Network Connectivity: A Guide for Wired & Wireless Networks

What is Network Connectivity?

Network connectivity enables devices to exchange information with each other. The devices use specialized hardware and software that send and receive data over a specific medium. The transmission medium can be physical, like copper or fiber, or non-physical, like open space. Physical connections are more convenient for fixed network devices. Wireless network connections for mobile devices.

In the context of enterprise networks we find two different types of protocols: Ethernet for wired networks, and Wi-Fi for wireless networks. These two network protocols are used for both Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and internet access. It’s important to understand the basics of these two protocols to properly troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Types of Network Connectivity

Wired Connectivity

The Ethernet protocol is a wired network connection that is widely used for LAN and WAN connections. The Ethernet standard, which was ratified by IEEE in 1983, defines the Network Interface Controllers (NIC), cables, and protocols that rule the transmission of data frames. The first version of the Ethernet standard supported speeds up to 10 Mbps. Nowadays, Ethernet connections can push up to 100 Gbps, an astonishing improvement from the early rates. Below is a summary of the major Ethernet versions:

Ethernet’s network wiring is typically established with copper or fiber cables that connect between two hosts. Hosts can be workstations, servers, routers, switches, access points, printers, and more.

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking standard based on IEEE 802.11, enabling devices to connect to the internet and local networks without physical cables. It operates on frequency bands like 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz, providing varying speeds and coverage. Wi-Fi is widely used in homes, businesses, and public spaces to support seamless communication, data transfer, and internet access across multiple devices, including smartphones, laptops, and IoT devices. Its convenience and scalability make it a key technology for modern network connectivity.

Wi-Fi has evolved significantly since its introduction, with each new standard improving speed, efficiency, and reliability. Below is a summary of the major Wi-Fi versions:

Importance of Network Connectivity

Network connectivity is a fundamental element of our daily lives that was the result and continued evolution of a series of discoveries and advancements in telecommunication technologies. In the last thirty years, progress in network connectivity and cloud computing made it possible to provide internet access to 5.5. Billions of humans. This figure, which is growing year over year, corresponds to 68% of the world population. Nowadays, the most important interactions between individuals happen across a network connection.

Common Network Connectivity Issues

Network connectivity issues can arise due to a wide range of factors, including hardware malfunctions within a single device, signal interference with other equipment, and configuration errors caused by network operators. These issues can lead to slow speeds, frequent disconnections, or complete loss of access. Below are some common network connectivity problems:

• Network Congestion. Too many devices using the network can slow down performance.
• Weak Wi-Fi Signals. Physical obstructions, distance from the router, or interference from other devices can degrade wireless connectivity.
• Interference – Other wireless devices, such as microwaves and Bluetooth gadgets, can disrupt Wi-Fi signals.
• Faulty Hardware – Defective routers, modems, network adapters, or cables can cause connectivity failures.
• Incorrect IP Configuration – Misconfigured network configuration settings can prevent devices from connecting to the internet.
• DNS Issues – Problems with the Domain Name System (DNS) or incorrect DNS settings can lead to difficulties accessing websites.
• Security Restrictions – Firewalls, VPN settings, or network security policies may block access to certain services or networks.

Identifying and addressing these issues promptly is essential for maintaining a stable and reliable network connection.

Troubleshooting Tips for Network Connectivity Issues

When network connectivity issues happen, it’s important to follow best practices that will help identify the root cause of the problem. This section is not meant to offer a deep dive on network troubleshooting, but rather a structured approach overarching network architecture and communication. When a network problem arises, the network administrator needs to consider key aspects of network design, network topologies, and network protocols to help diagnose and resolve problems efficiently.

Network design

A well-structured network design helps ensure reliability, scalability, and optimal performance. When troubleshooting, consider:

• Redundancy and Failover Mechanisms – Check for backup links, load balancing, and failover configurations to prevent single points of failure.
• IP Address Management (IPAM) – Ensure proper IP allocation to avoid conflicts and misconfigurations.
• Segmentation and VLANs – Verify VLAN configurations to ensure proper traffic isolation and security.
• Firewall and Security Policies – Review firewall rules, ACLs, and intrusion prevention settings to confirm they are not blocking legitimate traffic.

Network topologies

Understanding the physical and logical layout of a network helps identify potential failure points. Consider:

• Star Topology – Common in enterprise networks; check if a central switch or router is causing bottlenecks or outages.
• Mesh Topology – Ensures redundancy; verify link health and routing protocols to maintain seamless connectivity.
• Bus and Ring Topologies – Less common but may present single failure points; inspect cabling and termination points.
• Hybrid Topologies – Often used in complex networks; ensure each segment is properly connected and configured.

Network protocols

Network protocols define how data is transmitted, and misconfigurations can lead to connectivity problems. Key protocols to check include:

• TCP/IP – Ensure correct IP configuration, subnet masks, and default gateways. Use ping and traceroute to diagnose connectivity issues with remote hosts.
• DNS (Domain Name System) – Confirm DNS resolution is working by testing domain lookups with the nslookup or dig command.
• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) – Verify that devices are receiving proper IP addresses dynamically by the DHCP server.
• Routing Protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP) – Check for misconfigured routes, missing route advertisements, or convergence delays for internal routing protocols, such as OSPF and EIGRP, and external routing protocols, such as BGP.
• Network Time Protocol (NTP) – Ensure time synchronization across devices to prevent authentication and logging issues.

By systematically analyzing network design, topology, and protocols, IT teams can quickly isolate and resolve connectivity issues, ensuring smooth and efficient network operations.

The NetBeez Approach

NetBeez takes a proactive approach to detecting and troubleshooting network connectivity issues by leveraging distributed network monitoring agents. These agents, deployed at remote locations and user endpoints, continuously test network performance from the end-user’s perspective. By running real-time checks on key network components—such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DNS, and application-layer services—NetBeez provides granular insights into connectivity problems before they impact users. With automated alerts, historical performance data, and advanced troubleshooting tools, network engineers can quickly diagnose root causes, whether due to congestion, misconfigurations, or outages. This proactive visibility reduces mean time to resolution (MTTR) and ensures a seamless network experience for users.

Monitoring Network Connectivity with NetBeez

Request a 14-day Free Trial

Point your browser to https://netbeez.net/pricing#request-form and submit your request. Our free trials don’t require credit card information. Just use your full name and business email address to get started. The automation system sends a first confirmation email that the team received the request. The second email, with the dashboard activation link will be sent some time after, generally within the hour from the request. The reason why the activation link is not immediately sent, is because each request is reviewed before a dashboard is created. This avoids blocking spam accounts but also picking a unique dashboard URL for each request.

Follow the Onboarding Process

Once you have received the dashboard activation email, you will be asked to go to the dashboard URL and follow the onboarding process. First-time dashboard users will face a seven-step setup wizard when first accessing their instance. The setup wizard will help set up an administrator account, create targets, create network speed tests, and invite users to the dashboard. In the following step, the user is asked to create an administrator account.

One of the most important parts of the onboarding process is the target selection. In the following screens, the user selects the SaaS applications and other target templates to include in the list of monitoring tests. These will compose the basic set of network and application performance monitoring tests performed by the agents.

NetBeez also offers the ability to run scheduled network speed tests at specific intervals.

Install the Monitoring Agents

The monitoring agents are responsible for running end-to-end network and application performance tests. NetBeez offers different options for agent deployment. The agents can be physical and virtual appliances, including Docker, or software installations for Linux and Windows servers. These units are called Network Agents and they are better suited for on-premise or cloud environments. For work from home or remote users, NetBeez offers lightweight clients for Windows and Mac OS workstations. These units are called Remote Worker Agents, and have similar capabilities as network agents.

Visualize the Network Connectivity Data

Once the dashboard has been activated, and the agents installed, the network monitoring data will start flowing in the dashboard. To visualize network connectivity data, NetBeez provides high frequency real-time data that is processed live for visualization, alerting, and performance monitoring. All data is then stored for historical retrieval, and baseline analysis.

The following screenshot shows the network latency, packet loss, jitter, and MOS metrics measured end-to-end from one network agent to MS Teams. This is a very precise method to monitor network performance and connectivity to any remote destination, whether it’s a SaaS application, a website, etc.

Another set of key metrics for measuring network connectivity is the network speed test data. By generating a report, the network administrator can have a clear view into the download and upload speed of remote locations (network agents) and users (remote worker agents). In this screen, for instance, each dot represents one NetBeez agent, and its download and upload speed.

In this other screen, NetBeez provides a summary of users and service providers, plus a quality score. Reports like these are key to gather insights about network connectivity, and take proactive actions to managing network performance.

Conclusion on Network Connectivity

Network connectivity is the foundation of modern communication, enabling seamless data exchange across wired and wireless networks. With the rapid advancements in Ethernet and Wi-Fi technologies, organizations and individuals rely on stable and high-speed connections for business operations, collaboration, and daily interactions. However, connectivity issues can arise due to various factors, including congestion, interference, faulty hardware, and misconfigured settings. A structured troubleshooting approach—focusing on network design, topology, and protocols—helps network administrators diagnose and resolve issues efficiently. By understanding the principles of network connectivity and implementing best practices, businesses can maintain a resilient and high-performing network infrastructure that supports their growing digital needs.