Diagnosing Network Issues

Most of this should not be necessary, but still. These are the steps

The Ten Steps

1. Attempt to release/renew

2. Turn off/temporarily disable all firewalls.

3. Force the card’s link speed to 10Mb and Half Duplex.

4. Apply the appropriate Winsock Fix.

5. Update the drivers for the ethernet card. Start with the manufacturer’s website, and if you can type in the serial number, service tag number, or even just the model number, you should be able to download drivers specific to that model’s hardware. (consider uninstalling/reinstalling the card)

6. Start/stop the DHCP Client Service (if XP)

(Control Panel > Admin Tools > Services, should be self-explanatory if you look)

7. Reset the IP stack (if XP) From a command prompt, type: netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt and hit Enter. It will look like nothing has happened. Then try to renew the IP again.

8. Use the Fluke NetTool to test into the user's NIC (and take note of whether you have to use "Force Link" or not...). While the Fluke is connected to the computer, get to a prompt and try to ping 172.16.8.1. This will give the Fluke something to listen to. Make note of anything pertinent on the Fluke info screens.

9. Ask me to verify the user's NetReg registration (email is fine.

10. Request a static IP address test.

Back to the RSA Techs Main Page

--Bachmann 14:11, 27 February 2007 (EST)