Networking
Network Troubleshooting: A Layer-by-Layer Method
A repeatable way to diagnose connection problems without randomly changing settings.
Network problems become easier when you test one layer at a time. Start close to the device and move outward instead of resetting everything at once.
Check the local link
Confirm Wi-Fi signal or cable status, then see whether the device has a local address. Test another device to learn whether the problem affects one client or the whole network.
Separate names from connectivity
If an IP-address test works but a website name does not, DNS may be the issue. If neither works, inspect the router’s internet status and the provider connection.
Change one thing at a time
Record the original setting before changing it. Reboot only the component that appears affected and retest after each step so you know what solved the problem.
The bottom line
If you contact support, provide the time, affected devices, error messages and tests already completed. Specific evidence is far more useful than “the internet is down.”