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| 2.2 |  | Troubleshooting Approaches |
| 2.2.4 |  | Divide and conquer |

When the divide and conquer approach is applied towards troubleshooting a networking problem, a layer is selected and tested in both directions from the starting layer. The divide and conquer approach is initiated at a particular layer. The layer is based on troubleshooter experience level and the symptoms gathered about the problem. Once the direction of the problem is identified, troubleshooting follows that direction until the cause of the problem is identified.

If it can be verified that a layer is functioning, it is typically a safe assumption that the layers below it are functioning as well. If a layer is not functioning properly, gather symptoms of the problem at that layer and work downward to lower layers.