When diagnosing connectivity problems at a site, the focus often turns to the last mileâwhere most issues tend to originate. However, while last mile problems like fiber cuts or bandwidth congestion may be more common, LAN (Local Area Network) or WiFi problems should never be overlooked as potential sources of disruption. Connectivity within the LAN or between WiFi devices and the wider network can cause significant downtime or user frustration if not addressed properly. A thorough check of the LAN or WiFi environment is essential to ensure a seamless experience, particularly when using SD-WAN solutions.
Step 1: Check LAN Connection to SD-WAN
Before diving into the details, the first step in troubleshooting is to ensure that the LAN is properly connected to the SD-WAN. If the LAN is not connected, devices on the network wonât have access to external resources, even if the last mile is functioning correctly. This connection can be quickly checked via the SD-WAN portal.
What to Do if the LAN Isnât Connected:
Verify Power Feeds: Check that all power feeds for networking equipment (routers, switches, access points) are intact. A simple power failure can often disrupt network connectivity, making it appear as if the issue is external when it is actually an internal LAN problem.
Ensure LAN Devices Are Powered: Double-check that all LAN devices (like switches, routers, and WiFi access points) are properly powered on. Itâs not uncommon for a device to be accidentally turned off or unplugged, resulting in a localized outage.
Confirm Cable Connections: If the issue persists, check all cable connections. An unplugged or loose cable between a switch and the SD-WAN edge device can easily cut off access to the external network.
Step 2: Automate LAN Monitoring with Uptime Kuma
To prevent manual checks every time thereâs a suspected issue, you can automate the monitoring of LAN devices. One highly effective tool for this is Uptime Kuma. Uptime Kuma is a free, open-source monitoring tool that tracks the status of LAN devices and can notify administrators when a device goes offline or becomes unresponsive.
Benefits of Uptime Kuma:
Real-time Monitoring: Uptime Kuma continuously checks the availability of devices on your LAN, ensuring that if any device becomes unresponsive, youâll be alerted right away.
Push Agent Integration: One of the standout features is its ability to integrate a push agent directly onto the SD-WAN node. This allows the SD-WAN device itself to monitor the status of canary LAN devicesâdevices that act as a health check for the local network. If a canary device stops responding, Uptime Kuma will immediately push a notification, giving you a head start on troubleshooting.
Customizable Alerts: You can customize alert thresholds to suit your specific needs, ensuring that you're notified only when thereâs a real issue, not just momentary blips.
Step 3: Double-Check WiFi Connectivity
If the LAN seems to be functioning but wireless devices are experiencing problems, it's crucial to check WiFi connectivity. WiFi networks are prone to interference, congestion, and coverage issues that can cause intermittent connectivity or slowdowns, especially in crowded environments or locations with a lot of physical obstructions.
Troubleshooting WiFi Issues:
Signal Strength: Use a tool to check WiFi signal strength and ensure that devices are within range of the access point. Weak signals can lead to dropped connections or slow speeds.
Interference: WiFi signals can be disrupted by other wireless devices or networks operating on the same channel. Use a WiFi analyzer tool to identify potential interference and switch to a less congested channel if needed.
Access Point Health: Check the health and status of your WiFi access points. If an access point is overloaded or malfunctioning, it can cause connectivity issues for all devices connected to it.
Ensuring Uptime with Fusionâs SD-WAN
By pairing Fusionâs SD-WAN solution with automated LAN monitoring tools like Uptime Kuma, you can significantly reduce downtime and improve overall network reliability. Fusionâs SD-WAN is highly effective at managing and optimizing external connectivity, but keeping an eye on the health of the internal LAN and WiFi network is just as crucial for maintaining seamless operations.
Why Monitoring Matters:
Proactive Identification: Automated monitoring helps you identify problems before users even notice them. By catching issues early, you can prevent small disruptions from escalating into major outages.
Comprehensive Troubleshooting: With tools like Uptime Kuma, you can monitor every layer of the networkâfrom the SD-WAN edge device to the individual LAN or WiFi devices that provide access to users. This allows for a more comprehensive troubleshooting process, where nothing is left unchecked.
Minimized Downtime: By ensuring all LAN devices are healthy and connected, you can minimize downtime, particularly in mission-critical environments where every minute of lost connectivity counts.
Wrap | Monitoring Both the WAN & LAN is Key
While external connectivity issues are common, LAN and WiFi problems should never be ignored. A solid network troubleshooting strategy involves checking both the last mile and the local network to ensure seamless performance. By leveraging tools like Uptime Kuma for LAN monitoring, you can automate the detection of internal network problems and keep your business running smoothly.
Fusionâs SD-WAN provides the backbone for external connectivity, but ensuring local network reliability through proactive monitoring is the key to a truly resilient infrastructure.
Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Fusion Broadband South Africa - the leading specialized SD-WAN Last Mile provider in South Africa. Learn more about the best SD-WAN in the world: đContact Fusionâď¸
