Product FAQ´s LanExpert

The Frequently Ask Questions are organized into their respective sections as they pertain to the LanExpert.

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Question
My LanExpert does not connect to my network. What do I do?

Answer
In factory default the LanExpert uses DHCP to retrieve its IP information. If your network is not DHCP, select Profile 2 and input an IP, subnet and gateway address to connect to your network. If the problem still occurs then look at the current Port configuration under setup.

Question
Why don?t I see the partner?s capabilities?

Answer
If a Fixed speed is selected in the Setup under Ports then the LanExpert connects at that specific speed only and does not check the far ends capability. Select Auto under SPEED to see Partners Capabilities.

Question
Why does it say MDI-X Not Tested?

Answer
Psiber has its own Link As option called Auto+Detect. If this options is selected MDI-X will be filled in with Auto MDI-X (LAN) or MDI-X (MIC). Auto+Detect allows for more information about the link to be displayed. Some SOHO gigabit switches might not work with this configuration.

Question
Under Signals, what does Partner mean next to Master?

Answer
1000BASE-T requires that auto-negotiation establish a Master-Slave relationship between the two devices. Typically, a multi-port device (switch) will assume the role of Master and single-port devices (servers, end stations, etc.) will be the slave unit. The 1000BASE-T protocol has a means of arbitrating which device will assume a given role (master/slave). The purpose of this Master/Slave relationship is to determine which device will provide the clock for the link.

Question
Where do I see the IP information once I am linked?

Answer
Select the down arrow on the scroll bar to view IP information including Port MAC, IP, Subnet, Gateway, DHCP, WINS, DNS1, DNS2, DNS3 addresses and Lease time (if using DHCP).

Question
Why do I only see Unassigned next to all the IP information?

Answer Make sure the LanExpert is linked to the network and that your DHCP Server is working properly. If using static IP, then make sure the IP information is entered into the Ports profile under setup.

Question
What type of packets does the traffic generator produce?
Answer - The LanExpert uses UDP packets.

Question
Why don?t I see more information about the traffic under Traffic Generate?
Answer
Sync the IP address to another LanExpert or the other port of the current LanExpert on the network to see Received packets, lost packets, seq error, duplicate packets and roundtrip time.

Question
Why are the Port LEDs on top of the unit still flashing red?

Answer
If both are flashing, the LanExpert is trying to connect to the network. If one LED stops flashing and is a solid color then that Port is connected.

Question
Why does one of the LED turn a solid color but the other LED is still flashing?

Answer
See what configuration you are trying to connect with under Setup in PORTS. Inline and Independent mode needs both network cables connected to the LanExpert. The unit will not start collecting data until both of the ports have established a connection to the network.

Question
What does Capture and Detectors mean on the SAVE screen? It seems that some tests on Analyze Network can be saved and some are not.

Answer
SAVE - Capture is used to store the frames in the Frame Capture mode. Up to 1000 frames in each of 10 memory storage locations can be stored. Once stored the frames must be downloaded to the computer and viewed in the Wireshark protocol analysis software (this is a free software package go to www.wireshark.org to download the latest version).

SAVE - Detectors is used to store all the information shown in the Link, Problems, Vitals, Protocols, Top Talkers, Devices, Ping/Trace, Email and VoIP. The LanExpert starts a database of information as soon as the unit Links with the network. Some information is collected without running a specific test. Running other tests adds more information to the database. This data is saved until the Link is broken and then a new database is started. Saving "Detectors" will save all the information in the database and when recalled any of the listed tests will show the information in the database at the time it was stored. So it is not limited to just a single test result. Any saved tests can be seen from the Screen Capture in the LanExpert Console Application.

Question
If I would want to capture all frames from a local network, how and where should I put the tester?

Answer
This is very dependent on the design of the network but typically the tester would be placed on the backbone between the server and the switch this is the best location. Obviously if there are many servers, routers and switches, there is not one location that will see all of the traffic. A good location for looking at traffic going to and from the network would be on the network side of the main firewall appliance.

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