Standard

 

CIS 145 - Netware Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

Course Description

Provides a study in NetWare network diagnostics and troubleshooting. Topics include: NetWare analysis methodology, troubleshooting the network, file server troubleshooting and analysis, troubleshooting the DOS workstation, troubleshooting network printing, protocol analysis, cable troubleshooting, network optimization and disaster recovery, and research tools.

 

Competency Areas

Hours

 

NetWare Analysis Methodology

Class

4

Troubleshooting the Network

D. Lab

6

File Server Troubleshooting and Analysis

P. Lab/O.B.I.

0

Troubleshooting the DOS Workstation

Credit

7

Troubleshooting Network Printing

 

 

Protocol Analysis

 

 

Cable Troubleshooting

 

 

Network Optimization and Disaster Recovery

 

 

Research Tools

 

 

 

Prerequisite/ Corequisite:

CIS 143, CIS 144

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

NETWARE ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY

4

6

0

Methodology

Describe traits needed for effective troubleshooting.

 

 

 

 

Explain rules to follow for effective troubleshooting.

 

 

 

 

Describe how to categorize problems for effective troubleshooting

 

 

 

 

Explain the importance of documenting the steps in troubleshooting.

 

 

 

 

Explain the importance of testing a solution rigorously.

 

 

 

TROUBLESHOOTING THE NETWORK

8

6

0

Problem prevention in the physical, electrical, and electro-static environment

Discuss the physical setup and location of a LAN to minimize the possibility of problems caused by the environmental factors.

 

 

 

Problem prevention through EDP environmental security

Compose a realistic and workable plan for environmental security.

 

 

 

Viruses

Discuss the role of good backups and virus prevention software in preventing and repairing problems generated by viruses.

 

 

 

Troubleshooting model

Discuss step-wise troubleshooting model using in analyzing problems.

 

 

 

Diagnostic and system information software

Discuss and use diagnostic software.

 

 

 

OSI model

Discuss OSI model use in troubleshooting a LAN.

 

 

 

FILE SERVER TROUBLESHOOTING AND ANALYSIS

4

6

0

File server disk drive problems

Explain ways of ascertaining mirrored drive failure.

 

 

 

 

Explain methods for unmirroring a drive before removing.

 

 

 

 

Identify disk failure warning signs.

 

 

 

 

Explain Hot Fix.

 

 

 

 

Explain methods for troubleshooting hard drive physical configurations.

 

 

 

NetWare field system corruption and repair

Explain when to run Vrepair.

 

 

 

 

Describe the VREPAIR utility.

 

 

 

 

Explain disk media surface scanning with NetWare INSTALL.NLM.

 

 

 

General server errors

Describe error interpretation methods.

 

 

 

 

Describe a General Protection Processor Exception (GPPE).

 

 

 

 

Describe a non-maskable interrupt parity error.

 

 

 

 

Explain unencrypted passwords.

 

 

 

 

Explain lost hardware interrupts and ways of dealing with them.

 

 

 

TROUBLESHOOTING THE DOS WORKSTATION

4

12

0

IPX

Troubleshoot malfunctioning installations of IPX- and ODI-based workstations.

 

 

 

Workstation configuration

Resolve workstation conflicts based on resources such as memory, IRQ, and DMA.

 

 

 

 

Troubleshoot malfunctioning network interface cards.

 

 

 

TROUBLESHOOTING NETWORK PRINTING

4

6

0

Symptoms

Determine whether a problem concerns NetWare printing or the printer itself, given a set of symptoms.

 

 

 

 

Prevent, diagnose, and resolve common printer problems.

 

 

 

 

Diagnose and resolve NetWare printer problems related to physical connections, print queues, print servers, remote printing, configuration, print utilities, and printing Post Script files.

 

 

 

PROTOCOL ANALYSIS

4

6

0

Protocol analyzer

Explain protocol analyzer necessity.

 

 

 

 

Explain the purpose and functions of a protocol analyzer.

 

 

 

 

Describe different brands of protocol analyzers.

 

 

 

Analysis

Describe Ethernet Data-Link Layer analysis.

 

 

 

 

Describe Token Ring Data-Link Layer analysis.

 

 

 

 

Explain NetWare protocol suite analysis.

 

 

 

 

Explain NetWare protocol analysis when layered with other protocols.

 

 

 

 

Describe method of determining NetWare addresses with a protocol analyzer.

 

 

 

 

Explain NCP packet header information examination using a protocol analyzer to determine traffic flow fluency.

 

 

 

 

Describe routing efficiency determination with a protocol analyzer.

 

 

 

 

Describe protocol analyzer use with NetWare problem packets.

 

 

 

CABLE TROUBLESHOOTING

4

6

0

Limitations

Describe cabling limitations caused by attenuation.

 

 

 

 

Explain Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) use.

 

 

 

 

Describe Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) and ways of correcting it.

 

 

 

 

Explain wire map use to detect connector problems such as crossed pairs and split pairs.

 

 

 

Tools

Explain continuity tester purpose and functions.

Explain TDR purpose and functions.

 

 

 

Certification

Describe different tools used to certify cable for Token Ring, Ethernet, and ARCnet.

 

 

 

NETWORK OPTIMIZATION AND DISASTER RECOVERY  

4

6

0

Optimization

Tune the server using appropriate SET commands.

 

 

 

 

Use MONITOR to verify performance bottlenecks in the server and to suggest possible remedies.

 

 

 

 

Install performance-enhancing patches using PATCHMAN.

 

 

 

 

Confirm the functionality of bridges and routers.

 

 

 

 

Use a protocol analyzer to diagnose performance problems and to help alleviate overloaded network or servers.

 

 

 

Disaster recovery

Discuss the role of third-party software products in creating the optimal disaster recovery plan.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the implications of using Burst Mode in optimizing large file handling.

 

 

 

RESEARCH TOOLS

4

6

0

NSEPro

Discuss and use NSEPro or a comparable research tool as an information resource to get the best possible solutions to problems in the shortest time.

 

 

 

NETWIRE

Discuss and use NETWIRE or a comparable research tool as an information resource and peer communications tool to get the best possible solutions to problems in the shortest time.

 

 

 

Micro House Technical Library

Discuss and use the Micro House Technical Library or a comparable research tool as an information resource on system boards, hard drives, and network interface cards to get the best possible solutions in the shortest time.

 

 

 

Other services

Explain patch downloading from the Internet.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resource

 

Suggested Resource includes textbook shown below or most current edition.

 

Book

 

Sant’Angelo, R. (1995). NetWare unleased. Indianapolis: Sams.