Network Baselining
Identifying thresholds

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.