sometimes a single user can use so much bandwidth that it affects other users on the network. Perhaps they’re using peer-to-peer file sharing software, consuming excessive streaming audio or video, or just downloading lots of large files.
Fully understanding everything that’s happening on your Ethernet network is truly a herculean task, but with a couple basic tools and some common sense, it’s possible for a jack-of-all-trades IT person to track down these basic problems.
Complete articles : www.computerworld.com
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