AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO

Never Miss Any Wi-Fi Traffic

With AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer, you have the ability to capture any Wi-Fi traffic for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac networks, including the latest 3 X 3 802.11ac traffic. With this ability you never miss any Wi-Fi traffic, which allows you to solve any Wi-Fi network troubleshooting problems right the first time without costly rework or escalations.

Built-In Wireless Expertise

Portable Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Solution With No AP Downtime

It is important to note that all wireless network troubleshooting solutions or software tools are not the same, and it is very critical for you to solve the wireless network troubleshooting problems right the first time, irrespective of the location of the problem and more importantly with no impact to the performance of the AP infrastructure. There is a huge misconception that by using freeware apps or basic troubleshooting capabilities built inside the AP infrastructure, you can monitor and solve Wi-Fi issues that impact the security and performance of the network.

Freeware apps or the ones that cost only a few dollars, provide nothing more than a list of Wi-Fi networks and their properties, and do nothing to solve real-world problems. They do not match the capabilities of a true wireless network analyzer like AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer that can monitor and solve any troubleshooting problem in the Wi-Fi network.

Many of the AP Infrastructure solutions claim built-inside troubleshooting with partial scanning or full time scanning options. Both of these Wi-Fi network monitoring options have severe limitations on solving problems. Part time scanning methods lead to slower detection of problems in the network and could even miss the issue altogether. With full time scanning, you are limited by taking the AP away from its core purpose, which is providing data services, for dedicated scanning or sniffing. Moreover, the APs are fixed on the ceiling and cannot travel to the location of the problem. With AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer, all of these limitations are enabled with full-featured dedicated on-site Wi-Fi troubleshooting with zero AP downtime.

Instant Alerts to WLAN Security and Performance Issues

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer automatically detects and alerts the user to dozens of wireless intrusions, penetration attempts and Wi-Fi hacking strategies including rogue devices, “stumbler tools”, devices sending unencrypted data and a host of potentially damaging wireless security configurations. These proactive measures enable IT to take corrective action before a problem occurs. The AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO version additionally detects sophisticated wireless attacks against the network. The AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer Find tool locks onto rogue or policy violating APs or stations and guides the user to their physical location.

Even the most secure wireless network will fail to meet its objectives if it does not reliably meet the demands of network users. Furthermore, certain Wi-Fi network performance issues can escalate and open up the network to unknown risks. For this reason, AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer includes over 50 alerts to identify an entire range of performance issues including traffic patterns, bandwidth utilization, device configuration issues and infrastructure or hardware failures or resets.

Wireless Network Health Summary

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer provides users with the complete inventory of the devices, including APs, clients and smart devices that are operating in the environment. For each device, users are powered with detailed configuration information and traffic statistics for each device. AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer also includes a dashboard that provides a live snapshot into the overall health of the wireless network and helps users focus on top issues that need immediate attention to ensure maximized wireless network security and performance. Users are powered with a variety of charts, including ones for channel utilization, top talkers in the network, wireless network interference levels, mis-matched configurations, overloaded APs, security and performance problems, etc. Users can drill down for deeper investigation into WLAN statistics for every device, channel and wireless frame. It helps users focus on things that matter to them, before digging into the application for advanced analysis. This helps save a lot of time and effort for the user as they troubleshoot any issues in the network.

Wireless Network Troubleshooting

Along with the unique capability of providing instant answers with AirWISE, AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer users are provided with in-depth frame statistics for every channel and device operating in the spectrum. With the channel utilization and throughput trending graphs, users can troubleshoot many of the issues that lower the overall performance of the wireless network. AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer users can view trending graphs for signal strength, noise, frames, errors, retries, bandwidth and many more for every wireless network channel and device. These valuable network monitoring graphs provide critical pointers to troubleshooting issues that are influencing the wireless network performance. For example, graphs for packet retry and error rates reveal areas where wireless network communications are failing. On AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer’s Decode Screen, users can view and analyze a list of real-time packets including 3X3 802.11n and 3X3 802.11ac packets, and also includes support for monitoring upper-layer protocols. AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer gives users the option to apply a filter in order to isolate particular packets of interest, based on a specific channel, SSID, node, IP address, or type of frame WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK encrypted packets can be decrypted. With the multi-adapter support in AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO, users can monitor multiple channels simultaneously using individual adapters inserted into the same PC.

WLAN Client Roaming Analysis

One of the core benefits of wireless technology is to provide mobility for users, and in a typical environment it is expected that the client devices will roam across APs and at times network boundaries. Ensuring a smooth roam, without any dropped calls or sessions and in a way that is not noticeable to the user is key for any deployment. AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO leverages support for multiple WLAN adapters plugged into the computer to troubleshoot client roaming problems – one of IT staff’s most commonly reported problems for WLAN networks.

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer provides advanced details on all roaming transactions for any WLAN client including stations, phones, and handheld scanners. Users are powered with AirWISE® expertise to get detailed reasons for the roaming event taking place, device and channel parameters that influence the roam, and visibility into whether the roam was good or not.

For VoWLAN phones, users can monitor voice delays and other statistics as the phone roams from one AP to another in the middle of a conversation. The application provides VoFi-specific data (such as WiMOS, Signal Strength, etc.) leading up to the attempt, and packet transmission rates for the conversation.

With this root cause analysis on roaming problems, users can minimize the likelihood of any roaming problems recurring in the WLAN network, thus improving user satisfaction and improving user/network performance for mission critical applications.

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO is the industry’s only wireless network analyzer that includes a suite of active Wi-Fi troubleshooting tools to quickly pinpoint and solve wireless network troubleshooting problems. This includes users not being able to connect to the network, users experiencing slower connections to the network or WLAN applications, 802.11n and 802.11ac mis-configurations, traffic/infrastructure overloads, hardware failures, roaming problems, multipath interference problems and more. With these Wi-Fi troubleshooting tools available at the user’s fingertips, they can solve any kind of problem that are impacting the network performance. These Wi-Fi troubleshooting tools include:

• Device Locator: Geiger-Counter tool that helps physically locate any unauthorized or policy violating device.
• Connection test: single-click end-to-end network connectivity (DHCP, ping, trace) and application performance (HTTP, FTP, Audio, Video) measurement tool.
• Signal Distribution tool: detect any multipath issues in the network.
• Roaming tool: measures roaming times for clients between Aps.
• Performance/Iperf tool: measures uplink and downlink throughput performance of the network.
• 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput calculator tool: compare vendor AP performance based on specifications and capabilities of those devices.
• 802.11n and 802.11ac efficiency and analysis tool: analyzes conversations between APs and stations, and indicates if the network is using 802.11ac and 802.11n to its full potential using simple color legends.
• 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput simulator tool: calculates the network throughput, utilization and the overhead under user-specified conditions by simulating the existing infrastructure or simulating the addition of new APs or stations in the network.

Complete Wi-Fi Interference Detection & Analysis

Interference is one of the leading cause for poor connectivity and performance problems in the network. This interference can be from other Wi-Fi devices due to poor channel planning (adjacent or co-channel interference) or could be from non-Wi-Fi interference sources. Wi-Fi interference occurs due to co-channel/adjacent channel interference from the corporate or neighbor’s WLAN, hidden nodes in the environment or non Wi-Fi devices operating in the 802.11 band. AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer’s interference status indicator lists the overall interference status for each Wi-Fi channel, calculated based on the Wi-Fi interference score for the devices contributing to the interference; a list of hidden nodes and non-Wi-Fi devices (non- Wi-Fi detection requires AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO and RF spectrum analyzers installed on the same machine) operating in the channel. This enables users to easily plan future Wi-Fi deployments or modify their existing deployment to minimize interference and in turn improve network performance.

Integrated Reporting

AirMagnet-WiFi Analyzer PRO’s integrated reporter makes it easy to turn Wi-Fi analysis sessions into professional customized Wi-Fi network monitoring reports. Choose from a library of pre-built reports or generate targeted reports by selecting specific items of interest from the user interface. Wi-Fi network monitoring reports cover all areas of management including RF statistics, channel reports, device reports, security/performance issue reports and auditor-ready compliance reports for a variety of regulatory standards including HIPAA, PCI, SOX, DoD 8100.2, FISMA and many more. For the compliance reports, you are powered with a step-by-step pass/fail assessment of each section of the standard, along with details on the devices that are in/out of compliance.

BYOD Classification

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO instantly detects and classifies smart phones and tablets that connect to the network. This capability allows IT professionals to authorize these devices, quickly troubleshoot and resolve issues caused by these devices as well as determine performance and security impact to the WLAN network. For example, user can very quickly see rogue smart devices that connect to the network, and determine whether a specific smart device is consuming a lot of bandwidth by accessing the Top Talkers graph in the dashboard.

802.11ac Analysis and Troubleshooting

802.11ac is the next generation wireless network standard that promises gigabit speeds, but with this great promise comes a lot of challenges that the users are expected to deal with AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer, network engineers are equipped with the critical data needed to quickly solve end-user issues and prevent costly rework and escalations. AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer is the industry’s only wireless network analyzer that does not miss any 802.11ac traffic with full 3 X 3 support and can solve any problems on the 802.11ac network. More importantly all of this is done with full time scanning and by traveling to the location of the problem for more effective troubleshooting with zero AP downtime (no need to take the AP offline for monitoring and troubleshooting) as compared to reusing the AP for the purpose or other tools that rely on fixed APs for troubleshooting. It also plays a critical role in helping users optimize the migration path from legacy technologies to this new standard with its unique 802.11ac toolkit to give clear direction and details on how to leverage new 802.11ac options to maximize throughput and performance. This 802.11ac analysis and troubleshooting toolkit includes:

• 802.11ac throughput calculator tool: Compare vendor AP performance based on specifications and capabilities of those devices.
• 802.11ac efficiency and analysis tool: Analyzes conversations between APs and Stations, and indicates if the network is using 802.11ac and 802.11n to its full potential using simple color legends and helps pinpoint performance problems.
• 802.11ac throughput simulator tool: calculates the network throughput, utilization and the overhead under user-specified conditions by simulating the existing infrastructure or simulating the addition of new APs or stations in the network.

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Love’s Travel Stops Case Study

NETSCOUT Helps Love’s Travel Stops Deliver Clean Places and Friendly Faces at 300+ Retail Locations Nationwide

Challenge:
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores is a family-owned chain of more than 330 truck stops and convenience stores across 39 states. The company’s principle of “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” guides its growth and has positioned Love’s at the forefront of the travel center and convenience store industry. With more than 10,000 employees nationwide, any network performance hiccup can impact the point of sale process, from the checkout counter to Love’s advanced freight and truck services. The result affects worker productivity, as well as the overall customer experience, jeopardizing Love’s goal of serving the nation’s drivers with superior service and innovation.

Results:
Love’s Travel Stops now uses AirMagnet Survey Pro to plan wireless network access points. The company also uses AirMagnet Spectrum XT during both planning and after installation to scan for interference. And after installation, Love’s uses AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer to identify and troubleshoot performance issues beyond interference. The result helps the Love’s network team deploy wireless access points intelligently and battle outside interference from a wide range of devices—even the occasional gaming console and WiFi jammer.

Trusted Network Solutions Case Study AM WiFi Analyzer

AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer Provides Troubleshooting Solution, Accurate Reporting and Increased Clients for Network Consulting Firm

Challenge:
Trusted Network Solutions is a network and services consulting firm in Salt Lake City, Utah, servicing hundreds of clients in a variety of fields including government, healthcare, education and small business. Their clients’ productivity is highly dependent on well functioning networking systems that address a widely varying spectrum of wireless needs. With a small team and several large-scale customers, Trusted Network Solutions needed an accurate, time-efficient way to diagnose issues, suggest solutions and gain new clientele.

Results:
NETSCOUT’ AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer allowed Trusted Network Solutions’ team of engineers to quickly survey customer environments, identify any issues or rogue connectivity threats, and then devise a plan to either repair the broken parts of current systems, or analyze a better solution. Because of the instant reporting system, technicians were able to assess the environment in real time, with the client if needed. The more detailed reports and easy-to-understand data was useful in justifying new solution costs to hesitant customers.

BlueSafe Case Study

BlueSafe Uses NETSCOUT’ AirMagnet Solutions to Help Organizations Throughout France Deploy High-Performance Wireless Networks

Challenge:
BlueSafe is one of the premier Wi-Fi system integrators in France. They help organizations achieve unified mobility by planning, deploying and managing wireless networks that meet business requirements for connectivity, application performance and security. As Wi-Fi networks continue to evolve and expand, and as a new generation of mobile devices hit the workplace, businesses are presented with a variety of new performance and security challenges. BlueSafe is responsible for helping these organizations address those challenges. To do this successfully, the company not only requires a set of solutions for accurately planning and deploying wireless networks, but that also enables the team to quickly troubleshoot, secure and monitor the wireless network.

Results:
BlueSafe selected NETSCOUT’ AirMagnet Survey and Planner, AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer, and AirMagnet Enterprise. These solutions give BlueSafe, and their customers, the ability to deploy high-performance wireless networks, and to secure and manage these networks once in service.

InnerWireless, a Black Box Company

Challenge:
Ensure optimum performance when deploying and maintaining large, complex, mission-critical in-building wireless networks. Assess existing customer solutions, validate new wireless deployments, review, support, and troubleshoot deployed solutions.

Results:
With AirMagnet tools, the InnerWireless team is able to readily validate that deployed solutions continue operating to spec, and work with customers to quickly identify, troubleshoot and address physical-layer issues in their deployed solutions.

Minimum System Requirements:

The installation and operation of AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer (software-only) requires separate hardware with one of the following minimum system requirements below.

Laptop/Notebook/Tablet PC

• Operating Systems: Microsoft® Windows 7 Enterprise/Professional/Ultimate or Microsoft Windows 8 Pro/Enterprise 64-bit, Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro/Enterprise 64 bit, Windows 10 Professional/Enterprise 64-bit
  Note: [1] 64 bit Operating System supported on Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7 for certain wireless adapters. Please refer to supported adapter list for more details.
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.00 GHz ( Intel® Core™ i5 or higher recommended)
• 2 GB or higher required
• 500 MB free hard disk space.
• CardBus, ExpressCard slot, USB port, or Mini PCI slot (whichever applicable).
• Multiple slots in the PC when using multiple adapters. AirMagnet recommends the use of its multi-adapter kit.
• AirMagnet-supported wireless network adapter(s).
• Optional AirMagnet Spectrum XT adapter and license for integrated spectrum survey on Survey PRO. Required for viewing spectrum data and non Wi-Fi devices; WiFi Analyzer PRO only

Apple® MacBook® Pro

• Operating Systems: MAC OS X v10.5 (Leopard™) or higher running a supported Windows OS (as noted under Laptop/Notebook PC/Tablet PC section) using Boot Camp®.
• Intel®-based 1.6 GHz or higher recommended
• 2 GB or higher required
• 500 MB free hard disk space
• CardBus, ExpressCard slot, USB port, or Mini PCI slot (whichever applicable)
  Adapters:

• Built-in Broadcom 11ac adapter (Macbooks manufactured in 2013 & 2014 only)
• Built-in Atheros Extreme 11n wireless adapter
• Any AirMagnet supported wireless adapter (see Supported Adapters list below)
• Multiple slots in the PC when using multiple adapters. AirMagnet recommends the use of its multi-adapter kit.
• Optional AirMagnet Spectrum XT adapter and license for integrated spectrum survey on Survey PRO. Required for viewing spectrum data and non Wi-Fi devices; WiFi Analyzer PRO only

NETSCOUT OptiView® XG Network Analysis Tablet

• Microsoft Windows® 7, Professional, SP1
• Intel® Pentium® 1.2 GHz
• 4 GB memory
• 128 GB removable solid state drive
• 2 internal 802.11a/b/g/n/ac adapters
• 1 internal RF spectrum adapter
• 3 USB ports
• 1024 x 768 touch display

Before running the utility, please make sure you have all the drivers and WiFi cards installed and functioning correctly.

Download Utility

Supported driver/client utility software package for preferred adapters

AirMagnet Certified Multi-adapter Kit

Video: How to Install Multi-adapter Kit

AirMagnet supports two categories of wireless adapters:

• Preferred adapters: Adapters that have been comprehensively tested by AirMagnet and are recommended for use with the AirMagnet products.

Note: Authentications supported by various adapters could be limited by their own capabilities, Windows wireless zero configurations and various other reasons. Click on “More details” for each adapter to get detailed information on the supported features and authentications.

Wireless Adapters:
Preferred Adapters

Built-In Adapters

Optional
AirMagnet Directional Antenna

The AirMagnet Directional Antenna will enhance the RF detection and capabilities of the AirMagnet Analyzers in a single direction helping narrow down the search pattern far more effectively. It is small, light and portable.

Users need to attach the Velcro base (supplied with the directional antenna package) to the laptop and connect it to the AirMagnet card and start analyzing the wireless environment in the specific area.

Download in PDF format

Note: Supported only on Ubiquiti SRC 300mW MMCX
Technical Specifications for Directional Antenna

Min
Nom
Max

Frequency Range
– 2.4 GHz Band
– 5 GHz Band

2.4 GHz
4.9 GHz

2.5 GHz
5.9 GHz

VSWR
1:1.5

Impedance
50 Ohms

Gain
5 dBi

Polarization
Linear

Front-to-Back Ratio
>20dB

Azimuth Beamwidth (V-pol)
55 deg

Elevation Beamwidth (V-pol)
50 deg

Videos:

New Features in AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer 9.0:

WiFi Dashboard Tour

WiFi Dashboard Tour (Flash 3 min)

Client Roaming Analysis

Client Roaming Analysis (Flash 3 min)

One-Touch Audit

One-Touch Audit (Flash 3 min)

Multi-Channel Frame Capture

Multi-Channel Frame Capture (Flash 3 min)