Diagnosing Network Performance Issues With An Ethernet Cable Tester
Diagnosing Network Performance Issues with an Ethernet Cable Tester
An Ethernet cable tester, when used with a tester, will save time and is easily manageable. Although there are mother methods that you could use to test the tone and integrity of your cables (for instance, substituting cables for testing), a cable tester is the more reliable and efficient method. It's a must-have for anyone involved in repairing computers, and even for the sophisticated home network.
Let's look at some of the issues that your Ethernet cable tester can help with.
One of the primary causes of slow network devices is an auto negotiation issue. Unfortunately, many people make a wrong assumption about how exactly auto-negotiation works. This wrong assumption frequently leads to an incorrect setup. Auto-negotiation allows a switch port or router to connect automatically with a specific device and then determine the best speed and duplex for that device.
Speed is also tested with your cable tester. In network terminology, speed refers to the transfer rate of your interface. For instance,, 100Mbps, 100 Mbps, 10Mbps, etc., are all network speeds. Data flows only one direction with half-duplex. Full duplex, on the other hand, allows transmission in both directions simultaneously. Your tester will tell you if transmission is taking place efficiently in both directions.
Your tester will also check auto negotiation. Auto negotiation starts a dialog with a device connected to the network. It does not, however, determine port settings for the other end of the line. Auto-negotiate will fail if one end is set to fixed settings for duplex or speed.
If your Ethernet wiring isn't made correctly, it's possible that the port might get too many errors. It might auto-negotiate at a slower speed.
With a typical twisted pair Ethernet cable, you must take care to use a correctly rated cable with good ends. This is especially true at higher speeds. If you don't, the speed could fail, and you won't get the performance that you're wanting. Be careful when you pull a cable fro a pile to make the connection. Are you sure it's spec'ed for 1000BT?
All of the above are areas where an Ethernet cable tester will help you. A tester from a reputable company, when used with the proper software, is essential with large installations, in order to verify cable integrity. But after you have the system in place, how do you know if something wrong is happening? One option is a simple ping test. It will show you if there is an outright failure. However, this won't help you locate specific problems. Looking at errors, packet loss and throughput on a switch port could be the best thing to examine if you notice a slow down and you rule out problems in areas such as auto-negotiation.
Remember it's important to check your network integrity by checking throughput. You do this by transferring large files and at the same time watching for dropped packets and CRC errors. Deficiencies in these parameters could mean a faulty cable--something that can best be checked with your Ethernet cable tester.
