Load test software? 2

[bofhrevenge2]

We seem to be having random problems with network load between blocks on our site, we are receiving timeouts when installing software and at logon even though there doesn't seem to be any particular load on the servers. The links are all 1gig fibre so they should be able to cope but we still get timeouts, I’m beginning to suspect faulty switching or cabling.
Can anyone suggest some software or a way to test our network for problems like this without having to purchase expensive equipment?

Thanks.

 

[DTSMAN]

If you don't want to purchase your own test equipment, then call in a pro and have the network certified.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Yeh I know where you're coming from but we're a school and have a limited budget. I was hoping there would be a way to perform some rough tests to give us an idea before calling in the expensive big guns.

 

[ISDNman]

Well, you might try pinging each IP address from 2 different machines on the network several times each just to see what happens.

Also double check there are no IP adress conflicts. From a DOS window type ipconfig/all to check your ip settings.

You might look over on the Ethernet forum. There are quite a threads about network troubleshooting over there.

Best of luck.

 

[franklin97355]

http://www.softwareqatest.com/qatweb1.html

 

[bofhrevenge2]

I'll take a look over there cheers.

 

[slatter]

Get the program called Solarwinds. Grat for network trouble shooting and remote site maintance items.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Well I downloaded a trial of the Orion Network Performance Monitor and what a tool I was very impressed, unfortunately the trial will not allow me to diagnose my problem and it is way too expensive for us I’m afraid. Unless the Standard Edition Toolset will do the job I’ll have too look later.

Cheers.


I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out - Bill Hicks

 

[naturl]

One thing I look for, given this day and age, is P2P running somewhere. I can count on 2 hands clients who had the same problems you are and after hard observation and mapping of the hardest working port lights I would find KAZA running on some interns desktop. Difficult to kill. Got to do it in safe mode.
Solar Winds has a free time trial last time I downloaded it. I just put it on a different laptop with 2 NICs for those pesky intermitant problems.

Why is there never a phone in any of the phone closets?

 

[bofhrevenge2]

I'm almost certain that will not be the case as all the stations we're rebuilt about 5 months ago and all the users only have restricted user rights so they can't install any software.

I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out - Bill Hicks

 

[tk808]

Can your router give you reports on what IP addresses are being accessed and how many times; bytes sent/received?

I'm not sure if this type of software is standard on most or just a few routers nowadays.

Any ideas guys?

 

[tk808]

Sorry, I'm not sure why tek-tips doesn't have an "EDIT" option for already posted messages but I also wanted to add that people who stream music/media do use up a lot of bandwidth. Try checking IP addy logs for them.

Perfmon as well?

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Right i've got it sorted i'm not quite sure what the problem was but we had two stacked switches Planet WGSW-2403 and a WGSW-2402. I replaced the 2402 with another WGSW-2403 and it's been fine since. Planet have sent a firmware upgrade for the 2402 so i'll apply that and get it back into service in another location and see how it goes

Cheers guys.

I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out - Bill Hicks

 

[naturl]

do you have a firewall? Restrict cartain streaming trafic. survey your ports; any spares? in an orderly fashion start changing physical ports and cable runs. See if things improve. When do the timeouts occur? prime time or on a saturday too? start testing these things to rule things out. You could even have a user with a bad nic (IP storms)-any users experiencing problems they're not telling you about?

Why is there never a phone in any of the phone closets?

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Hi naturl, I agree on the bad nic idea that had crossed my mine as I have had this problem before. The problem was intensified at times of high load but it still seemed shaky the rest of the time, it seems to of gone away with the switch swap though. I'll let you all know if anything changes.

Cheers.


I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out - Bill Hicks