TM TM NetTool Inline Network Tester Quick Reference Guide PN 1560839 May 2000, Rev 2, 03/02 © 2001, 2002 Fluke Networks. All rights reserved. Printed in USA All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
Table of Contents Title Page Ready, Aim, Register! ...................................... 1 What is NetTool? .............................................. 1 How to use NetTool ....................................... 2 NetTool Capabilities ....................................... 3 Single-Ended Mode ....................................... 4 Cable Testing ................................................ 5 Cable Test ................................................... 5 Wiremap ..............................
NetTool™ Quick Reference Guide Link Connectivity Problems ............................ 25 Network Problems .......................................... 25 Health ......................................................... 25 NetWare ...................................................... 25 TCP/IP ........................................................ 25 Host Configuration ...................................... 25 Name Resolution ........................................ 26 NetBIOS .............................
NetTool Quick Reference Guide Ready, Aim, Register! What’s in it for me? A FREE PERSONALIZED HOLSTER!!!! Get a free holster with a personal or company name embossed on it for your NetTool by visiting www.flukenetworks.com and registering your NetTool today. What is NetTool? What? More busywork to slow me down? NetTool is easy to use and saves time! It is a unique handheld device that combines cable, network, and PC configuration testing into a single, handheld unit.
How to use NetTool I don’t have a lot of time to kill, how do I light this candle? NetTool has two RJ-45 jacks, one on either side of the unit. Plug it in and turn it on…either between two devices like a hub and a PC or directly into a wall plate to check a network drop. The first screen you see when you power up NetTool is the launch pad to all of NetTool’s features. Press the Select button to begin. afq40s.bmp Think of NetTool as your virtual eyes and ears in checking PCs connected to networks.
NetTool Capabilities Service Identification Link Configuration Telco Token Ring Ethernet Link ID Receive Pair Advertised Speed Actual Speed Level Polarity Advertised Duplex Actual Duplex Health Utilization Broadcast/Error meters Cable Test Wiremap PC Configuration Link Config Health Addresses Used Servers Used Ping Services (Key Devices) IP Servers IPX (NetWare) Servers NetBIOS Servers Printers Routers Problems Problem Log Ping (single device) Ping Catalog (list) Reporter Save/Delete Reports 3
Single-Ended Mode What’s lurking behind that wall plate? Note To optimize discovery, connect NetTool with the device (like a PC) off, turn NetTool on, press AutoTest, then turn the device on. ⇒ Plug an RJ-45 (supplied PN 642774) cable into a network drop or a single network device, such as a hub, PC, server, or printer. ⇒ Plug the other end of the cable into either side of NetTool, power up NetTool, and start AutoTest by pressing the Select (middle) button.
Cable Testing You can check cable length, detect split pairs, or use the wiremap adapter (supplied PN 1563930) to verify pin-to-pin continuity from the near to the far end of a cable. Cable Test ⇒ Plug the cable to test into the jack on either side of the NetTool. Power up NetTool. AutoTest flashes. Press Select. ⇒ Highlight the Spool icon and press Select to see cable status. NetTool detects cable length, opens, shorts, and split pairs.
Wiremap When both ends of a cable cannot be connected to NetTool (e.g., one end is in wiring closet), use the external wiremap function. ⇒ Attach the near end of the cable to the NetTool. ⇒ Attach the wiremap adapter to the far end of the cable. ⇒ Power up NetTool. AutoTest flashes. ⇒ Press Select. ⇒ Highlight the Wiremap icon and press Select. ⇒ If pin configuration checks out and there are no opens, shorts or split pairs, you can rule out the cable as the cause of a problem. afq33s.
Service Identification ⇒ ⇒ Plug one end of a cable into the RJ-45 jack on either side of NetTool and the other end into any RJ-45 wall jack. Power up NetTool and select AutoTest. Doing so shows you what service is active on the jack. Based on voltage and other electrical characteristics of the port, NetTool can detect: Telco: Shows the tip and ring pins. XCaution Although NetTool can detect Telco signals, it is not designed to be used on the public telephone network. Disconnect immediately.
Force Link: For a device that does not respond, NetTool enables the Force Link function and displays it as a menu choice below AutoTest. Select Force Link and NetTool attempts to force a connection with the device. Check the users manual for more information. afq39s.
Inline Mode They say two ports are better than one… Note NetTool can’t tell you about what it doesn’t see. NetTool must sense traffic on a network or device so it can supply protocol or health information. Inline means NetTool is connected between two devices simultaneously like a PC and hub. Use this mode to verify that a PC will communicate properly with the network. afq02f.eps ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ Plug NetTool inline between the PC and the network. Power up the PC. Select AutoTest.
So what? ⇒ Select the PC or Hub icon for more link configuration information, health, Segment ID, and for PCs−address and server information. X Caution Plugging NetTool inline with the same device can produce side effects. For example, if you plug NetTool into two ports of the same switch, you risk creating excessive traffic that weakens network performance.
Getting Acquainted Skip this page if you have ever used a radio… Batteries Use four (4) AA size batteries (supplied PN 1560231) or the optional rechargeable batteries (PN 1572184) as shown (optional charger PN 1572191). 1 3 2 afq05f.eps AC Adapter The optional AC adapter (PN 1556346) can be used to power the unit and conserve battery power. afq03f.
Buttons and Indicators Press the buttons all you want. What you press won’t hurt you or your network. ⇒ Power – press and hold for two seconds to turn on or off. ⇒ Backlight – After NetTool has power, you may turn on the backlight by simply pressing the power button once quickly. Turn it off by….you guessed it…pressing the Power button again. Link, Collision, and Error LED Navigation Keys Power SELECT Utilization LED Select afq24f.
(right) if there there are more items to view. This applies to data screens not “scroll-select” screens.” ⇒ (top right) Press the Up key to navigate to the and press Select to close the current screen. ⇒ Certain screens also display a wrench of the . Select this icon to access the configuration screen for that function. icon left NetTool LED Indicators NetTool has two tricolor LED indicators on each side to reflect link and health information at a glance.
NetTool Menus Just show me the dessert menu. Life is too short not to order dessert first. There are two sets of menus to assist in troubleshooting: icons on the top of the screen and the main menu below the icons. Setup Icon PC Icon Network Icon Main Menu afq27f.eps Selecting an icon takes you through menus corresponding to the three elements of the connection: PC, NetTool setup, and Network. The main menu takes you through various discovery screens that reflect NetTool’s connection to devices.
Duplex Settings: = Full Duplex = Half Duplex NetTool displays duplex settings for each device, advertised or collision-determined. The underlinded indicator is the confirmed duplex and the nonunderlined value is the advertised duplex. Duplex mismatches can impede communication between devices. Link Level and Polarity: Polarity is displayed via waveform shaped icons. Normal level, normal polarity Normal level, reverse polarity Low level, normal polarity Low level, reverse polarity.
NetTool Menus - PC ⇒ Connect NetTool to a PC and select the PC icon. The icon displays on the left or right, depending on where you connected the cable. ⇒ After the PC sends frames, you can scan the PC configuration by navigating through the menu. This view of the PC is invaluable in troubleshooting networked PCs. afq16s.bmp Link Configuration Hey there, what’s your sign? The link configuration screen provides the following key link information about the device to which NetTool is connected: afq15s.
Protocols Exactly what languages are these devices speaking to each other? ⇒ Select Protocols to view the protocols seen on the desktop or network. This can be very useful for finding configuration mismatches. The Protocols screen below shows such a mismatch (Apple protocol found on the network side but not on the PC side). afq19s.bmp afq20s.bmp Select a protocol type you wish to see (IP, NetWare, etc.). NetTool lists the protocols and icons to indicate where the protocol is seen. afq62s.
Addresses Used My name is, my name is… NetTool displays the best-discovered name on the PC as well as the IP, IPX, MAC address of the PC. It also lists DHCP or automatic private IP address information. afq28s.bmp Servers Used Shows the network resources the PC is using, including HTTP, SMTP, POP, WINS, Nearest NetWare, DHCP and DNS servers, as well as the gateway router. afq22s.
NetTool Setup Setup options enable you to modify the display and other parameters. From the main menu, select the NetTool (middle) icon to access the NetTool setup options. afq07s.bmp NetTool Settings Access Settings to: ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ Check the battery level . The battery level indicator displays while afq42s.bmp you navigate through Setup screens. Select feet or meters. Enable/disable Auto Off.
More NetTool Setup Options Other setup options include: Unwanted Protocols IP Setup Ping List Editor Language About NetTool afq59s.bmp ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ 20 Select Unwanted Protocols to specify protocols that NetTool will warn you are present on the network. This helps in situations like a networkwide migration away from certain protocols. If NetTool sees them, it reports them in the Problem Log. Choose IP Setup to configure your NetTool to ping (check the IP Setup section for details).
Network ⇒ Select the Network icon to view network activity. The icon displays on the left or right depending on where you connected the cable. Link Config: (described in the PC section). Health: (described in the PC section). Protocols: (described in PC section). Segment ID: If there are multiple Ethernet drops, knowing the Segment ID tells you which jack to use for correct configuration. afq11s.bmp afq21s.
NetTool Main Menu The main menu items are your starting point. View NetTool’s discovery screens to resolve those daily connectivity battles you face. AutoTest ⇒ Select AutoTest so NetTool can discover what is connected to it. Both RJ-45 connections are searched independently and NetTool finds Telco, Token Ring, or Ethernet service. It also provides cable information when used for cable testing. afq06s.
Problems Use NetTool. Solve problems. Get home on time. It’s a beautiful thing. ⇒ Select Problems to view the Problem Log. The Problem Log provides a concise list of all problems detected, from physical layer to application layer problems. afq18s.bmp afq60s.bmp You can think of problems fitting into two categories: Link Connectivity level and Network level. Read the online users manual for full descriptions of problems and troubleshooting tips.
Problem Display The problem display area consists of these elements from left to right: Problem Type, Problem Severity, Problem ID, and Problem Text. Problem Severity Problem ID Problem Type Problem Text afq30f.eps Problem type Naming Health (Util) Server Host Cable Connectivity Link Configuration Network Problem Severity Low Medium High Problem ID A problem ID is associated with each problem that helps you reference the problem.
Link Connectivity Problems • • • • • • Speed mismatch Pair mismatch Duplex mismatch Polarity reversed Level low Transmit pair open Network Problems Health • • Short Frames received (also jabber/FCS). Excessive utilization seen (also collisions). NetWare • • • Ethernet frame-type mismatches. No nearest server replies seen on network. No first responder replies seen on network. Unable to configure PC network number. TCP/IP • • • • • Device using incorrect IP address and/or subnet masks.
Name Resolution • • • • • • • • No DNS server found on network to resolve names. DNS resolution failed. WINS resolution failed. Incorrect WINS server xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx configured on PC. No WINS server found on network to resolve names. Hosts unable to find WINS servers on network or network bounded by routers. PC WINS incorrect. Incorrect DNS server configured. NetBIOS • • • • Incorrect Workgroup or Domain configured on PC. Unable to find Primary Domain Controller (PDC) for network. xxx.xxx.xxx.
Email • • • • • Unable to connect to mail server. Unable to connect to SMTP server. Unable to connect to POP2 server. Unable to connect to POP3 server. Unable to connect to IMAP server. Printer • • Unable to connect to IP printer server. Unable to connect to IP print spool server. Unwanted protocols (when enabled) • • • • NetBEUI detected. WINS detected. NetWare detected. PC involved in MB (master browser) elections.
Key Devices Check this out! ⇒ Select Key Devices to view all the servers, routers, and printers NetTool has found on the network. NetTool always attempts to display the highest level address possible for that device, be it a NetBIOS name, DNS name, IP address or Mac address. This helps you determine which services or servers exist on the network. afq14s.bmp afq13s.bmp Note Devices are detected based on their Service Application Protocol (SAP).
Toolkit The right tools when you need them… ⇒ Select Toolkit to access the Ping, Health, and Reporter functions. These tools provide critical support for troubleshooting problems and documenting your work. afq43s.bmp afq44s.bmp Note Trial uses of the Ping and Reporter features are currently provided on all new units. Contact Fluke Networks to find out how to purchase an upgrade if your unit does not have these options.
Ping Note The Ping option only works in single-ended mode. If you want to ping and are in inline mode you will see . Disconnect one of the RJ-45 cables from the NetTool and then rerun AutoTest. In order to use all of the functions of the Ping option, make sure you install the NetTool Toolkit software on your PC so NetTool can communicate with your PC via the serial connection. IP Setup ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ 30 Currently, by default “out-of-the-box,” NetTool uses DHCP to configure itself.
⇒ Selecting Manual configuration enables you to statically assign to your NetTool an IP address that complies with your network’s addressing scheme. afq48s.bmp This applies if your network does not use DHCP or if you just prefer to manually configure it. ⇒ Select the address you wish to configure (example to the right afq47s.bmp shows NetTool IP address Edit screen).
Pinging a Single Device From the main menu select Toolkit then Ping to access NetTool’s ping function. You can ping one IP address or a set (Ping Catalog) of addresses that you define using NetTool Toolkit. ⇒ ⇒ To ping a single device, select Add New Device. Enter the address and press Select. NetTool pings the device and adds it to a running list (up to 10) of recently pinged devices. The IP address pinged longest ago will drop off the list after the tenth address.
After defining and uploading the lists using NetTool Toolkit PC software, NetTool displays the catalogs using the names you gave them. ⇒ ⇒ Select Ping Catalog from the Toolkit menu. Select one of the catalogs by highlighting it then pressing Select. ⇒ The list of IP addresses displays with a status icon to the left. Ping results display when you highlight and select one of the IP addresses. To ping the list of IP addresses again highlight and select Restart.
Health Doctor, I have a pain in my network. ⇒ Select Health from the Toolkit menu to view the health of frames and to simultaneously check each side of the conversation for healthy frames in real time. afq10s.bmp afq08s.bmp ⇒ Use the navigational buttons and then press Select to change the meters to show utilization broadcast traffic, collision levels and errors coming from either device to which NetTool is connected.
Reporter Get the facts... Note To take full advantage of the Reporter function, the PC you use must be enabled to communicate properly with NetTool. Make sure you install and start the NetTool Blaster and NetTool Toolkit PC software that came with your purchase. The reporting feature of NetTool enables you to capture device (PC’s, printers, etc) and network configuration data as needed for documenting your work. You can save up to 10 reports on NetTool and later transfer them to a PC using NetTool ToolKit.
Working with NetTool Reports NetTool’s Reporter option can save the current state of what NetTool detects on the PC (or other device) and the network and you can give that collected data a unique name. ⇒ Connect NetTool to the device(s) you are checking and select AutoTest. ⇒ Select Toolkit from the main menu. ⇒ Highlight Reporter and press Select. ⇒ To generate a new NetTool report, highlight and select an “empty" report.
⇒ After you have entered a useful name for the report press Select and navigate to and select Save Report or Delete Report. ⇒ After you save reports (up to 10 can be stored on the NetTool), you can then use NetTool Toolkit to upload, view, or print the reports. NetTool Toolkit enables you to view saved reports or generate new “live” reports as long as your NetTool is properly connected to the PC. ⇒ From the Report list you can delete all reports in the list (Delete All Reports).
NetTool Updates, etc. Don’t miss out… Get updates to NetTool software when they are released. To check the version you have, select the NetTool icon and then About NetTool... ⇒ To find out if there is a new version avaialble, access www.flukenetworks.com and navigate to the software update page. Follow the instructions to see if a newer software download file is listed. ⇒ To update your NetTool, download the file from the website to your local PC. Use the supplied serial cable as shown.
TM NetTool Blaster What would we do without a little software in our lives? Updating NetTool is a simple process that requires you to run the update program that came on CD-ROM or from the web. ⇒ If you received the upgrade on CD-ROM, follow the instructions on the screen to install the NetTool Blaster! program. ⇒ If you downloaded the upgrade from the web, run the self-extracting upgrade program to install the newer version.
