LoveMyTool - Open Community for Network Management and Monitoring

Testing Wireless Performance With Good Old Ping (by Tony Fortunato)

So what do you do when you want to get an idea of your wireless performance and have no wireless tools around? In this example, I use ping to get an idea of wireless performance.

In the ideal sceanrio, I would check the RF spectrum for interferers and proper channel planning, check the channel for utilization with some wireless tools.

Unfortunately some times I do not have all my tools available or with me.  Or even more realistically, I might want to walk a customer through some testing over email or the phone.

What can cause the ping times to go all wonky and even result in dropped packets?

Well here's a few reasons:

• station and AP have issues hearing one another
• station can hear the AP fine, but the AP doesn't hear the station well
• wireless interferer 
• channel utilization is high

Hope this little tutorial helps.

 

 

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Quick Peek Fluke Network Optiview XG For Wireless Analysis (by Tony Fortunato)

When I go onsite to troubleshoot a customer issue, I cannot assume that they will give me access to their network management system. As an independent, I can’t possibly know every vendor’s management system, products and system commands as well.

As a troubleshooter, I am always looking for vendor independent to add to my kit that will give me visibility into a network regardless of vendor. In other words, I like the fact that I can use the XG in multivendor environments and monitor various vendor’s equipment without having to mess around with various management systems, commands, etc..

In this example I take you through a brief peek at Fluke Network’s Optiview XG and what information you can gather.  The Optiview XG can cause a bit of confusion since it can be sold with Fluke Network’s AirMagnet product suite, which in its own right is very good. But in some cases the customer might not need the full blown AirMagnet suite or may just want to poke around at a higher level and possibly work their way up to the AirMagnet software, if required.

Wireless Throughput Discussion (by Tony Fortunato)

OK, last snippet from the Fluke Canada Wireless Workshop that I just finished up.

I really enjoyed going across Canada and meeting people from various industries, various wireless backgrounds, all with the same intent; to learn a bit more and share ideas.

I would be lying if I didn't include myself in the group that came out to learn more about wireless issues, etc.. If I do my job properly as a presenter, I should walk away from these sessions picking up some tidbits as well from the attendees.

In this clip I discuss the obvious delicate topic of understanding  that your WiFi deployment may yield less throughput than your current wired network.

Enjoy

 

 

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Wireless Workshop - Discussing Antenna's (by Tony Fortunato)

Fluke Networks Canada asked me to put together a one day "Wireless Workshop" that I have been doing for the past few months across Canada.

I wanted to put one one of my "reviewing basics" workshop where we go over what I consider the basics of wireless deisgn, implementation, support and documentation.  

I stayed away from this being an informercial or a marketing 'dog and pony show' and to date, it was been well received.

I give Fluke credit for allowing me to do my own thing, uncensored.  they allowed me to talk about any vendor's tools as well as theirs.

So here's a snippet from one of the more popular topics, Antenna's.

Enjoy

 

 

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Using a Basic Travel Router to Get Wired Benefits on a Fluke OneTouch (by Tony Fortunato)

This tip doesnt only apply specifically to a Fluke Networks OneTouch, but any device that allows remote access or monitoring.

Basically I use a USB powered travel router as a WiFi to Wired converter to access these tools.

Real simple and very effective.

 

 

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Can You Hear Me Now? (by Tony Fortunato)

I was working on site the other day and heard the typical WiFi complaints:

• I can see the network, but can't get on
• Why can I get on the WiFi network with my laptop, but not my smartphone
• My Wifi connection only gets dropped on my smartphone or tablet, not my laptop.

In Wifi testing and design there are a few concepts that I've seen left out and want to review.

The idea is actually fairly straight forward;

• just because you can get on a WiFi network with a laptop, there is no gaurantee you can do the same with a cell phone, or tablet.
• just because you can get a good signal reading from your wireless device doesnt mean the AP hears you the same way.

To demonstrate this, I created a simple test by putting an Acess Point about 30 feet away, behind a drywall wall and recorded how well the devices hear the signal and how well the Access Point heard the devices.

 

WEP vs WPA in a non-802.11n Environment (by Tony Fortunato)

Based on my previous video, “WEP vs WPA2 Performance test - Speed up your WiFi” (http://youtu.be/WLS6F0Nb7cU), I received quite a bit of feedback and questions.

Since many of the questions went something like this, “what if I don’t have 802.11n, will I get the same speed increase”? 

So I figured instead of answering this many more times than I have, I would whip up a video on how to test along with my results.

More Wlan/Wifi Windows Commands (by Tony Fortunato)

 

I cant believe the response I got from my first article, "WIFI Diagnostics from Windows 7 or Vista Command Prompt". 

I use netsh commands when troubleshooting, baselining or lab work, so I dont have to go through all the various dialogue screens.

I got many requests to go throught some additional commands, so here you go.

I added a list of the commands at the bottom.

Enjoy

 

 

 

netsh wlan SHOW DRIVERS 
netsh wlan SHOW INTERFACES 
netsh wlan SHOW FILTERS 
netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid=bad networktype=infrastructure
netsh wlan add filter permission=denyall networktype=adhoc
netsh wlan SHOW FILTERS 
netsh wlan delete filter permission=block ssid=bad networktype=infrastructure
netsh wlan delete filter permission=denyall networktype=adhoc
netsh wlan SHOW FILTERS 
netsh wlan SHOW NETWORKS MODE=BSSID 
netsh wlan disconnect
netsh wlan show interfaces
netsh wlan connect ssid=36_Birch name=36_Birch
netsh wlan show interfaces
netsh wlan export profile name="36_Birch"
netsh wlan add profile filename="Wireless Network Connection-36_Birch.xml"
netsh wlan SHOW all

 

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Fluke Networks AirMagnet AirMapper Review (by Tony Fortunato)

Got a chance to play with AirMapper, a really cool app that runs on my android phone.  I was very impressed how intuitive it was and helpful as well.  I've already used it for a few troubleshooting, documentation and survey jobs.

I thought I would whip up a quick review to show you the ins and outs of the software.

Enjoy

 

 

 

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Baselining A Smart Phone Using Wireshark (by Tony Fortunato)

I had a client the other day wonder how Android, Iphone and other smart devices behave on a wiFi network.  His concerns revolve around the proposed corporate Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative and how these devices would 'behave' on a wireless network.

I commended him on his proactive stance and was then asked, "Great, now how do I do it?".  I explained that depending on your Wifi Card/Driver, you might not see the Smartphone on the WiFi network, and I would want to see the 'real WiFi' traffic in the air.  You know the stuff we take for granted, like Beacons, Probes, etc...

So I popped in my AirPcap USB adapter, set up a test AP with no encryption (to make easier for me) and my Samsung Google NExus S smartphone.  I simply turned my phone on while capturing all the WiFi traffic on the channel that the AP was using.

In this Video, I go over some of the inital and basic observations one would make when looking at a boto up baseline.

Enjoy

 

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