Network Switch Testing - Revision history

Ali: changed to redirect

2008-09-17T01:11:00Z

changed to redirect

Koopa: /* Testing a switch */

2008-09-16T19:51:01Z

Testing a switch

Koopa at 19:41, 16 September 2008

2008-09-16T19:41:02Z

Koopa at 19:39, 16 September 2008

2008-09-16T19:39:05Z

Matteo: /* Testing a switch */ mas info

2008-08-29T17:23:37Z

Testing a switch: mas info

Matteo: mass cleanup

2008-08-27T16:08:32Z

mass cleanup

Jayf: Better introduction

2007-05-13T00:16:26Z

Better introduction

Jayf: /* Testing a hub or switch (hereafter just called 'switch') */

2007-03-14T12:45:01Z

Testing a hub or switch (hereafter just called 'switch')

Jayf: /* Verifying a 100baseT hub interoperates with 10baseT */

2007-03-14T12:41:07Z

Verifying a 100baseT hub interoperates with 10baseT

Rfs at 00:21, 14 March 2007

2007-03-14T00:21:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:11, 17 September 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	The network device testing station currently consists of a computer with a nick that can handle gigabit Ethernet and wireless g. This computer also has a serial port and software that can talk thought it.	+	#REDIRECT [[Network Testing]]
−
−	~~==Testing a switch ==~~
−	~~# Verify that the network device is not to be immediately recycled, by consulting the list below~~
−	~~# Connect power to the switch, and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up)~~
−	~~# look for a reset button and if there is one reset it.~~
−	~~# Connect the network cable that has the internet on it to the wan or uplink port.~~
−	~~# Verify that the link lights illuminate on the switch for the appropriate ports.~~
−	~~# Plug in the network cable from the computer to the router.~~
−	~~# On the PC surf the internet. this should not feel slow.~~
−	~~# Do this on every port by moving the network cable that connects to the computer~~
−	~~# check the wifi by connecting to it and serf the net~~
−	# ~~If the network device has a way to login, try to.~~
−	~~# If it works, label it, "Tested OK"~~
−
−	~~== Recycle Criteria ==~~
−	~~;Devices to be recycled without testing~~
−	* DSL and cable modems (and DSL filters, phone cables, etc, if the store already has a few)
−	* DSL and cable modems with built in hub, 'internet router', or wireless
−	* 10BaseT hubs
−	* Cheap-looking little no-name-brand hubs if they are piling up at the testing station
−	* Cheap-looking little no-name-brand hubs if a matching power adapter can't be quickly found
−	* Devices with noisy or bad fans, or that appear physically damaged
−
−	~~;Devices to leave for advanced testing~~
−	* Consumer-grade internet routers (with WAN ethernet port, not with DSL or Cable ports)
−	* Consumer-grade wireless access points and wireless routers
−	* Managed 10/100 switches with a console port that do not seem to pass testing
−	* Professional-looking rack mount routers, firewalls, and other network devices
−
−	~~==Preparing the device for the store==~~
−	~~# Plug its AC adapter into the device and make sure they won't be separated. (Maybe use a rubber band)~~
−	~~# Put it it the clear plastic Store bin on the shelves.~~
−
−	[[~~Category: Howto~~]]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Testing a switch ==
-* Verify that the network device is not to be immediately recycled, by consulting the list below
+# Verify that the network device is not to be immediately recycled, by consulting the list below
-* Connect power to the switch, and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up)
+# Connect power to the switch, and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up)
-* look for a reset button and if there is one reset it.
+# look for a reset button and if there is one reset it.
-* Connect the network cable that has the internet on it to the wan or uplink port.
+# Connect the network cable that has the internet on it to the wan or uplink port.
-* Verify that the link lights illuminate on the switch for the appropriate ports.
+# Verify that the link lights illuminate on the switch for the appropriate ports.
-* Plug in the network cable from the computer to the router.
+# Plug in the network cable from the computer to the router.
-* On the PC surf the internet. this should not feel slow.
+# On the PC surf the internet. this should not feel slow.
-** do this on every port by moving the network cable that connects to the computer
+# Do this on every port by moving the network cable that connects to the computer
-* check the wifi by connecting to it and serf the net
+# check the wifi by connecting to it and serf the net
-* If the network device has a way to login, try to.
+# If the network device has a way to login, try to.
 == Recycle Criteria ==

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ==Preparing the device for the store==
 # Plug its AC adapter into the device and make sure they won't be separated. (Maybe use a rubber band)
-# Put it it the Store bin on the shelves.
+# Put it it the clear plastic Store bin on the shelves.
 [[Category: Howto]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The network device testing station currently consists of a computer with a nick that can handle gigabit Ethernet and wireless g. This computer also has a cerial port and software that can talk thought it.
+The network device testing station currently consists of a computer with a nick that can handle gigabit Ethernet and wireless g. This computer also has a serial port and software that can talk thought it.
 ==Testing a switch ==
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 * Managed 10/100 switches with a console port that do not seem to pass testing
 * Professional-looking rack mount routers, firewalls, and other network devices
 [[Category: Howto]]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 * Verify that the network device is not to be immediately recycled, by consulting the list below
 * Connect power to the switch, and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up)
 * Connect the network cable that has the internet on it to the wan or uplink port.
 * Verify that the link lights illuminate on the switch for the appropriate ports.
@@ Line 9: / Line 10: @@
 * On the PC surf the internet. this should not feel slow.
 ** do this on every port by moving the network cable that connects to the computer
 == Recycle Criteria ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{RightTOC}}
+The network device testing station currently consists of a computer with a nick that can handle gigabit Ethernet and wireless g. This computer also has a cerial port and software that can talk thought it.
-The '''server''' runs httpd as a web server and has an IP address at 10.10.10.10. It has a dumb index.html homepage. The important part of this web server is that it hosts a file called TESTFILE.ZIP. This is just an arbitrary file about 32MB in size. This machine boots to init 2 (command line) and doesn't need a login for operation (although if you are nice, you will log in to shut it down.) This machine is currently a Compaq mini-tower.
+==Testing a switch ==
+* Verify that the network device is not to be immediately recycled, by consulting the list below
-The '''client''' computer is a small-form-factor Dell desktop, which also boots to a command-line login. It's IP address is 10.10.10.11. It has a script called /bin/ht (hub test...). The script does these things:
+* Connect power to the switch, and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up)
+* Connect the network cable that has the internet on it to the wan or uplink port.
-* Pings the server to make sure it can be contacted over the network,
+* Verify that the link lights illuminate on the switch for the appropriate ports.
-* Downloads (wget) the TESTFILE.ZIP from the server through it's network card (to /ramdisk),
+* Plug in the network cable from the computer to the router.
-* Checks the TESTFILE.ZIP against the file's known MD5 checksum,
+* On the PC surf the internet. this should not feel slow.
-* Spits out a message whether the test completed successfully or failed.
+** do this on every port by moving the network cable that connects to the computer
 == Recycle Criteria ==
+;Devices to be recycled without testing
 * DSL and cable modems (and DSL filters, phone cables, etc, if the store already has a few)
 * DSL and cable modems with built in hub, 'internet router', or wireless
@@ Line 27: / Line 19: @@
 * Devices with noisy or bad fans, or that appear physically damaged
+;Devices to leave for advanced testing
 * Consumer-grade internet routers (with WAN ethernet port, not with DSL or Cable ports)
 * Consumer-grade wireless access points and wireless routers
@@ Line 35: / Line 25: @@
 * Professional-looking rack mount routers, firewalls, and other network devices
+[[Category: Howto]]

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 ===Testing a hub or switch (hereafter just called 'switch')===
-* Verify that the device is not to be immediately recycled by consulting the list above
+* Verify that the network device is not to be immediately recycled, by consulting the list above
-* Connect power to the switch and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up
+* Connect power to the switch, and verify it starts up (some advanced switches may take up to a minute to start up
-* Connect the network cable coming from the server to a network port on the switch. Connect the network cable coming from the client to another network port on the switch. For right now, avoid any ''crossover'' or ''uplink'' ports.
+* Connect the network cable coming from the server PC to a network port on the switch. Connect the network cable coming from the client PC to another network port on the switch. For right now, avoid any ''crossover'' or ''uplink'' ports.
 * Verify that the link lights illuminate on the switch for the appropriate ports.
-* On the client computer run the hub test script (just type ht and press enter)
+* On the client PC, run the hub test script (just type ht and press enter)
-* Watch the screen as the file is transferred through the network switch
+* Watch the screen as the file is transferred through the network switch. The transfer rate should be about 4MB per second, and transfer should finish in about 10 seconds.
 * If successful, switch both cables to other ports on the switch and repeat the test. You should test all ports (note: it may take several seconds after connecting to different ports for communications to work again. On switches, the ARP cache in the switch may still remember the computer MAC address as being at the old port location...)
 ===Verifying a 100baseT hub operates with 10baseT devices===

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
-===Verifying a 100baseT hub interoperates with 10baseT===
+===Verifying a 100baseT hub operates with 10baseT devices===
 ''Note: this test is not needed on 10/100 switches, just hubs''
-* Connect the network cable from the testing station's 10baseT hub to a third port on the network device you are testing. Verify that a link light comes on for the port on the device to be tested and the testing station's hub. If the testing station's hub has a red light for the port (partitioned), the device being tested should be recycled.
+''Note: you can do this procedure before you test the remaining ports on the hub''
 * Without disconnecting the client or server cables from the hub being tested, run the hub test script again. The speed should not have dropped below 750KB/s (the hub downgrades to 10baseT)
-* Unplug the client computer's network cable from the hub being tested and plug it into the testing station's hub. Now the connection will be through both hubs. Run the hub test script again. The speed should not have dropped below 750KB/s
+* Unplug the client computer's network cable from the hub being tested and plug it into a port on the testing station's hub. Now the network data connection will be through both hubs back to the server. Run the hub test script again. The speed should not have dropped below 750KB/s.
 == Background: hub vs switch ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:21, 14 March 2007
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		+	{{RightTOC}}
	== Introduction ==		== Introduction ==
	The network device testing station currently consists of two computers: A server and a client PC. These machines are not connected to the Free Geek network, and boot from their internal hard drives. They both run Linux.		The network device testing station currently consists of two computers: A server and a client PC. These machines are not connected to the Free Geek network, and boot from their internal hard drives. They both run Linux.