Resolve Network Hardware Problems

Resolve network hardware problems by looking for any impedance variations along the cable with a time domain reflectometer (TDR), including:

• An open cable with no terminator
• A shorted cable or bad transceiver tap
• A healthy transceiver tap
• A healthy connector and barrel adapter
• A sharp bend, crunch, or kink in the cable

1. Analyze the packets and data coming across the cable with a network analyzer.
2. If you are using Token Ring, make sure that it is set to the right ring speed (4MB to 16MB). To do this, enter the smit tcpip command:

   smit tcpip

   You will access the TCP/IP submenu directly.

   From the TCP/IP submenu, choose the Minimum Configuration & Startup option, choose the Token Ring Network Interface option (such as tr0), and look at the RING Speed field.

3. If you are using Ethernet, make sure it is connected correctly (bnc or bix). To do this, enter the smit devices command:

   smit devices

   You will access the Devices submenu directly.

   From the Devices submenu, choose the List Devices option, choose the Show Characteristics of a Supported Device option, choose adapter in the Device Class list, choose an interface (such as mca) in the Device Interface list, choose ethernet in the Device Type list, and look at the Adapter CONNECTOR field.

Go back to Network Problems.