LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Network Troubleshooting Essentials

One of the things that the creators of the LPI Exams knew was that you need to take a systematic approach to troubleshooting. When faced with a networking problem, inexperienced administrators often begin clicking the mouse button and pecking away at the keyboard without first clearly identifying the problem.

You need a methodology before you can begin altering files and running commands. The LPI Exam will not necessarily ask you what that method should be. However, the questions that deal with troubleshooting will often be phrased in a way that suggests a problem exists for some mysterious reason.

If you take the time to think about the situation being presented, you will find that the problem is not that mysterious and that you can make an educated guess at the correct answer. Once you are equipped with the proper perspective, you can then focus on the commands to use and the files to edit. Table 41-1 discusses essential troubleshooting steps to take when approaching a problem.

Table 41-1. Essential network troubleshooting steps

Troubleshooting step	Description
Gather all of the facts.	Carefully observe the problem. Many times, you will be presented with different ways to survey the issue. Read log files, analyze screen output, and use applications such strace and ltrace to gain a more informed perspective.
Listen to your first impressions.	If you have experience with system administration, your intuition can be useful.
Remain flexible.