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Basic Thick and Thin Repeater ProblemsNo data traffic can pass from one side of the repeater to the other. The procedures on this page are generic with regard to any particular
repeater manufacturer. For some of the troubleshooting steps mentioned here,
you also should refer to the repeater manufacturer's documentation for any
special predefined methods for checking repeater configuration and for repeater
testing.
If a repeater is the suspected problem , first attempt to try another port on the repeater if one is available. Next, troubleshoot the problem by testing the main cabling sections that normally pass through the repeater. Do this by disconnecting the attached cable segments and relooping the cabling sections at the repeater entry points with patch cables. With fiber-optic cabling this may be more difficult. Bypass the repeater and test the ma in cabling segments with a time domain reflectometer (or optical time domain reflectometer in the case of fiber). With the repeater disconnected, did testing the cable produce any cable faults?  Most likely a problem exists with the located segment cabling. If you
are not sure what portion of the segment area is bad,
troubleshoot
the Ethernet segment.
If you are sure which portion of the main cabling path section is bad, replace that section. Then reattach the repeater and retest the segment. If the failure symptom is gone, record the problem in the network maintenance and service log. If the problem still exists after retesting, go to the next step.  Attempt
to run any available repeater diagnostics.
Did running the diagnostics produce any errors that identify a repeater failure? Take the necessary action to resolve the problem and retest the repeater
for proper operation. If the failure symptom is gone, record the problem
in the network maintenance and service log. If the problem still exists
after retesting, go to the next step.
Thoroughly
check the repeater configuration.
Are any incorrect configuration parameters present in the repeater? Take the necessary action to resolve the problem and retest the repeater
for proper operation. If the failure symptom is gone, record the problem
in the network maintenance and service log. If the problem still exists
after retesting, go to the next step.
Check
the actual physical placement of the repeater with respect to its specification
for distance requirements within the Ethernet cabling system.
Sometimes the physical placement of a repeater can cause failure symptoms that point to a specific Ethernet segment cabling as the culprit. Consult the repeater manufacturer for instructions as to distance requirements. Is the repeater incorrectly placed as to its specifications? Take the necessary action to resolve the problem and retest the repeater
for proper operation. If the failure symptom is gone, record the problem
in the network maintenance and service log. If the problem still exists
after retesting, go to the next step.
A
problem still may exist with the repeater. To get more conclusive fault-isolation
data,
perform a protocol analysis
. If
after doing the protocol analysis you cannot conclusively locate the problem,
and you continue to find failure symptoms that point to a repeater problem,
refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
November 15, 1996 
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