Troubleshooting data center networks: Fresh tools and perspectives

Dinesh Dutt explores network troubleshooting and explains how to avoid common network problems ranging from misconfigured cabling to misbehaving protocols, how a modern networking tool chest can help simplify network configurations, and how automation is improving troubleshooting turnaround times to minimize downtime.

Troubleshooting networks can be a difficult, frustrating experience, one that, for the most part, has received little attention from vendors. Network troubleshooting can sometimes be like peeling an onion, with each layer revealing more problems until the core issue can be found. Unfortunately, modern network operators are mostly still hobbled by those ancient warhorses ping and traceroute for troubleshooting. Dinesh Dutt explores network troubleshooting and explains how to avoid common network problems ranging from misconfigured cabling to misbehaving protocols, how a modern networking tool chest can help simplify network configurations, and how automation is improving troubleshooting turnaround times to minimize downtime. Dinesh covers everything from how to choose the right network architecture and ensuring the physical network is well designed to new tools that not only help troubleshoot deeper network problems but also provide a platform for automating troubleshooting. You’ll leave ready to troubleshoot any data center networking challenges that come your way.