Realizing the importance of baselining
Every network is like a snowflake in that no two are alike. Each network has its own signature that includes characteristics such as utilization, network protocols, and latency issues.
A baseline is a packet capture on a subnetwork that is obtained using Wireshark or tshark during normal working conditions. If the network is experiencing problems, the network administrator can then use the baseline to identify any changes. Once you learn what normal network behavior is, you can better identify abnormal network behavior.
In addition to troubleshooting, a network baseline can be used for optimizing, forecasting, planning, and tuning a network. The baseline process goes through several stages – plan, capture, analyze, and save.
We will begin with planning, which provides steps for the best way to go through the process.
Planning the baseline
To plan the baseline, create a network map and list all of the subnetworks and Virtual...
