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Troubleshooting network collisions

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11 replies

by mjackman

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In my office I have 3 laptops connected to our LAN via a 3-com ethernet hub. I notice whenever I read or write to the network, the collision light goes off constantly. How can I begin to troubleshoot and resolve these collisions?

11 replies

by calves

Check the laptops for the right set of protocols. If you only use TCP/IP there is no need for NetBeui or IPX/SPX. Everything else is up to the way you switch androuters are set.

Good luck!

by calves

Another tought, if the laptops have File & print sharing installed, highlight that options, select Master Browser and select disabled.

C. Alves

by dc1

Some collisions are expected. If you have a sniffer or any other type of packet monitoring software you can view the packets that are going across the network and find out what the problems are.

by Member 21361443

I would also check your speed and duplex settings. Especially duplex. If you have full-duplex running, all collision detection is turned off on those NICs. Run your NICs at half-duplex and see if the collisions have been reduced.

Oh, and by the way, most hubs don't support full-duplex operation anyway. You would really need a switch in order to get your full-duplex running.

Hope this helps!
Brian Lusk
brianlusk@netzero.net

by nsa13

Jake,

A good portion of those collisions are because your running a hub as opposed to a switch. Take this example, your running a 4 port hub with 4 computers connected; A,B,C and D. If computer A talks to C, B and D also get those same packets. So, since all these packets are flowing through your hub there is bound to be a collision. Collissions are normal in any network. When collissions exceed 40% is when you have a serious problem.

If its 4 users you shouldn't be worried. If you are, goto a switch. GL

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