Troubleshooting wireless LANs to improve Wi-Fi uptime and security When wireless users report … improve security and performance by identifying rogue access points and ad-hoc networks … The technician first needs to determine if the problem is at the client device, the wireless infrastructure, the wired network, or if it is an application problem. This whitepaper gives you an in-depth look at the wireless troubleshooting process. You’ll learn how to improve security and performance by identifying rogue access points and ad-hoc …

Troubleshooting wireless LANs to improve Wi-Fi uptime and security Introduction IEEE 802.11-based wireless LANs, also called Wi-Fi networks, are quickly expanding into mainstream areas of business from their traditional niche applications in warehouses and on retail floors. As a result, it is becoming equally important for network engineers and technicians to have the necessary tools to troubleshoot and secure their wireless networks, as it is their wired networks. Especially useful are portable, integrated wireless/wired analyzers. Having a single device for troubleshooting both network segments allows technicians to quickly determine whether the sources of problems are wireless or wired issues – or non-network issues altogether – so they can maximize network availability for users, who are growing increasingly mobile. The wireless environment There are several modes of Wi-Fi configurations, and visibility into all devices, RF channels, and protocol types in the various modes is critical for quick problem resolution. For example, it is important that ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks, as well as, bridged, switched, and mesh infrastructure networks can all be analyzed by device category, interface, and switch port using a single device. Network architectures Ad-hoc networks consist of client devices communicating directly with one another in a peer-to-peer workgroup fashion. Ad-hoc networks can pose a threat if an unauthorized client(s) should automatically associate with a legitimate client that contains sensitive data or if they piggyback onto that client’s connection to gain access to wired network resources. Wireless infrastructures are comprised of access points (APs) which are either connected directly to the wired network, or to wireless switches. They provide the RF environment for client devices, and can be configured to create point- to-point networks for bridging networks between buildings, such as across a parking lot. Yet another infrastructure type is mesh networking. A mesh network consists of APs that communicate with one another using wireless routing protocols. Mesh networks enable communications with the wired network through a minimal number of access points that are connected to the wired network. Mesh networks are often considered in order to provide flexibility in access point placement and to reduce the costs and complexity of running cable from wiring closets to each AP.

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