<div dir="ltr">After that bit of extra info, definitely DO install a UPS on all of your network equipment, even if you don't own it (ie. the ISP's modem). FWIW, I'd suggest plugging a surge suppressing power strip into the wall outlet, plug your UPS into the surge suppressor and then your equipment into the UPS. (It's cheaper to replace the surge suppressor than a good UPS in the unlikely event of a lighting strike.) (I've had it happen several times over the years at various of my clients.)<div><br></div><div>Since you have a VPN, you can perhaps do a simple ICMP ping test to find out where the outage occurs. Pick a branch library and ping each device along the path from a computer at the main branch to an endpoint at the branch library (or vice versa). If there are five network devices in the path between your test computer and your endpoint and you stop getting ping responses at the fourth device along the path, then you'll have a good idea of where to start looking.<br><div><div><br></div><div>If you route all network traffic through the VPN, then definitely check your VPN logs, too. It may not be a physical problem, especially since it's happening at all of your branches. It may simply be a configuration issue.</div></div></div><div><br></div><div>Chad</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature">______________________________<br><b>Chad Neeper</b><br><font size="1">Senior Systems Engineer</font><br><br><b>Level 9 Networks</b><br><font size="1">740-548-8070 (voice)<br>866-214-6607 (fax)</font><br><br><font size="1"><i>Full LAN/WAN consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools</i></font><br></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jan 22, 2015 at 3:29 PM, Amy Deuble <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:adeuble@marion.lib.oh.us" target="_blank">adeuble@marion.lib.oh.us</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Thank you for all your suggestions! I think we will take the approach of one building at a time since the issues, although they seem similar, are probably caused by different
things.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The main problem is opening after several days closed. Computers will not connect to the network until power is cycled on our router and the supplier’s modem and sometimes
our PCs and printers. Clicking your heels three times may also be in order. It just depends. Then, even if things work fine at first, they may “cut out” after an hour or two and may or may not reconnect.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I think our first step will be to install a UPS at each location. Right now things are plugged in to power strips (yikes! I know). All the buildings are older so cabling may
be a bit dated, so that will probably be our next step to check. I also want to check and replace any older switches. We have things coming to the main library through a VPN so that is something else to check with our IT consultants.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I may be back for more ideas in the near future. I really appreciate your help and support. Thank you!<u></u><u></u></span></p><span class="">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Amy Deuble<u></u><u></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Technical Services Manager<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marion Public Library<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">445 E Church St<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marion OH 43302<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="tel:740-383-9722" value="+17403839722" target="_blank">740-383-9722</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.marionlibrary.org/" target="_blank">www.marionlibrary.org</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.marionlibrary.org/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="128" height="58" src="cid:image001.png@01D03655.865C9980" alt="LOGO blue small400"></span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mplohio" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="34" height="34" src="cid:image002.png@01D03655.865C9980" alt="facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarionPublicLib" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="34" height="34" src="cid:image003.png@01D03655.865C9980" alt="twitter"></span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</span><div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Amy Deuble
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 16, 2015 8:25 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:oplintech@lists.oplin.org" target="_blank">oplintech@lists.oplin.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Internet solutions for small branches<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div><div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have three small branches open two days a week, Monday and Thursday, for a total of 6 hours a week. Each branch has 3 computers, one staff and two public, and a networked printer/copier. Two of the branches are on Time Warner and the
other is on CenturyLink. All of the branches are located in small villages in mainly rural locations.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are having continual problems connecting to the Internet at all our branch locations. It seems we are constantly resetting routers, modems and/or PCs in different combinations trying to get things working. Both Time Warner and CenturyLink
has been called numerous times with mixed results.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make things more reliable? Would you shut down equipment, including routers and modems, when we are closed? Is there a business wireless solution that might work (although I wonder about cell phone
service in some of these locations)? Any other options anyone can think of?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Amy Deuble<u></u><u></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Technical Services Manager<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marion Public Library<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">445 E Church St<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marion OH 43302<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="tel:740-383-9722" value="+17403839722" target="_blank">740-383-9722</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.marionlibrary.org/" target="_blank">www.marionlibrary.org</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.marionlibrary.org/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="128" height="58" src="cid:image001.png@01D03655.865C9980" alt="LOGO blue small400"></span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mplohio" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="34" height="34" src="cid:image002.png@01D03655.865C9980" alt="facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarionPublicLib" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="34" height="34" src="cid:image003.png@01D03655.865C9980" alt="twitter"></span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div></div></div>
</div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
OPLINTECH mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:OPLINTECH@lists.oplin.org">OPLINTECH@lists.oplin.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech" target="_blank">http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech</a><br>
<br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>