UNIT II

B. Sc. (Hons.) – II Semester

Course Title: Fundamental of IT (CABSVO2005)
Under VOC Category of FYUP
Dr. Shabbir H. DAY-12 Date: 14.03.2024

Network Troubleshooting
Network troubleshooting is the systematic process of identifying, diagnosing, and resolving
problems and issues within a computer network. It’s a necessary procedure for network
management and is performed by network administrators, IT teams, or software tools.
Networks are the backbone of modern businesses, enabling communication, data exchange,
and integrated business operations. Any disruption can lead to significant productivity loss,
customer dissatisfaction, and potential revenue decline. Network troubleshooting is vital for
IT teams as it allows them to quickly identify and fix these issues, minimizing network
downtime and ensuring operational continuity.

4 Main Causes of Network Problems

Understanding the root causes of network problems is crucial in effective troubleshooting. Here
are some common causes:

1. Hardware failures: Hardware components such as routers, switches, or cabling can

fail due to physical damage, wear and tear, or manufacturing defects.
2. Software glitches: Bugs in network software, firmware, or drivers can cause
unexpected behavior, leading to network issues.
3. Configuration errors: Incorrectly configured network settings can lead to a variety of
problems, from performance issues to complete network outages.
4. Overloaded systems: Networks can slow down or crash if they’re overloaded with too
much data traffic. This can be due to high usage levels or a sudden surge in demand.

Common Network Problems

Several common problems might disrupt a network’s performance:

1. Connectivity issues: These are often due to faulty network hardware, incorrect settings,
or disruptions in network services.
2. Slow performance: This could be due to network congestion, hardware issues, or
software conflicts.

Page 1 of 2
 3. Security breaches: Unsecured networks can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks, leading to
data breaches or system damage.
4. Hardware failure: This includes failures of network devices such as routers, switches,
or cables.
The following commands can be entered into the command prompt one at a time to reveal
specific information about the network status:

– Ping - A TCP/IP utility that transmits a datagram to another host, specified in the command.
If the network is functioning properly, the receiving host returns the datagram.
– tracert/traceroute - A TCP/IP utility that determines the route data takes to get to a
particular destination. This tool can help you to determine where you are losing packets in
the network, helping to identify problems.
– nslookup - A DNS utility that displays the IP address of a hostname or vice versa. This tool
is useful for identifying problems involving DNS name resolution.
– ipconfig - A Windows TCP/IP utility that verifies network settings and connections. It can
tell you a host’s IP address, subnet mask and default gateway, alongside other important
network information.
– ifconfig - A Linux or UNIX TCP/IP utility that displays the current network interface
configuration and enables you to assign an IP address to a network interface. Like ipconfig
on Windows, this command will tell you vital information about the network and its status.

Network Troubleshooting Software

1) Nmap
2) PathPing
3) PuTTY
4) Protocol Analyzer
5) Speed Test
6) WHOIS

***

Page 2 of 2