RE: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN Analysis Tools
We're looking for help from current WLAN managers. You can either provide general input or answer the following two questions. I hope in most cases you would be willing to post your thoughts publicly, but if you have comments that are of a sensitive nature, you can e-mail me directly. 1. What are the most common WLAN problems you face, either in the design or operation of your network, for which WLAN analysis tools might be helpful? Bridging of the wired and wireless interface, and interference from Rougue/AdHoc Wireless Networks. 2. Which specific available tools -- commercial or otherwise -- are most helpful in allowing you to do your job? Ethereal, Allows packet capture and basic decodes on wireless frames. Ekahau Site Survey. Site Survey tool that also is very good at detecting hidden networks (With appropriate card) Network Stumbler. ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN Analysis Tools
1. What are the most common WLAN problems you face, either in the design or operation of your network, for which WLAN analysis tools might be helpful? - Rogue APs- but are only of concern if executive policy forbids them and is enforceable (hot and cold here at SU) - Design/budgetary planning- people want to know what it will cost to do a building without a valid/realistic survey - User education- some things just aren't suited for wireless/doing things over wireless with no security 2. Which specific available tools -- commercial or otherwise -- are most helpful in allowing you to do your job? - Ekahau works nicely for planning - AirMAgnet wonderful all-around tool - Wild Packets AiroPeek- nice decodes - Net stumbler/WiFiFoFum, other freebies- they are free - Noppix Auditor suite- free, host of Linux-based powerful wireless tools Lee Lee H. Badman Network Engineer CWSP, CWNA (CWNP011288) Computing and Media Services (NSS) 250 Machinery Hall Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244 (315) 443-3003 Voice (315) 443-1621 Fax ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
RE: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN Analysis Tools
1. What are the most common WLAN problems you face, either in the design or operation of your network, for which WLAN analysis tools might be helpful? 1: Misconfigured clients. Same as it ever was - if we didn't have users on the network, life would be so much simpler. 2. Poor receptivity of clients (can anyone say titanium-shelled Macs!) 3. Intermittent connectivity. RF is dyanmic. Deal with it. 2. Which specific available tools -- commercial or otherwise -- are most helpful in allowing you to do your job? 1. Airwave Monitoring Platform (AMP.) Even with an all-Cisco infrastructure, this is hands-down the best tool we have for keeping tabs on what's up in our network. 2. Airmagnet Sniffer. Sooo nice to be able to see everthing at once. Wish it had better depth on decodes, tho. 3. The Cisco ADU - a very well designed client interface and really handy for basic troubleshooting in our environment, see above. ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN Analysis Tools
1. What are the most common WLAN problems you face, either in the design or operation of your network, for which WLAN analysis tools might be helpful? #1, Ad-Hoc networks in large classrooms #2, Interferences on 5 GHz, point-to-point links #3, People believing that we need to secure WLANs at all prices 2. Which specific available tools -- commercial or otherwise -- are most helpful in allowing you to do your job? #1, -Education for prevention -Netstumbler etc.. for Detection -On-site visit and yelling, for remediation (cannot detect a specific user when 200 laptops are next to each other...don't want to use jamming solutions #2, -We use of a portable Spectrum Analyzer #3, -Secure Applications, then revisit the problem! (WLAN security is only between Devices and APs it's all clear after that!) Philippe Hanset University of Tennessee Thanks, Dave Molta Director, Syracuse University Center for Emerging Network Technologies Sr. Technology Editor, Network Computing 315-443-4549 ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN Analysis Tools
1, Most common problems: a. Users putting up their own APs and then providing open access to our entire network through it. b. VPN configuration issues. Our users must go through our VPN for access to anything other than basic Web browsing or email. 2. Helpful Tools: a. AirWave AMP product does incrediblty well in managing my 250+ Cisco APS. Most are 1200 series boxes with a few old 340/350s still around. The ability to config a new box just like others (with a few things like IP address name) still being unique is a piece of cake. In addition, the unit tracks device uptimes, device usage, client usage across APs, etc. A piece of cake to drive. b. The Cisco ADU software for doing site surveys and getting stats on throughput, errors, frequency usage, etc. c. The NetMRI box does a good job of finding rogue APs across an entire network. It will handle any size address space(s) you point it to. But, it is way too pricy. Our was a demo unit that is now gone. -jcw To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU From: Dave Molta [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 08:58:14 -0400 Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN Analysis Tools Reply-To: 802.11 wireless issues listserv WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU I'm working with a couple of my students here at Syracuse on an article for a December issue of Network Computing magazine that we are tentatively calling the Wireless LAN Analysis Toolkit. We're hoping to provide readers with an understanding of the range of problems faced by managers of large WLANs along with a feel for the essential tools that are available, both commercial and open-source. We're thinking about everything from the physical layer (e.g., spectrum analyzers) all the way up the stack. Since Frank Bulk recently looked at distributed monitoring systems, we're not planning to cover those products explicitly. We're looking for help from current WLAN managers. You can either provide general input or answer the following two questions. I hope in most cases you would be willing to post your thoughts publicly, but if you have comments that are of a sensitive nature, you can e-mail me directly. 1. What are the most common WLAN problems you face, either in the design or operation of your network, for which WLAN analysis tools might be helpful? 2. Which specific available tools -- commercial or otherwise -- are most helpful in allowing you to do your job? Thanks, Dave Molta Director, Syracuse University Center for Emerging Network Technologies Sr. Technology Editor, Network Computing 315-443-4549 ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. John Watters UA: Office of Information Technology 205-348-3992 ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
