!!Network trouble spots and recurring problem areas
!The Internet is Down
If the "internet is down" or the "server is down" remember that it may actually be down.  Like anything else in computing, there are three things that could be wrong, [hardware|?page=hardware_issues], [software|?page=software_issues] or both, you should get a feeling for which it is pretty quick. But if you can't, be sure and try a little of each.  
This step by step guide should help:
#Check yourself, is your "internet down"?
#Check the person's neighbors, are their "internets down"?
#Check the person's cable, is the NIC blinking (this would be number one if it didn't require you to get dirty)
#Check the computer, run IE, disable the firewall and run IE
#try some pings, ping www.google.com, ping 144.92.235.1 (gateway), ping localhost
#Reboot the computer (with them around to put in the password!)
#open up a shell and run:
##ipconfig /release
##ipconfig /renew (wait a second and check IE)
##ipconfig /flushdns
##ipconfig /registerdns 
##netsh winsock reset all  (needs reboot)
#Uninstall the network card drivers and let Windows reinstall them. 
#Try a different network jack
#Try a different NIC
#Check for viruses (netlogon virus (2007) caused computers to not have network access)
#Try running a Knoppix CD
#Admit defeat and reinstall Windows...
!DHCP 
The DHCP server's name is Dwayne.  It runs on a special port in the server room which Doit has allowed to broadcast DHCP packets.  If someone else on the network tried to launch a DHCP server, it would be blocked from the network.  Dwayne is a Pentium II running Ubuntu 6.06, give it a break!  
The DHCP server has a list of hosts which is automatically assigns addresses to by mac address, as well as a protected list of hosts which are used as static IP's for servers, printers and special individuals.
!DNS
If a computer has a static DHCP address, it will need to have one of these (or both of these) DNS numbers:
rdns1.doit.wisc.edu and rdns2.doit.wisc.edu [128.104.254.254 and 144.92.254.254]. 
Most computers have 144.92.9.22, this is shut down as of Fall 2007.