Before you can connect, you must work with your network administrator. By Bruce Fuller, Fluke, Everett, WA See our Telecom Dictionary for more information about terms mentioned in this article.
Network administrators are the guardians of the corporate network.
They're responsible for smooth, reliable, fast, and secure data flow, and they know the network's configuration, equipment, and bandwidth capability. But they may know little about taking measurements. Before you can place measurement instruments on your corporate network, you need to exchange information with your network administrator. Take the first step by explaining your needs and how your equipment operates to your network administrator. Depending on your network type, network components, and network software, you may walk away with IP addresses, subnet masks, a default gateway address, and socket-port information to enter into your instruments.