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Chapter 2: Preparing for a WAN Deployment
AP Name: The name of the SmartPath AP that is reporting the interference. If an interference source is reported by a few
SmartPath APs, but not others, you can use this to approximate the physical location of the interference.
Device Type: SmartPath EMS VMA maps the signature of the interference to a specific device type such as a cordless phone,
microwave oven, or Bluetooth, which it then reports in the Device Type column. The device type listing can help determine
whether the interference source might be a security concern.
Discovered: This column shows the date and time that the SmartPath AP discovered the source of the interference. You can track
regular, periodic, and intermittent interference sources using this information.
Channel Affected: When SmartPath EMS VMA identifies an interference source, the channel in which it occurs appears here.
Center Frequency: The center frequency of the affected channel appears in this column.
Occupied Bandwidth: This column displays the bandwidth of the affected range of frequencies.
NOTE: The last three columns contain redundant information and provide the same information from different perspectives so
that you can gain a more a complete understanding of the affected frequencies and channels.
AP Name
SmartPathAP-0e5580
SmartPathAP-0e5580
During the brief intervals of time that the spectrum analyzer is sampling, no data transfer occurs. However, if the SmartPath AP is
very busy processing wireless traffic (that is, it has a high duty cycle), then the sampling and analysis can subtly impact the perfor-
mance. In addition, any analysis that monitors multiple channels must accommodate the added time needed for the scanning
interface to switch channels.
2.3.3 Troubleshooting
Some of the most common issues that arise after deploying a new wireless network are RF interference, RADIUS issues, and desk-
top client issues. The first step in troubleshooting is to look at logs and use debug commands. Black Box offers an extensive set of
event monitoring and debug tools that you can use through SmartPath EMS VMA, the SmartPath AP network management sys-
tem. For additional troubleshooting, particularly of clients or neighboring networks, Black Box recommends two tools, which are
available on the Internet: Ethereal Warehouser (http://www.wireshark.org/) and AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer (http://www.airmag-
net.com/products/laptop.htm).
2.3.4 Management
Current Wi-Fi networks typically span an entire company and have complex security policies. Fortunately, the SmartPath EMS
VMA Network Management System makes it simple to manage large networks from a central location. It provides a single cen-
tralized management instance for the entire wireless network. Although managed SmartPath APs can operate without SmartPath
EMS VMA, it simplifies the provisioning of global policy management and centralized configuration and monitoring. SmartPath
EMS VMA lowers operating costs by speeding deployment, configuration, and monitoring of the wireless network.
Managing faults and alarms is critical to maintaining uptime. You can view and manage events through SmartPath EMS VMA log-
ging. Optionally, you can use a third-party tool such as HP
SmartPath EMS VMA makes it easy to monitor and troubleshoot SmartPath APs within a WLAN infrastructure. SmartPath EMS
VMA can import hierarchical map views that represent the physical location of the network, from the perspective of the entire
world down to the floor level.
2.3.5 Manual, Automatic, and Semi-Automatic Rogue Mitigation
You can manually mitigate rogue APs and their clients, or you can configure SmartPath APs to mitigate them automatically upon
detection. You can also use a semi-automatic approach in which you determine when to start and stop the mitigation and allow
the SmartPath APs to determine which SmartPath APs carry out the deauth attacks that comprise the mitigation effort.
Page 28
Table 2-3. Interference reporting.
Device Type
Discovered
Microwave oven
2011-05-17 12:09:17
Microwave oven
2011-05-17 12:04:22
OpenView
®
724-746-5500 | blackbox.com
Channel Affected
Center Frequency
9
2542
10
2457
.
®
Occupied Bandwidth
20
20
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