Starting off

When going on-site to investigate a network problem, your guiding aim is to understand the root cause of the problem, which might be:

za cable plugged into the wrong socket

za misconfiguration of some piece of equipment

zan interoperability problem between two pieces of equipment

za hardware fault in some piece of equipment

za bug in the software of some piece of equipment.

Of course, it might not always be possible to find the root cause, but looking for it should be the central target of your debugging session.

However, it is also important to make sure that you are also capturing enough information (and the right sort of information) to enable someone else to effectively analyse what you have captured. This could be so that they can confirm your theory about the root cause of the problem, or, in the case that you were not able to nail down the root cause, so that they can develop their own theories about what the cause might be.

Concrete piece of advice #1: Capture everything

Right from the first moment you attach your terminal emulator to the console port of the first piece of equipment, ensure that the logging facility of the terminal emulator is turned on. This means that you will capture a lot of (seemingly) irrelevant stuff, but it also means that you will not fail to capture the important stuff.

Concrete piece of advice #2: Capture the initial state

It is important to approach the problem with an open mind, and start with a general survey of the equipment you are looking at, to give an initial picture of how things were at the start of debugging session. This might be the “network operating OK” state, or the “things going wrong” state, depending on what state the network was in when you arrived.

In this initial survey, you should capture a show debug from every relevant unit, and capture all the counters and module states that are relevant to the issue.

For example, if the network consists of switches, and the problem is related to PIM multicast routing, then you will want to capture the following commands:

show switch count show switch port=all

show switch port=all count show ip route

show ip route multi show ip igmp

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Allied Telesis AT-8900 Series manual Starting off, Concrete piece of advice #1 Capture everything
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AT-8900 Series specifications

The Allied Telesis AT-8900 Series represents a cutting-edge solution in the realm of networking, designed to meet the demands of modern enterprises that require high-performance, reliable, and flexible networking options. This series encompasses a range of intelligent Layer 2 managed switches that cater to various applications, from small offices to large data center environments, offering a robust blend of performance, features, and advanced technologies.

One of the key features of the AT-8900 Series is its comprehensive support for Layer 2 switching protocols. These switches enable efficient data handling and traffic management, ensuring that businesses can maintain high data throughput without sacrificing reliability. This is particularly important for organizations that depend on stable network performance for mission-critical applications.

Another significant characteristic of the AT-8900 Series is its advanced Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities. With multiple queue scheduling options, the switches can prioritize essential data traffic intelligently. This ensures that latency-sensitive applications, such as VoIP and video conferencing, receive the bandwidth they require for optimal performance. The QoS features help to create a seamless user experience across various devices and applications.

Additionally, the AT-8900 Series incorporates cutting-edge security measures that are vital in today’s increasingly sophisticated network environment. Features such as IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication, dynamic VLAN assignment, and secure management protocols contribute to the prevention of unauthorized access. These security protocols give network administrators the tools they need to protect sensitive data and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.

The AT-8900 Series switches also support stacking technology, allowing multiple units to operate as a single logical switch. This simplifies management and increases redundancy, ensuring that network uptime is maximized. Stacking enables easy scalability, allowing organizations to expand their network infrastructure seamlessly as their needs grow.

Energy efficiency is another hallmark of the AT-8900 Series. These switches boast low power consumption modes that help organizations reduce their carbon footprint while saving on energy costs. With features such as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), the AT-8900 Series aligns with modern sustainability initiatives.

In conclusion, the Allied Telesis AT-8900 Series is a powerful and versatile choice for organizations seeking advanced network solutions. With its rich feature set, robust security, efficient traffic management, and scalability, this series stands out as an ideal option for enterprises looking to enhance their network infrastructure in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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