ABSTRACT
Troubleshooting skill is something all networkers need. Good troubleshooting is closer to an art than a science, though. Good practice of troubleshooting involves thorough network documentation, sound knowledge of networking concepts, product knowledge, logic, and intuition. The spares inventory is one of the most critical lists an administrator will have. This list will tell us what options are available when something breaks. Some people wonder if they need a spare inventory if they have a maintenance contract. The answer depends on what kind of contract it is, and how patient project managers users are. Many maintenance contracts specify the items covered, response time, and feeds. A few go into more detail and require the maintenance company to keep a supply of certain components in their stock. The reverse is also true. Some contracts specify that the customer must keep the stock.
