Efficient troubleshooting requires setting thresholds that reflect different
warning levels.
Arriving at the
appropriate thresholds for each of the network policies requires a baseline
analysis.
Initially, most network administrators consult the network
device documentation or vendor technical support for a set of recommended or
default thresholds. Generally, the answer received is "It depends – the
thresholds vary according to individual networks."
Unfortunately,
the nature of distributed networking forces the process of identifying or
predicting a fault to be somewhat of an art form. Vendors who develop
performance and fault tools may provide a set of defaults. Generally these
default settings must be fine tuned to meet the needs of individual networks.
The baseline analysis provides data to study performance and fault
patterns over a given period of time. From this data, the appropriate
thresholds can be determined, as it applies to network policies.