From the course: CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Cert Prep

Troubleshooting cabling, part 2

From the course: CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Cert Prep

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Troubleshooting cabling, part 2

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- So we've already discussed problems that can occur in the work area, but time-to-time, there can be things that go wrong in the equipment room. For example, if a switch goes down, then everyone connected to that switch goes down. Well, this is a major, major network plus alert. I will tell you there will be a number of questions that will say if a individual goes down versus all users go down. So you have to read that question carefully. If all users go down, it could point to a different problem than an individual user. Okay, moving on. So one of the problems in the equipment room could be related to electricity, an electrical problem, and that is why it's probably a good idea to have a good multimeter handy. As you know, this is used for testing voltages, both AC and DC, to make sure that there's no dip in the voltages. Another piece of equipment you can have is a voltage monitor. Now what a voltage monitor does, you hang it up and it constantly, you know, records and measures voltages and will log it to make sure that if there's anything going on. So for example, at three o'clock in the morning there's some major dip and it gets logged, you're aware of it. Now this is why these are very, very expensive. So if you can invest in one, great, but again, a multimeter suffices just fine. The way to protect yourself against these dips and voltages and electrical problems is to get a rack-mounted UPS, your 19-inch rack. It's rack-mounted UPS, it sits in, you have all different types of options as far as battery life should things go down. But definitely if you have an equipment room, you should have a rack-mounted UPS. Then once in a rare while, you can have a problem with the horizontal run. Now in this case you're going to use your TDR, your time domain reflectometer. Essentially what this tool does is to ensure the continuity in a cable from one location to the other. In this case, for example, it could be from your wall plate to your patch panel. So what you would do is you would place the TDR on the patch panel at the wall plate end. And let's say your cable run is supposed to be 65, 70 meters and it's getting a reading of 10 meters. Well then you have a break somewhere in your cable, does happen. Another thing to watch for of course is interference. Now the people who installed the runs, they of course use their cable certifiers and all their fancy tools to ensure that there's low crosstalk, there's low interference, et cetera, et cetera. And that's how the cable of course, gets certified. But there are times when things get added to the network or added to the building, for example, a new HVAC system, and that can cause some major problems. Also, there are things that occur at certain times that can cause interference. Now, here's another network plus alert. Be aware on the exam you'll see, such and such occurred at 5 p.m. For example, at 5 p.m. everyone's leaving work and all the elevators are functioning, and the elevators are close proximity to your equipment room and what have you. So keep an eye out for questions that mention at a particular time. So all in all as mentioned, not the equipment room, probably the equipment room don't always happen often. Always check the work area first. But if you do have to go into the equipment room, be sure you have the proper tools that you need. And again, be sure to keep an eye on those type of questions that I mentioned. They will be there.

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