Network Hardware

TESTING Network and Internet connectivity (DRH_23_Oct_2007)

1. ) ping loopback 127.0.0.1 (ie is OS internal network working).
2. ) ping your host's external IP address or another device on your vlan, NOT your router xxx.xxx.xxx.1 address. (Can we get onto the local vlan?) ----NOTE: Pinging the route point does not provide useful information as most routers treat ping requests as low priority and may drop them or be slow to respond to the ping request.)
3. ) in steps 4 through 7 it is more informative to use traceroute instead of ping
4. ) ping cs web server. (Can we get to CS backbone outside of our vlan?)
5. ) ping an UW backbone IP (129.97.128.10) (Can we get to campus backbone?)
6. ) ping nrc.ca or gnu.mit.edu (can we get out via the Orion research Network?)
7. ) ping a commercial site (can we get out via Cogent Network, remembering that Cogent tunnels through Orion from UW to Toronto?)

Network Switches

• Cisco Switches
• HP Procurve
• Nortel or Baystack

• ECE switch install notes http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/twiki/bin/view/Engcomp/NewSwitchInstallation

Cabling Standards

• PatchCableStandards
• CableColorCodes

Network Management

• We use a tool called ONA to manage our switches. It was created by Bruce Campbell.
  • Emergency ONA, when available
  • ONA Documentation