Sunday Funday: A Real-World Network Troubleshooting Adventure

It was my way of giving back.

About ten days ago, DFW experienced some powerful storms that would have made Thor jealous. Lightning, thunder, the whole nine yards. And naturally, it knocked out internet at my country property—the one place where I actually need connectivity for camera feeds and my MPPT solar charge controller monitoring system.

Rather than wait several days for the ISP to mosey on out there (you know how that goes), I figured this was the perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of it myself. Besides, nothing wrong with having a nice, peaceful time in the country. 😊

But here's where it gets interesting: I brought along my handyman who'd been curious about "all this network stuff." What started as a repair mission turned into an impromptu field training session on proper network troubleshooting methodology.

The Million-Dollar Question: How Do YOU Troubleshoot?

While going through the basics with my impromptu student, it got me thinking: How many people actually use a structured troubleshooting methodology? 🔧

Or do you prefer the "shotgun approach"? (Ask me if you haven't heard this term—it's when you try everything at once and hope something sticks.)

Maybe you're more of a cowboy troubleshooter? 🤠 Riding in, guns blazing, fixing things by intuition?

Here's the truth: Having a systematic problem-solving approach is crucial—not just in IT, but in life. And if you're studying for certifications like CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, JNCIA, NSE7, PCNSE, or CompTIA Network+, you NEED this skill. Every single one of these certs tests troubleshooting.

Although I've had to troubleshoot much more complex issues during my Cisco TAC days (think multinational network meltdowns), it's always good to revisit the fundamentals. What we call "back to basics." Because sometimes, the basics are all you need.

Step 1: Problem Description (Or, "What Exactly Is Broken?")

"A problem well-stated is half-solved" – Charles Kettering

The Problem: No internet connectivity from Main House or Barn.

That's it. That's all we knew sitting 40 miles away.

Data Points:

1. Severe storms had rolled through the area
2. Potential flooding (because Texas weather doesn't do anything halfway)

Not much to go on, but enough to start forming hypotheses.

Step 2: Establishing Probable Cause (The Detective Work Begins)

This is where experience pays off. With storms involved, the potential culprits multiply like rabbits:

• Power outages
• Flooding damage
• ISP issues
• Microwave antenna misalignment
• Wireless bridge failures
• Access point problems
• Or my personal favorite: "Someone did something they're not telling you about"

The Layered Approach

I explained to my handyman friend about using the OSI model—start at Layer 1 (Physical) and work your way up. It's like building a house: you can't worry about the paint color if the foundation is cracked.

Breaking Down the Problem

Our network had three distinct segments:

• Leg 1: ISP microwave antenna at the lake
• Leg 2: Main house connection
• Leg 3: Barn connection

The logical approach? Start at the source (Leg 1) and work outward. If there's no internet at the lake, nothing downstream will work. Simple, but you'd be amazed how many people start troubleshooting at the wrong end.

Step 3: Planning for Battle (The Supply Run)

When you're driving 30-40 miles to troubleshoot, you better bring everything but the kitchen sink. Here's what made it into my truck:

The Essentials:

1. RJ45 patch cables (because the one you need is always the one you forgot)
2. 12V Lithium battery (portable power, baby!)
3. DC to AC adapter
4. POE adapter
5. Spare WiFi bridge
6. Spare AP
7. Voltmeter
8. Complete toolbox

Pro tip: It's better to look like you're moving houses than to drive 80 miles round-trip for one cable.

Step 4: Boots on the Ground (Where Theory Meets Reality)

In my TAC days, I only went onsite twice. There's something different about seeing the actual gear—like the difference between looking at a map and walking the terrain.

Leg 1: The Lake (Where It All Begins)

The Checklist:

• ✅ Battery power: Good
• ✅ POE adapter: Working
• ❌ Direct laptop connection to microwave: No internet

Then I saw it. The smoking gun.

The microwave antenna had shifted during the storm—off by at least 30 degrees. Instead of pointing across the lake to the tower, it was having a deep conversation with some trees. No line of sight = no internet. Physics doesn't care about your deadlines.

Rather than wait days for the ISP, we realigned the antenna ourselves. A few adjustments and some speed tests later: 25 Mbps. We're back in business!

Leg 2: The Main House (Plot Twist Incoming)

While still at the lake, we noticed the wireless bridge wasn't paired with its partner at the main house.

Here's a pro move: When bridges won't talk over 300 feet, bring them together. Test them back-to-back, inches apart. If they won't pair up close, they sure won't work at distance.

After some configuration magic and proper pairing, we headed to the main house. The bridge worked, but WiFi was garbage. And then we found it—the kind of thing that makes you laugh and cry simultaneously:

Someone had looped an Ethernet cable from the AP back to itself.

A perfect broadcast storm in a box. Removed the loop, and suddenly everything was stable. The cameras came online, viewable over cellular. Victory!

Leg 3: The Barn (The Victory Lap)

Same process, different building. Everything checked out. ✅

By this point, my handyman friend was spotting issues before I pointed them out. Teaching success!

The After-Action Report

After three hours of troubleshooting, teaching, and more than a few "learning moments," we had full connectivity restored. Time for the real victory celebration: 🍝🍤🍸🍹

But more importantly, I'd passed on something valuable—a structured approach to problem-solving that works whether you're fixing networks or anything else in life.

The Methodology That Never Fails

Here's what I taught that day, distilled:

1. Define the problem clearly - Vague problems get vague solutions
2. Gather your data - What changed? When did it last work?
3. Form hypotheses - Based on evidence, not hunches
4. Test systematically - One variable at a time
5. Document everything - Your future self will thank you
6. Verify the fix - Did you solve the problem or just the symptom?

Your Turn: Let's Talk Shop

What's your troubleshooting approach? Are you methodical or more intuitive?

What's the most complex problem you've had to solve?

Drop a comment below—I'd love to hear your war stories. And if there's enough interest, I'll share more advanced troubleshooting techniques from my TAC days. The kind of stuff that saves your bacon when the CEO is breathing down your neck at 3 AM.

The Bigger Picture

I'm grateful for my time at Cisco TAC, where I learned these invaluable skills. But I'm even more grateful for opportunities like this—chances to pass on knowledge and help others level up.

Because at the end of the day, that's what it's all about. Not just fixing problems, but teaching others to fish... or in this case, to troubleshoot.

Stay curious, stay methodical, and remember: Every expert was once a beginner who refused to give up.

P.S. - The handyman? He's now handling basic network issues for his other clients. Sometimes the best teaching happens in the field, not the classroom.