CCNP - Can you experts help me with a RL problem?

Author

Can you experts help me with a RL problem?

nordie

2002-05-22, 10:36 am

I'm just starting my CCNA studies, so I'm elevating my service request to you guys.

Question:

If a client is completely protected with surge protectors, can the NIC still get zapped in a lightning storm through its RJ45 connection, since that does not run through any protectors between the switch and the NIC?

I just had two NICS fail over the weekend on a couple of machines and the only cause I can think of is a storm that came through over the weekend.

Is there any good way to keep that from happening again, if, in fact, it can at all.

Thanks in advance.

nordie

2002-05-22, 1:52 pm

Please?

The Reamer

2002-05-22, 3:49 pm

I have never seen this happen, but I have seen surge protectors for NICS. So with that in mind, I guess anything could happen.

Reamer

subnet__zero

2002-05-22, 4:15 pm

When you say "surge protectors", are you meaning the $15-$20 items that you buy at your local computer store? If so, then my answer would be a definite YES that it could happen. If you mean an enterprise UPS, then I'd give a qualified NO. Qualified, because with electronics, anything is possible. With an enterprise UPS, the good ones regenerate 100% of the output power and isolate/protect your devices from all utility power problems. That would include spikes or drops in voltage due to electical storms. If you are talking about a UPS and you suspect it failed, talk to the vendor, 'cause you have a problem. If it's a $15 brand, your client needs to get real.

If this is just your home lab, just to be safe, unplug everything when you know a storm's approaching. That's the safest way for you, without spending $

HTH

nordie

2002-05-22, 4:35 pm

All the individual clients are on APC SurgeMaster Pro's and the server(s) and routers and switches are on APC 450 UPS.

But, that doesn't address the possibility of a surge originating in the cabling itself, does it? No, of course not.

This isn't the hugest deal, I guess, but for a small network I really thought I had their electical protection up to snuff. Just surprised they were hit, I guess.

Thanks for the input, gang.

mcoates

2002-05-22, 5:09 pm

Guys

Interesting question and responses but not appropriate material for a CCNP forum.

You should be using Usenet newsgroups.

nordie

2002-05-22, 5:37 pm

Other forums on this site (CCNA, Net+, A+) that I have visited were less critical of the subject matter, focusing more on helpful information, provided it wasn't completely out in left field or offensive.

Guess I got the wrong impression.

I just wanted to ask someone with a higher cert than what I was working on. Seemed logical to escalate, but advice well-received. Will ask some place else.

Sorry for troubling you.

Thanks anyway to those of you who answered my question.

YoungOne

2002-05-22, 5:47 pm

Everyone I learned from says that during storms all equipment should be unplugged.

Surge protectors protect from power surges, not against lightning. I would say your PCs should have an independent power source during a storm.

wirechild

2002-05-22, 5:48 pm

I guess I should start out by saying where do you come up with CCNP=Electrical Engineer.

It would be impossible for it to originate in the cabling itself. If in deed it was a surge it had to come from some outside source. Mostly because nothing you have inside could probably cause a surge big enough to knock them out.

I have lost NIC's due to lightning striking the building.

By the way take way I say with a grain of salt I am only an CCNP still working on the Electrical Engineer part.

darthfeces

2002-05-22, 10:34 pm

i went to devry for electrial engineering.
my expertise stops there

any electrical conductor is subject or can be subjected to electrical interference or damage
sheilded or not.
what do you think crosstalk is ?

when you're talking about mother nature's most powerful source of electricity .....
anything could happen or could even be possible
depends on what actually happened ?
how close ???
a direct lightning strike could fry everything,
something or nothing.

emf is a common cause of "unknown" failure
of ic's

subnet__zero

2002-05-23, 9:51 am

To keep on beating this dog. . .

As darthfeces has pointed out, NEXT is definitely electrical interference. But if that's a point to validate that it's enough to knock out a NIC, and that is what started this thread, I don't believe that is correct. When your devices are protected by an enterprise UPS, that's it, it's supposed to stop there, direct hit included. There's some reasons why it wouldn't (like not being configured correctly) but if a spike gets through and damages equipment, you have reason to approach the UPS vendor with your situation. Quality companies, that I consult for, (pharmaceutical companies in NJ area) cannot afford to let their equipment "fry" and therefore employ enterprise UPS systems or building UPS systems. In Nordie's case, using only APC surgemasters, I'd say Darthfeces was correct in saying that "a direct lightning strike could fry everything,
something or nothing." Not much you can do in that case.

Also, it's my opinion, that we shouldn't be elitist and push honest questions off this forum. True, this question may not be best for this forum, but I thought it was honest and deserving of an answer. I have the CCNP (among others) and consult doing network support and run into these type questions from the desktop people sometimes. So, what's the harm? Try to help everyone, right? As always, this is only MY OPINION with which others will/may take exception to.

HTH

darthfeces

2002-05-23, 10:33 am

this just in

apc has just announced !

direct lightning strike tests !

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