Troubleshooting Network Issues
Troubleshooting network issues can be difficult because many times the problem is not local to your computer. You can break down network issues into three categories: those local to the computer, those with the network itself, and those with a network server being used.

Local Issues
Check to make sure the settings in Network preferences are set correctly. The Network Status pane provides an overview of the enabled and active port configurations, allowing you to quickly determine which one is having problems.
Network Issues
You should be familiar with the physical topology of your network. Any computer, cable, switch, or router can be a point of failure. When troubleshooting a network, try to isolate the problem by eliminating points of failure. If a computer can reach other computers through switches and hubs, that connection indicates that the physical network is functioning properly. If not, try to work backwards and see if you can reach computers on the same subnet. If not, check your Ethernet cable, and then your Ethernet card to make sure they're functioning properly.
Server Issues
If you have determined that the problem is not local to the computer nor caused by the network, the problem is probably with the server that the user is attempting to use. The server might not be configured correctly or might be down completely.Through good troubleshooting techniques, you should be able to isolate the cause of the problem. If it is with the network or the server, you might not be able to fix the network or server problem, but you should eliminate local factors before escalating.
Using Network Diagnostics
New in Mac OS X 10.4 is the Network Diagnostics utility that guides you through troubleshooting common networking issues. Some networking applications, such as Safari and Mail, will automatically open Network Diagnostics when they encounter a networking issue. You can open it manually by clicking the "Assist me" button at the bottom of Network preferences, then clicking Diagnostics. You can also open Network Diagnostics in the Finder (/System/Library/CoreServices).


Monitoring Network Status
The state of network connections is not static. As connections become active, such as when a PowerBook with AirPort moves within range of a base station, or inactive, such as when an Ethernet cable is unplugged, Mac OS X reconfigures and reprioritizes the network settings to reflect the changes.You can get a quick overview of the network connection status of your computer by opening Network preferences, which defaults to the Network Status pane. Network Status displays a list of all the currently available port configurations if they are enabled (such as Ethernet, PPTP, VPN, and AirPort). Colored indicators show the activity status of each available port configuration:
- Green
The port configuration is active and has been assigned an IP address, either manually or by a DHCP server. - Yellow
The port configuration is active but may not be able to connect to the Internet. - Red
The port configuration is not active.
In addition to colors, the Network Status pane displays a message next to each configuration in the list describing the port configuration's status.


Using the Network Status Pane to Monitor Connectivity
To make the most of this lesson, you should have access to a Mac OS X 10.4 computer on a network. Ideally, the network provides Internet access, not just local file and printer sharing services. The exercises in this lesson explain how to set up such a computer, but it's not imperative that you actually do so. You should be able to follow along by reading the step-by-step instructions and examining the screen shots.The Network Status pane in Network preferences provides a quick overview of the status of each of the enabled network interfaces in order of priority.