Making Things Work Better, One bit At A Time

Customized On-site Network, Tools Training & Troubleshooting

 

Networking

Tools/Gadgets

Tips and Tricks

MRTG

         I've received many emails on how to get up and running quickly with MRTG, so here's my tips.

  1. Install ActiveState Perl (http://www.activestate.com)

  2. Download and Install MRTG (http://www.mrtg.org)

  3. If you don't have one, create working directory for HTML files c:\mrtg\working

  4. Go to c:\mrtg\bin directory

  5. Run perl cfgmaker snmpreadstring@ipaddress –output=filename.cfg

  6. Open filename.cfg with notepad

  7. Add RunAsDaemon: Yes

  8. Remove # on Options

  9. Add WorkDir: C:\mrtg\working

  10. Type wperl mrtg filename.cfg to start MRTG

 

IPERF

  1. Simply download IPERF http://dast.nlanr.net/Projects/Iperf/
  2. Unzip into a folder on two pc's
  3. Go to one PC and type iperf -s at the command prompt.  This is a server
  4. Go to  the other PC and type iperf -c server_ipaddress

Other examples;

  • to run the iperf utility as a server service by typing
    iperf -s -D
  • to conduct an upload type
    iperf -c server_ipaddress
  • to conduct a separate upload and download type
    iperf -c server_ipaddress -r
  • to conduct a simultaneously upload and download type
    iperf -c server_ipaddress -p

Other Notes;

try creating a batch file that you can schedule at whatever interval to get an idea of throughput in relation ship to time;

sample dos batch file will accept an ip address filename for output.  Just make sure IPERf is in your path, or put the batch file in the iperf directory.

rem record ipaddress filename
rem ***
cls
echo off
Echo %date% %time% >> %2
Echo %date% %time%
Echo upload and download to %1
iperf -c %1 -r|find "sec" >> %2
echo ********* >> %2 

SNMP

Cabling

  • I use a Sharpie permanent marker and write the length of the cable on the side of RJ45 with a double line to indicate a straight-thru cable and an X to denote a  cross over cable.

MAC Address