Gathering Facts
Fact gathering is an important part of defining the problem. Record the following information as it applies to the problem:
• Where did the problem occur?
• When did the problem occur and to whom?
• What components are involved?
• What is the affected application?
• Can the problem be traced using a packet sniffer?
• Can the problem be traced in the session table or using system debugging?
• Can log files be obtained that indicate a failure has occurred?
Answers to these questions will help you narrow down the problem, and what you have to check during your troubleshooting. The more things you can eliminate, the fewer things you need to check during troubleshooting. For this reason, be as specific and accurate as you can while gathering facts.