BACKBONE CONNECTIONS

In addition to the inherent problems of the cabling, backbone connections add the problems that come with the use of connectors. They have only a limited number of times that they can be connected before they have to be replaced. These connectors are used in several places along the backbone, each presenting one more place for trouble to start. Some of the places that connectors are used are:

At the server

At the repeater, concentrator, and the gateway

Along the backbone for each drop or tap

At the splice and coupler (used with fiberoptic)

Each of the connections uses a different type of connector, each with its own limitations. For example:

A vampire tap is a connector that uses two prongs to pierce the cable to make its connection. When it is used, one of the prongs can be bent and not make a proper connection.

An RJ connector is the same type of connector used to plug your telephone into the wall. When it is used, the plastic clip has a tendency to break off the connector, resulting in the plug not locking in place.

SUMMARY

In this chapter we discussed the how to troubleshoot communications line problems, network malfunctions, and how to test and evaluate the connection of networking system nodes. As with any troubleshooting, individual manufacturers of both hardware and software will have their own techniques to follow. What we have tried to do is give you a brief overview of the type of trouble that you can expect to run into and some basics as how to begin the troubleshooting.