Intermittent problems.
WHY THEY ARE HARDER
They are absent when anyone looks.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Record when it happens.
WHAT TO LOG
Date and time Duration What was affected Weather, for wireless and satellite
WHY WEATHER
It is the commonest cause for those technologies, and the pattern is only visible in a log.
WHAT TO SET UP
Continuous monitoring that records reachability.
WHAT THAT PROVIDES
Evidence, and the pattern.
WHAT PATTERNS INDICATE
- Same time daily: something scheduled, or a network event
- During rain: wireless or satellite path
- When particular equipment starts: electrical interference
- Random and brief: a line or hardware fault
WHAT TO CHECK PHYSICALLY
Cable condition and connections Whether cables run near power cables Whether outdoor equipment is secure and undamaged
WHY CABLE ROUTING MATTERS
Network cable running alongside power cable picks up interference.
WHAT TO TEST
Replacing the cable between router and equipment.
WHY
It is cheap and it is frequently the cause.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT POWER
Whether drops coincide with power events.
WHY
Routers restart on brief interruptions, and it looks like a line fault.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
Put network equipment on backup power.
WHAT TO PROVIDE THE PROVIDER
The log.
