Networking / Beginners

Remembering the first rule of troubleshooting

The first rule of troubleshooting is to keep an open mind. Suspecting that a problem can be attributed to a particular source is fine, but don't be so sure you're right that you lose perspective. All the circuit states I describe in the following sections do suggest a likely source for the problem you're experiencing with your dedicated circuit. Most of the time, for example, a channel in RMB (remote made busy) state is having hardware troubles. However, there is that tiny chance that a glitch within your carrier is causing it to send the channel a message, or triggering the channel to sit in RMB. Alternative scenarios are always possible, not just for channels in an RMB state, but for all the circuit states listed in this tutorial. Use the information to guide your troubleshooting, but don't be so hung up on a single right answer that you dis-count the possibility that something else is causing the issue.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Troubleshooting Your Dedicated Circuits
  2. Identifying the Level of Your Problem
  3. Identifying circuit variables in circuits that are DS-3 or larger
  4. Identifying DS-1-level circuit variables
  5. Identifying DS-0 or individual channel issues
  6. Categorizing the Nature of Your Problem
  7. Understanding dedicated call quality issues
  8. Understanding circuit failure issues
  9. Opening a Trouble Ticket for Your Dedicated Circuit
  10. Letting your channels be your guide
  11. Remembering the first rule of troubleshooting
  12. Remote made busy: RMB
  13. Installation made busy: IMB
  14. Avoiding permanent IMB status
  15. Managing Your Dedicated Trouble Ticket
  16. Getting the Basics of Dedicated Outbound Troubleshooting
  17. Step 1: Rebooting your hardware
  18. Understanding your trouble ticket options
  19. Step 2: Intrusively testing: Looping the CSU
  20. If looping the CSU fails
  21. Using a T-1 test set
  22. Step 3: Looping the NIU
  23. Getting the scoop on loops
  24. Step 4: Looping to your T-1 jack
  25. If you can't loop the T-1 jack
  26. Step 5: Looping the CFA point
  27. Following a Dedicated Troubleshooting Shortcut
  28. Validating the Circuit You Are Testing
  29. The Basics of Dedicated Toll-Free Troubleshooting
  30. Step 1: Identifying a provisioning issue
  31. Step 2: Redialing your dedicated toll-free number
  32. Step 3: Validating your dedicated RespOrg
  33. Step 4: Validating the DNIS configuration
  34. Step 5: Head-to-head dedicated toll-free testing