Need some advice on learning networking

[slimslob]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

PS - Of course the phone app doesn't show signals from wireless phones and things like that. I don't know how to account for that.

That is the reason for auto channel select on the router.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

That is the reason for auto channel select on the router.

I see. Do you recommend using auto channel as opposed to manually configuring the channels?

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I must say that I'm really impressed with the EMCO software. It has some really cool reports. Here's one report that spans about an hour of running the software on my wireless network. See below:


ping 4.JPG

[KenB]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

That is the reason for auto channel select on the router.

If your router offers 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, always use the 5 GHz if you can.

The signal may not go quite as far, but that is usually more than made up for by it being much cleaner, and having more channels to choose from. (That topic could be an entire thread on its own.)

Garage door openers, cordless phones, some appliances, and almost anything else you can think of live in the 2.4 GHz band.

Also, don’t assume that all newer PCs support 5 GHz. I bought a brand new Dell desktop last year, and while it came with wireless, it’s only 2.4 GHz.

On a totally unrelated note: Don’t confuse 5 GHz with “5G”; it’s apples and oranges.

”5G” means “Group 5”, and does not refer to the frequency. In fact, “6G” is supposed to be realeased late 2021 or early 2022.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

By the way, slowing but surly I've been studying up on and playing around with WireShark. It's really, really, cool. But it kinda assaults my eyes with a LOT of information. Long way to go on that front.

[copiertec]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

How come you guys didn't tell me about "ipconfig/displaydns"?

Now this command is pretty cool and I stumbled across it by accident.

Besides showing you every website that you have visited, it also shows the 'A' records....which is merely another name for the host records.

I've only played around with this for a little while but it seems to me that this is a great troubleshooting resource.

EDIT: Does anyone remember me saying that I made an entry in the 'host file' to resolve the hostname of a printer to an IP address?

I noticed when I ran ipconfig/displaydns that it automatically showed that...even after I flushed the DNS files. So, slim was right....that overrides everything....it's gonna look in there first. But I see a potential problem....what if I change the IP address of the copier? What then? I may have to try it out just to see what happens.

I find ipconfig helpful when I am going to install another copier/printer in a clients office. For example, the client needs a new printer set up and it needs an IP, I can see if an IP is already in use, if there is no response after a continual ping, I will assign that IP to the printer/copier.
I also find it helpful to diagnose if two devices may be sharing an IP inadvertently. I disconnect one device and check my continual ping response.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I find ipconfig helpful when I am going to install another copier/printer in a clients office. For example, the client needs a new printer set up and it needs an IP, I can see if an IP is already in use, if there is no response after a continual ping, I will assign that IP to the printer/copier.
I also find it helpful to diagnose if two devices may be sharing an IP inadvertently. I disconnect one device and check my continual ping response.

There's only one potential problem I see with that. You could be choosing an IP address that is reserved for DHCP. What I've learned to do is to go into the router and find the DCHP range and be sure to assign an IP address outside of that range. Then you can ping to see if another device is on that IP address.


Disclaimer: If I'm wrong you can blame slim and Ken. They are my teachers. Obviously, if I'm wrong this proves that they are terrible teachers and I want my money back.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

If your router offers 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, always use the 5 GHz if you can.

The signal may not go quite as far, but that is usually more than made up for by it being much cleaner, and having more channels to choose from. (That topic could be an entire thread on its own.)

Garage door openers, cordless phones, some appliances, and almost anything else you can think of live in the 2.4 GHz band.

Also, don’t assume that all newer PCs support 5 GHz. I bought a brand new Dell desktop last year, and while it came with wireless, it’s only 2.4 GHz.

On a totally unrelated note: Don’t confuse 5 GHz with “5G”; it’s apples and oranges.

”5G” means “Group 5”, and does not refer to the frequency. In fact, “6G” is supposed to be realeased late 2021 or early 2022.

After reading this post I decided to disable 2.4 GHz and only use the 5GZ. I then used the EMCO software to see if it made a difference. Indeed it did. It's much more stable with no wild peaks and valleys.

Knowledge is power in this business and this is good information to know. If you have the knowledge and the proper tools, you can fine tune a wireless network to work at its best. Now if I can only figure out a way to charge the customer for it.

[bsm2]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

After reading this post I decided to disable 2.4 GHz and only use the 5GZ. I then used the EMCO software to see if it made a difference. Indeed it did. It's much more stable with no wild peaks and valleys.

Knowledge is power in this business and this is good information to know. If you have the knowledge and the proper tools, you can fine tune a wireless network to work at its best. Now if I can only figure out a way to charge the customer for it.

Thats the first thing bill for drivers , new PC install the driver etc....normally You dont touch routers.
Why because once your touch it your company owns it. Does matter if a month or a year later.

Normally we would troubleshoot to the router and inform the customer even if You could fix the issue its Not your equipment. Your guy mess with it now I can't email etc.....

All the installs I've done I Never webbed into a customer router.
PS get your money back.

Always ask for there IT guy before installing equipment. Yes they Always have one

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Thats the first thing bill for drivers , new PC install the driver etc....normally You dont touch routers.
Why because once your touch it your company owns it. Does matter if a month or a year later.

Normally we would troubleshoot to the router and inform the customer even if You could fix the issue its Not your equipment. Your guy mess with it now I can't email etc.....

All the installs I've done I Never webbed into a customer router.
PS get your money back.

Always ask for there IT guy before installing equipment. Yes they Always have one

I'd say that 90% of my customers don't have an IT person. Because the customer (or anyone) can go into the router settings and change the DHCP range, how am I supposed to make sure I'm not assigning an IP address that's outside of the DHCP range? Personally, I don't see the big deal about logging into the router and finding the DHCP range- with the customer's permission for course. I'm not talking about making any changes.

Edit: I think you're a little paranoid about logging into a router and saying that if it breaks I'm responsible. That's like saying if I install a print driver on a customer's computer and the hard drive goes bad the next day that I've bought it. C'mon, now.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I want to follow up on the wireless network discussion. When I switched over the 5Gz, the performance was better. No doubt about it. However it still was showing low performance when I ran EMCO. The router is only about 10-15ft. away in the office across the hall. I decided to put a wireless access point in my office just to see what would happen. Sure enough EMCO changed from low performance to HIGH. I have an ATT router. I guess that router just sucks as far as wireless.

[KenB]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I'd say that 90% of my customers don't have an IT person. Because the customer (or anyone) can go into the router settings and change the DHCP range, how am I supposed to make sure I'm not assigning an IP address that's outside of the DHCP range? Personally, I don't see the big deal about logging into the router and finding the DHCP range- with the customer's permission for course. I'm not talking about making any changes.

Edit: I think you're a little paranoid about logging into a router and saying that if it breaks I'm responsible. That's like saying if I install a print driver on a customer's computer and the hard drive goes bad the next day that I've bought it. C'mon, now.

While I’m in favor of getting a look at the router settings, always have the customer do the driving, even if you need to stand behind them and look over their shoulder. I’ve already had the customer be on the phone while their IT guy walks them through it over the phone.

They have to know the router password to log into it, even if it’s the default. (Note: If it is the default, RUN!) That’s a password I don’t want to know.

It’s alarming how many issues customers will try to pin on us, however unrelated.

[bsm2]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I'd say that 90% of my customers don't have an IT person. Because the customer (or anyone) can go into the router settings and change the DHCP range, how am I supposed to make sure I'm not assigning an IP address that's outside of the DHCP range? Personally, I don't see the big deal about logging into the router and finding the DHCP range- with the customer's permission for course. I'm not talking about making any changes.

Edit: I think you're a little paranoid about logging into a router and saying that if it breaks I'm responsible. That's like saying if I install a print driver on a customer's computer and the hard drive goes bad the next day that I've bought it. C'mon, now.

YOU can always do what You want.
It's called scope of work Not your equipment dont mess with it.
Again You have to learn what Not too touch.
You don't Need to access the router to install a copier.
HELL I setup a machine and there phones stop working Yep guess who got blamed.
As far as No IT who setup there pc's and current network Santa Claus

I 've. worked for two of biggest Copier companies in the world. You touch it You own it.

[KenB]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

There's only one potential problem I see with that. You could be choosing an IP address that is reserved for DHCP. What I've learned to do is to go into the router and find the DCHP range and be sure to assign an IP address outside of that range. Then you can ping to see if another device is on that IP address.


Disclaimer: If I'm wrong you can blame slim and Ken. They are my teachers. Obviously, if I'm wrong this proves that they are terrible teachers and I want my money back.

[tonerhead]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

After reading this post I decided to disable 2.4 GHz and only use the 5GZ. I then used the EMCO software to see if it made a difference. Indeed it did. It's much more stable with no wild peaks and valleys.

I don't think I would disable 2.4ghz. I am not an expert but in the past I had a router that advertized in the SSID that it was 2.4 ghz or 5ghz. You could select which frequency you wanted to connect to. There are lots of devices out there that only run one or the other and not both. So you have a friend come over who needs the 2.4ghz (B,G,N) then what?

I was getting frustrated with the wireless in our house 10 years ago already. We have 3 levels and can't put the wireless in the middle. I ended up running ethernet from the basement to the 2nd floor. Never regretted it. It was not tough to do at all. With interior decorator conduit, and a little common sense home handyman skills, it looks very professional. I believe in the long run, it will add value to our home at time of resale.

A tip that I might add is that everyone associated with networks should carry a cable tester, ethernet crimping tool, and punch down tool. These are very inexpensive. The cable tester has saved my bacon lots of times with copiers. For example customer can't print, can't ping ip, no connect lights, etc.

BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED PER CUSTOMER.

I had one that swore nothing had changed. Ended up being the cable. Apparently cleaning crew moved copier and stretched cable.

It will also tell you if IT/electrician got lazy and is only using 4 of the 8 wires in the ethernet cable or have split an ethernet cable into 2 ports upon termination (to save cable). (more common than you realize)

Other instances, there is 50-100 feet of cable rolled up in corner by copier with no walljack. Or the terminal on end of cable has a broken clip. Customer bitches about losing connection to copier. I have replaced terminals for customers as sometimes it is better to replace a $1 terminal than deal with a cheap customer that constantly complains and doesn't want to do anything about it. Same goes with the 50-100 feet of excess cable. They don't want to pay for someone to do it, but yet it causes issues. I'll do it for them for free and keep the cable (this is with their permission of course)

End of story is sometimes if you give away a couple bucks of materials or simple labor, you keep the customer happy, and end up not making repeat trips, saving you money in the long run on contract machines. Especially when the customer refuses to spend money to get simple things done.

I know lots of you will have your own opinion to this and rightfully so. But in my mind, the peace of mind in not having to deal with these customers is worth the few $ I give away.