Fluke Corporation

Forte Networks, Inc.

David G Fish

Charles H Whiteside

Mark Copley

Thomas S Wisdom, Jr

Chris L Odell

James Anthony Kahkoska

Gordon A Jensen

In a test instrument for testing LANs, a method for determining network health is provided. Network health is a composite indicator of the condition of the LAN that is based on a system of rules that take into account both percent utilization and percent collisions to provide for easier interpretation by a test instrument user. The test instrument is coupled to a LAN to receive the link pulse and establish communications. The test instrument receives data traffic from the LAN in the form of frames which are analyzed to produce network information which include the network parameters of percent utilization and percent collisions. Decisions about the network health based are reached by mapping a plurality of network parameters to a decision matrix that is constructed from expert knowledge in the field of local area networks. Messages corresponding to each decision may be displayed which contain network advice to provide guidance as to the nature and location of the problem and suggested steps to solve problems in the LAN.

Method and apparatus for determining network health as a function of

A token ring local area network (LAN) testing apparatus is provided. The apparatus monitors history or status of token ring stations. Such information is useful in isolating token ring faults that may occur during its operation. The apparatus includes current and past memory lists that contain status information for each token ring station. The current station memory list contains addresses of all token ring stations that are present during a current neighbor notification process. The last station memory list contains addresses of all token ring stations that were present in the token ring during the neighbor notification process that was previous to the current neighbor notification process. A neighbor notification process is a conventional part of the token ring media access control (MAC) protocol. Included with the addresses in these lists is a determined one of a number of state characters that is indicative of station status. The state character for each token ring station is determined using predetermined algorithms that are based on the presence/absence of stations in the token ring.

Token ring local area network testing apparatus providing station

A testing apparatus for token ring local area networks (LANs) which can insert into the token ring network without requiring a separate port on a media access unit (MAU). The testing apparatus of the present invention is connected between a regular network station and the MAU. The testing apparatus is insertable into the network through the MAU, and the regular network station is able to insert into the network through the testing apparatus. Once inserted, the regular network station and the testing apparatus act as separate stations in series on the LAN. Due to its central position in this configuration, the testing apparatus is able to test for possible faults that might be present in the network and/or in the station to which it is connected. In addition, since the testing apparatus does not require a separate port on the MAU, no active user on the network needs to be disconnected for any extended period of time.

Token ring local area network testing apparatus inserted in an active 'T' c

A token ring local area network (LAN) testing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes hardware and software for keeping track of information related to the origination of a beacon frame that occurs due to a fault in the token ring. When a fault occurs in the token ring, a beacon frame is generated and this frame is useful in reporting the network domain or location that initiated the beaconing condition. This information is useful to the network manager in isolating the token ring fault. In addition to the first or original beacon frame, further or phantom beacon frames can be generated. These phantom beacon frames include those generated by other stations on the token ring experiencing a signal loss due to steps taken by the originating station as a result of the fault. These phantom domains are usually not beneficial to the network manager in isolating the fault on the token ring. The testing apparatus includes a software state machine for use in distinguishing the first beacon frame from phantom beacon frames. A display unit is able to display information from the first beacon frame and avoids displaying information associated with phantom beacon frames.

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Monument, CO, United States of America

David G Fish