A couple of thoughts based on the PVC fault thread but looking at a different angle.
Should we as aspiring "communications experts" understand:
1 Fundamental electrical and magnetic propogation theory.
2 Basic cabling technology, design and termination.
Well lets consider the number of faults that can be put into this category. It used
to be 75%+ faults were of a physical nature. I think the figure would still be quite
high but I don't have recent figures.
Most intermittent faults are due to connections and/or connectors. Ofter due to poor
installation and/or plugs being inserted and removed regularly and/or incorrectly.
The next most common cause of intermittent faults is magnetic (Noise) interferance.
Usually due to poor cabling layouts and/or poor installation methods.
The most common cause of permanent damage to to ports is due to incorrect installation
of cables (NT1 to Ethernet ports is a good one that comes up a lot).
In switching the most common problems are duplex mismatches. Usually due to a
misunderstanding of what duplex setting do.
These are just some considerations there are heaps more. Most are easily avoided but
difficult to diagnose. An understanding of the fundamentals involved can avoid
disaster.
Just as a beat up on all. I work in an environment where we supply Telco type
services and IP connectivity to thousands (this figure is an understatement). A part
of my job is to troubleshoot client connections to our access servers. I can often go
for a week or two handling about 10 faults or more per day without finding a fault in
the configuration of the access servers, connections to the access servers and/or the
clients CPE. This does not leave much but I'll bet most still blame us. I don't know
how often I will suggest change this setting in your server an all will be fine. Bink
up it comes and so does the question "what did you do at your end to fix my server?"
Incidently the next most common problem I come across is username/password errors
particularly where people mix cases and/or use non alphanumeric characters in
usernames. In my opinoin this shouls be avoided (In Cisco's also). The term username
in the Cisco sense is really a hostname (PPP) and should follow the Unix Hostmane
rules to avoid stange issues.
Most faults a simple and can be avoided by careful planning.
Just some thoughts and ramblings from Teunis
Teunis
Hobart, Tasmania
Australia
--
www.tasmail.com
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