A modern business's network is absolutely critical to its operations. Your network is what stores and moves data throughout your organization and enables everything from email to cloud services to critical applications. When problems occur with your network, the consequences can be catastrophic, with communication getting cut off and productivity grinding to a halt. Downtime should be resolved as quickly as possible, and to do so, the source of said downtime must be identified as fast as possible. So, in order to remedy downtime quickly, you need to have an understanding of how to troubleshoot common business network issues.
Identify the Problem
Determine the Scope
The first step should always be to determine the scope of the problem. Does it affect a single user, a group of users, or the entire network? Knowing the scope of an issue helps zero in on the cause and potential solutions. For instance, if only one user has issues, it might be a device problem, whereas if the entire network is down, it's likely a more significant issue.
Check Error Messages
Look for any error messages or alerts that arrived with the issue. These can sometimes tell you exactly what the issue is or at least provide clues about its nature. It is also a good idea to document any error messages for future reference.
Ask Questions
Ask affected users specific questions about the issue, such as when it started, what they were doing when it happened, and whether they have made any attempts to fix it. Gathering detailed information is the best way to pinpoint the cause.
Inspect Physical Connections
Faults in a network's physical connections can be a common cause of issues that are easy to overlook; double-check cables, ports, and power sources to quickly rule out or identify simple problems.
Check Cables and Ports: A loose or damaged cable can cause connectivity issues. Test cables with another device to confirm they work correctly.
Verify Power Sources: Ensure all networking equipment has power and reset power sources if necessary.
Inspect Network Devices: Examine routers, switches, and modems to ensure they are functioning correctly. Sometimes, a simple restart can clear temporary glitches.
Test Network Connectivity
Use Ping and Traceroute
Ping and traceroute commands can be used to test network connectivity and help identify where the connection might have failed. For example, if ping works locally but not remotely, the issue might be external.
Test Different Devices
Using different devices to test the network helps determine if the issue is device-specific or network-wide. If one device connects successfully while another doesn't, then the issue is likely with the device, not the network.
Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength
One of the most common causes of connectivity issues while using Wi-Fi is weak signal strength between the device and router. A potential easy fix for this issue is to move closer to the router or access point and see if the connection improves. Wi-Fi analyzers can also be used to identify signal strength and interference.
Analyze Network Configuration
Network configuration issues can be another common cause of connectivity problems. It is important to note that understanding and making changes to your network configuration can be a bit technical and might require the help of an IT services partner.
Check IP Settings
Ensure that devices experiencing connection issues have the correct IP addresses, subnet masks, and gateways. Incorrect settings often prevent devices from connecting to the network.
Review DNS Settings
Ensure you are using reliable DNS servers with their settings correctly configured. Incorrect DNS settings can prevent devices from being able to access websites and cloud services.
Inspect Router and Switch Configurations
Review the configurations of any routers and switches to ensure their settings are correct and there are no misconfigurations or recent changes that might have caused the issue.
Monitor Network Performance
Use Network Monitoring Tools
Use network monitoring tools to track performance, network traffic, and bandwidth usage, gain insights into potential issues, and help pinpoint problem areas.
Check for Bottlenecks
Identify any network bottlenecks where high traffic or heavy usage slows down the network. You can potentially ease network congestion by upgrading bandwidth or optimizing traffic flow.
Look for Interference
Look out for potential sources of interference with your Wi-Fi network, such as other electronic devices, walls, and even microwaves. Using different channels or frequencies can help reduce interference.
Ensure Security and Updates
Update Firmware and Software
All networking equipment should have the latest firmware and software updates. In addition to these updates being critical for cybersecurity, they can also include bug fixes and performance improvements to help keep your network stable and secure.
Scan for Malware
Malware can cause all sorts of issues, including slow performance and connectivity problems for your network. Use reputable antivirus software and keep it updated to protect your network.
Review Security Settings
Check your security settings on routers and firewalls, and make sure they are using proper configurations and that no unauthorized changes have occurred. Strong security settings are necessary to protect your network from external threats.