Describe a time when you encountered an unexpected network issue. How did you handle it and what steps did you take to resolve it?

During my previous role as a Network Support Engineer, I encountered an unexpected network issue when a major power outage caused disruption to our company's network. I immediately assessed the situation and identified that the issue was due to a failure in our primary network switch. To handle the situation, I quickly switched to our secondary switch to ensure uninterrupted network connectivity for our users. I then contacted the vendor support to report the issue and request a replacement switch. While waiting for the replacement, I worked closely with our team to reroute the network traffic through alternative paths to minimize the impact on users. Once the replacement switch arrived, I installed and configured it, ensuring that all necessary settings were correctly implemented. Finally, I conducted thorough testing to verify that the new switch was functioning properly and restored the network to its original state.

During my previous role as a Network Support Engineer, I encountered an unexpected network issue when a major power outage caused disruption to our company's network. I immediately assessed the situation and identified that the issue was due to a failure in our primary network switch. To handle the situation, I quickly switched the network traffic to our secondary switch using VLAN configuration, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for our users. I promptly contacted the vendor support, providing them with detailed information about the issue and requesting a replacement switch. While waiting for the replacement, I worked closely with our team to reroute the network traffic through alternative paths using OSPF routing protocol to minimize the impact on users. Once the replacement switch arrived, I installed and configured it, ensuring that all VLANs, trunking, and access control lists were properly configured. I conducted thorough testing, including ping tests, bandwidth tests, and port checks, to verify that the new switch was functioning properly. Finally, I documented the entire incident, including the steps taken and the lessons learned, to enhance our troubleshooting processes in the future.

During my previous role as a Network Support Engineer, I encountered an unexpected network issue when a major power outage caused disruption to our company's network. I quickly responded by assessing the situation and conducting an in-depth analysis of the network infrastructure. Through packet captures and monitoring tools, I identified that the primary network switch failure led to a spanning tree loop, causing intermittent network connectivity. To handle the situation, I immediately isolated the problematic switch by disabling the corresponding port, preventing further disruption. Simultaneously, I initiated communication with the vendor support team, providing them with detailed troubleshooting information and highlighting the urgency of the situation. While waiting for the replacement switch, I collaborated with our network team to implement a temporary workaround using a spare switch and adjusting network configurations to restore connectivity. This involved reconfiguring VLANs, firewall rules, and router settings to maintain overall network security and performance. Once the replacement switch arrived, I coordinated with the vendor support team and colleagues to schedule a maintenance window during non-peak hours. I performed a seamless switch replacement, transferring the necessary configurations and ensuring minimal downtime. Thorough testing was conducted on each network segment, including ping tests, traceroutes, and bandwidth tests, to verify proper functionality. Additionally, I provided clear and timely communication to stakeholders about the progress and resolution of the issue. Finally, I documented the entire incident in our knowledge base, outlining the steps taken, diagnostics performed, and preventive measures implemented to improve future network resilience.