Network Technicians....

[pacman]

What do you normally keep in your bag?

Usually I have a 5 port switch, a pair of crimpers, Ethernet ends, a netbook, calbes of various lengths, a cable tester and a crossover.

What say ye?

[charm5496]

Re: Network Technicians....

I have a LAN tester to go along with everything you listed

[Ollie1981]

Re: Network Technicians....

I've got the usual 8 light LAN cable tester and a five port switch. I have my work laptop that has my dispatching software, manuals and firmware that I also use for diagnosing connectivity issues.

I do have a set of RJ-45 crimpers but I have never had any cause to use them as of yet.... well not at work anyway I have ran Cat-5 throughout my house when I last redecorated and now have gigabit ethernet throughout my home. Wireless is convenient for laptops, but you just can't beat the reliability of a wired connection when you are online gaming/streaming video.

The LAN cable tester is a godsend, if a customer's I.T are being argumentative about whether it's a connectivity issue, connect both parts of the tester to either end of the cable and if all the lights don't flash in turn then it ain't a problem with my copier mate!

[blackcat4866]

Re: Network Technicians....

What do you normally keep in your bag?

Usually I have a 5 port switch, a pair of crimpers, Ethernet ends, a netbook, calbes of various lengths, a cable tester and a crossover.

What say ye?

Same items. =^..^=

[mojorolla]

Re: Network Technicians....

About the same. I would say the laptop and crossover are used the most frequently. And the Wireshark program for those IT people who cannot admit the issue is in their network.

[mjunkaged]

Re: Network Technicians....

I rarely need to put on my 'network tech' hat but have all tools listed except an 8 light lan tester. I just have it in a tub in the back seat. Use the switch, cable and laptop most often....what mojo said!
No, I don't throw the lappie in a tub in the back, keep the ol' turd inside when not needed. Which is most of the time.

[TheOwl]

Re: Network Technicians....

I try to run a lot lighter.

I just have my work laptop with a couple of CAT5e and CAT6 cables and do all machine testing through a Virtual Machine Windows 2008 R2 server that is on my laptop. That way I can DHCP, DNS, Email and Printing issues all from my laptop direct to the copier.

Doing it this way eliminates the copier and throughs everything back onto the customer or the customers IT. If they then want me to go further, I know that the call is then chargable, but I can figure that out alot quicker with the way my laptop is setup.

I try not to carry a switch, but I do have a second network card that I can put into my laptop for doing things like Wireshark Captures.

[Hansoon]

Re: Network Technicians....

a 5 port switch, a pair of crimpers, Ethernet ends, a netbook, cables of various lengths, a cable tester and a crossover.

About the same + a router for easy DHCP testing.

Hans

[Dark Helmet]

Re: Network Technicians....

I carry all that stuff but i avoid using it. As soon as sales see's me cutting cable they think i can install it for the customer which is illegal in our province unless you have the proper licesne.

Owl thats a pretty good idea with the virtual machine. If you install the demo of 2008 can you set it all up, save the state and then you won't have to worry about the trial running out?

[TheOwl]

Re: Network Technicians....

I don't know about running the trial as we are Microsft Gold Partners and have plently of licensing that we can use internally. I would assume that Microsoft or VMware would be still date stamping the VM as you can run into trouble with DC's presenting the wrong time.

[ES-OGT]

Re: Network Technicians....

Crossover cable, notebook, and spare network cables.

Technically you really don't need alot of stuff. If the machine plugs into your notebook directly with the crossover cable using static IP's and works....then it's their network.

[KenB]

Re: Network Technicians....

I carry an RJ45 crimper, a few RJ45 plugs, a 5 port gigabit/100/10 switch, a 5 port wired router, a 5 port hub (for running Wireshark - a switch won't work), and about 20 assorted patch cables.

About a year ago I found my favorite new tool: a cable tester with an LCD display that not only will test for continuity, but also displays which wires are open or shorted. One end has a slide-out terminator that can be placed on the far end of the cable. That was the best $30 tool I ever bought!

[igi]

Re: Network Technicians....

Crossover cable, notebook, and spare network cables.

Technically you really don't need alot of stuff. If the machine plugs into your notebook directly with the crossover cable using static IP's and works....then it's their network.

hi
did any of your customers disagre about the problem with
their network.
if yes what did you do

[Ollie1981]

Re: Network Technicians....

hi
did any of your customers disagre about the problem with
their network.
if yes what did you do

If you can firstly demonstrate the copier printing/scanning over a direct connection to your laptop and then via the use of Wireshark and/or a LAN cable testing tool, prove that the issue lies with the network then they essentially don't have an argument. They can disagree as much as they like it's not going to change the facts.

If they choose to disbelieve me then I'll escalate the issue to my manager with a full explanation of my findings, if they press the issue and our network specialists attend site and their contract doesn't cover it they'll end up with a hefty bill.

I can see why you are asking, I think we've all had calls to customers where the issue is related to the copier, so they want the magic copier wizards (us) to arrive and wave our magic wands and make the problem go away.