Network performance testing....advice wanted

[Banzai_Joe]

Hi all,

for ages now our network has suffered from periodical lag-outs and terminal server disconnections.
We've had a fluke test done and their is plenty of noise etc on the cat6 cabling that has flooded our building.
Quite often we get specific users complain of extreme slowness and being disconnected from the server.
So, i want to run a cat5e cable directly from their pc to one of the switches, thus bypassing the floorbox, the cat6 that runs from the floorbox to the presentation panel, which in turn goes to the switch. So i'm only dealing with the nic in the pc, the newly made cat5e cable and the switch. Then i can work backwards to see where potential problems are.

Running a server 2003 domain with xp pro workstations.

What i'm looking for is some software that will perform network benchtests between 2 points., data reading / writing / packet transfer / all that stuff really. If it can detect and report on bad transfer or errors on the line then even better.

Any macusers may be familiar with Helios LanTest. I want something similar.

Any and all help really appreciated. I have to do this over the xmas holidays

 

[sidethink]

You could try some of these if you're after free or shareware:

http://labmice.techtarget.com/Utilities/networkmonitor.htm

I've used some of them and they can be helpful.

You mention in your OP that a Fluke test of your building cabling has revealed some issues - have you had these resolved?

Most reputable companies installing decent cable to decent standard will give a 20 year warranty (Molex, Krone etc).

 

[Banzai_Joe]

sidethink, thanks for the reply.
We had about 6 ports (one port in each work area) tested in all using the fluke, as a freebie. They haven't been resolved because knowing where to start and actioning it with users all around the place is a bugger to implement.
Thats why i want to take as much hardware out of the equation as possible before running a software test, ie, cat6 cabling, floor box, patch panel and modules etc.
We don't have a fluke tester in-house, so we need to do what we can before we pay good money for people to come in and basically do a lot of what we will be doing to narrow the problems down.
We have had a lot of internal dept. moves, so the underfloor cat6 has been pulled, stretched, kinked all over the place to reach the new homes for the floor boxes.
However if i get the same problems with just putting a cat5e cable from pc > switch, then i at least know that the problem is related to either the pc or the switch (or my newly made up cable).
So, i will try some of the software you linked to.

Thanks

 

[sidethink]

We have had a lot of internal dept. moves, so the underfloor cat6 has been pulled, stretched, kinked all over the place to reach the new homes for the floor boxes.

I would say that undoubtedly this is part of your problem - the major downside to Cat6 cable is that you can't be as rough with it as you can get away with Cat5. Kinks and strain are a big problem.

Oh and a little tip, just because you CAN lift your floorboxes and tiles to suit desks doesn't mean you should do it willy nilly. Its a recipe for exactly the type of issue you're talking about and I would recommend that anything other than the most basic work be done by the company that installed and warrantied the work. Doing it yourself just potentially invalidates a normally bullet proof warranty.

If you can get away with it (and obviously the cat is out of the bag) I wouldn't tell users that the floorboxes are moveable - it just encourages them to invent reasons to sit in bloody stupid locations.

Floating floors are a godsend and I hope to never again work in a substantial building that hasn't got one - but they should be a trick up your sleeve rather than a regularly used convenience.