Network Troubleshooting & Diagnostic Framework
Diagnose network issues systematically using OSI model layering with Claude
What You Can Do
You can leverage Claude to structure complex network problems into solvable components, methodically move through OSI layers without gaps, and interpret network logs and packet captures to identify anomalies. Claude helps you generate targeted diagnostic commands for your environment, rule out variables efficiently, and document root cause analysis in a way that accelerates resolution and stakeholder communication.
Features
Work through Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, and Application layers systematically to isolate where failures occur
Claude parses verbose network output and identifies anomalies in large diagnostic files that would be time-consuming to review manually
Connect multiple symptoms to potential root causes across client, network, and server systems to determine failure boundaries
Get targeted commands tailored to your specific environment and the current troubleshooting hypothesis
Rule out variables efficiently to distinguish between intermittent failures, full outages, and segment-specific problems
Generate professional root cause analysis reports that explain network behavior to stakeholders and support knowledge base updates
Handle complex scenarios where failures span multiple systems and require cross-layer investigation
Example Output
Example 1: Intermittent Connectivity Issue
User uploads tcpdump output showing packet loss on VLAN 50. Claude identifies:
- 15% packet loss pattern correlating with broadcast storms (OSI Layer 2)
- ARP table instability on the switch (Data Link layer issue)
- Recommendation: Check switch port settings and spanning tree configuration
- Diagnostic command:
show spanning-tree vlan 50andshow interface counters errors
Example 2: Slow Application Response
User provides application logs and network traces. Claude determines:
- Application response time is normal (Application layer, 200ms)
- Network latency is acceptable (Network layer, 15ms)
- Root cause: DNS resolution delays (53ms per query on Transport/Application boundary)
- Action: Analyze DNS query patterns and check resolver configuration
Example 3: Production vs. Test Discrepancy
User describes same setup working in lab but failing in production. Claude systematically compares:
- Physical connections and cable specifications (Layer 1)
- VLAN and switching configuration (Layer 2)
- Routing and MTU settings (Layer 3)
- Identifies: Production environment has MTU set to 1500 while test lab uses 9000, causing packet fragmentation
What's Included
- SKILL.md: Framework documentation with OSI model workflow and when to use this diagnostic approach
- OSI Troubleshooting Checklist: Layer-by-layer diagnostic questions and commands for systematic investigation
- Log Analysis Template: Structured format for uploading and requesting analysis of network logs, packet captures, and configuration files
- Diagnostic Command Reference: Common troubleshooting commands organized by OSI layer and device type (routers, switches, firewalls, endpoints)
- RCA Report Template: Professional root cause analysis format for documenting findings, timeline, and resolution steps
Who It's For
- Network Engineers — Diagnose complex connectivity issues and document resolution for knowledge management
- Technical Support Engineers — Systematically troubleshoot customer network problems using a methodical framework
- Systems Administrators — Resolve server connectivity and access issues by understanding network layer failures
- Infrastructure Specialists — Isolate faults across multi-layer environments quickly without guesswork
- On-Call Support Teams — Rapidly diagnose production network outages using structured OSI layer analysis
Best For
- End-to-end connectivity failures (users cannot reach services)
- Intermittent network problems with unclear patterns
- Performance degradation with multiple possible causes
- Production vs. test environment discrepancies
- Multi-system failures requiring boundary identification
- Packet loss, latency, or bandwidth saturation diagnosis
- Interpreting and analyzing network logs and tcpdump files
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