Testing Network Cards

[DaveyBoy]

If I use command:

ping loopback -t

Does this examine whether the NIC might not be performing correctly?

If so how do I interpret the information and where does the IP address come from it's using?

I ask as I think I may have some rogue cards on my BNC network and need to check each one.

Thanks for any solutions/information.

[torniee]

Hello

I'm not sure, but I think that pingin loopback doesn't measure network activity.

If you want to test the network adapter, you should use testing software provided by the manufacturer. For example Intel Pro 10 Combo came with softset2.exe with whitch you can test all the adapters by setting one of the PC's to act as responder and the others to send packages to the responder. !Note! You'll have to boot the PC's to DOS with out ANY drivers in order to get the test working properly (press F8 during boot before the "Starting Windows"; choose "Line by line" NOT "Just command prompt" and answer no to all except himem.sys).

In peer-to-peer (=no servers, just workstations) ethernet is pretty unreliable when using BNC/Coax cabling. In fact you'd better power on all computers in the network when using any of the network services. HUB is better, but switch is best.

[DaveyBoy]

Thanks for that, I've used this on our newer cards that I have the disks for.

My set up is:

Thin Ethernet, BNC
43 NT workstations,
1 PDC, 1 BDC - NT Server
1 repeater, 260m of cable

Recently the network has been going slow and occasionally stopping (timing out on a reoccurring ping or sometimes just missing 1 or two then coming back or just erratic time loops)

The network cards that I have installed since I got here I have the installation disks for, the 25 that were here before me I don't have anything for .

So having tested the repeater, cable, and all the new cards I'm still having no joy.

This all makes me think that I may have a jabbering network card on one of the older machines but I can't see how to test their performance without the software. (Most also seem to be unbranded! )

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

[torniee]

Hi again
If your network adapter is unbranded or it's manufacturer has disappeared, you could try to find the software of the chip. For example I've got in some PC's Micronet's (www.micronet.com.tw) adapter but the chip on the adapter is Realtek's (www.realtek.com.tw) which provides the latest drivers.

[DaveyBoy]

Thanks, I'll give that a go.

I was hoping not to have to do that as I think it will take some time.

In the mean time while I get stuck into this - if anyone has a shorter solution I'd be happy to give it a try.

Until then, it's going to have to be screwdrivers and surfing for a few days...

[mystic]

Hi there!

I think I know what the problem with your network performance is: haveing 45 machines hanging off Thin ethernet cabling.

Even if you've got a repeater in there, it's all one virtual circuit, and one collision domain - that is, when two machines talk at one, the packet collision occurs and the subsequent jamming signal is broadcast to your entire network.

The simplest way of verifying this is to use the NT Performance Monitor.

You'll need to go to Control Panel -> Networks and add the Network Monitor Agent, then use Performance Monitor to monitor the Network segment. Look for the number of bad/malformed packets, paket collisions and resend requests that are happening.

If that's the problem, your best bet is (if your network layout will permit it):

- Put a second NIC in to one of your servers, and break the network into two separate segments.

or

- Replace the repeater with an intelligent router or switch.

or
- Recable with twisted pair and put in a switched hub.

Regards,
Mystic


------------------
"What I tell you three times is true." -- The Bellman

[DaveyBoy]

We are getting twisted pair, but we have a month to go before that happens.

I thought you could have 29 nodes either side of a repeater (including the repeater)?

We are currently below this threshold, shouldn't we be OK?