AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer for Cisco

Troubleshooting solution designed specifically for Cisco Unified
Wireless Networks
The AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer for Cisco is a software-only Wi-Fi troubleshooting solution designed specifically for Cisco Unified Wireless Networks. The Enterprise Analyzer software cooperates with your Cisco Wireless LAN controllers and lightweight access points to collect Wi-Fi data for expert analysis. AirMagnet's AirWISE analysis engine automatically pinpoints more than 130 classes of wireless problems that can hinder network performance, explains each in plain English, and offers advice on corrective actions. Network managers can also remotely troubleshoot wireless problems in real-time without having to travel on-site. The result is a much faster resolution to wireless problems, and the most efficient use of WLAN hardware resources.

Communicates with Cisco WLCs and lightweight access points
The AirMagnet software runs on most any Windows desktop or laptop PC. The software connects to any available Cisco Wireless LAN Controller to receive wireless traffic for analysis. The AirMagnet Analyzer continuously works in conjunction with the controller to remotely control AP channel scanning for optimal packet capture. This coordination provides end-users with the same quality of analysis as if they were on-site with a stand alone AirMagnet Analyzer.
Detects Hundreds of WLAN Performance Issues with AirWISE®
At the heart of the Enterprise Analyzer is the AirWISE® engine, which automatically detects the root-cause of dozens of Wi-Fi issues across 802.11a/b/g AirWISE® eliminates the need for users to manually interpret complex packet decodes and wireless data by proactively identifying and explaining more than 130 threats and performance issues before they impact the network. The user-friendly AirWISE® interface explains alarms in straightforward details, provides access to additional diagnostic data, and offers advice on corrective actions.
Dedicated Interference Analysis Page
AirMagnet's Interference Page accounts for 3 unique sources of interference, including Wi-Fi and non-802.11 sources. At the most fundamental level, AirMagnet analyzes noise and SNR to display the impact of non-802.11 devices on a particular channel. The software also accounts for co-channel and adjacent channel interference from Wi-Fi devices and displays precisely how much of your available bandwidth is consumed by each device. Finally, the software tracks and displays a consolidated list of hidden stations that can impact performance on the channel. This list allows staff to immediately grade the quality of their airwaves and pinpoint the cause of Wi-Fi interference.
Troubleshooting Tools for Remote Diagnostics
The AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer includes a suite of troubleshooting tools that allow network managers to remotely test various network elements. A connectivity diagnostic tool can be used to view the step-by-step progress of a connection to pinpoint where the process is breaking down, or eliminates the client-AP relationship as the cause for performance problems. Network managers can also perform detailed signal analysis to reveal potential multipath problems, and even test jitter to solve voice-related issues between phones and access points.
Integrated Reporting and Compliance Audit (Optional)
Users have the option to include AirMagnet's reporting engine as an integrated part of the Enterprise Analyzer solution. The reporting engine delivers professional documentation of any Wi-Fi analysis or troubleshooting session. Users can leverage a library of pre-built reports or generate their own targeted reports. Reports cover all areas of management including RF statistics, device reports, as well as security and performance event reports. AirMagnet provides detailed compliance reports covering a variety of regulatory standards including Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, DoD, GLBA, FISMA, Basel II, ISO 27001 and EU-CRD Capital. Each report provides a step-by-step pass/fail assessment of each section of the standard and shows all non-complying devices.
Detailed Packet and Frame Analysis
View a real-time decode page for detailed network analysis. Enterprise Analyzer decodes the most popular protocols such as FTP, HTTP, SMTP, POP, and Telnet, with advanced filtering options that allow you to focus on particular conversations based on IP address or port number. You can also track data and management packets live, watch CRC errors, utilization, packet speed, media type and more.
Vulnerability Assessment
The AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer provides an ideal complement to Cisco's built-in security and IDS features by offering an automatic audit of the wireless environment to detect over 60 wireless vulnerabilities and threats. The software constantly scans the environment for weaknesses including insecure device configurations, vulnerable stations, and a complete ongoing audit of Wi-Fi authentication and encryption at both the device and network level. AirMagnet also detects 20 types of denial-of-service attacks and dozens of wireless hacking strategies.
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Minimum System Requirements:
- Microsoft® Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4 or later) or XP (Service Pack 2) / Tablet PC Edition 2005 (Service Pack 2)
- Intel Pentium III (1.6 GHz) or Higher. (Pentium M -1.6Ghz or higher recommended)
- 256 MB Memory (512 MB recommended)
- 100 MB Hard Disk Space
- Network connection
Because the wireless environment constantly changes over time, performance can vastly fluctuate from day-to-day, but identifying the source of performance problems presents a huge challenge for IT departments and network managers, especially when resources are limited. The Enterprise Analyzer addresses these challenges by:
- Pinpointing the source of performance issues: AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer generates alarms for over 130 wireless problems.
- Providing immediate results: The AirWISE interface explains alarms and events in easy-to-understand terms, and offers advice on how to resolve issues.
- Enabling problems to be diagnosed and fixed remotely: Network managers can perform analysis anywhere lightweight access points are deployed, including remote locations.
- Leveraging deployed infrastructure hardware: AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer software offers a cost effective solution by working with already-deployed Cisco lightweight access points and Cisco WLCs to collect WiFi data (no sensors).
- Ensuring regulatory compliance: Network managers can generate a pass-fail assessment of every standard of federal compliance laws with the touch of a button.
- Client Connectivity Problems — The AirMagnet connection diagnostic lets network managers watch everything between the client and AP during an attempted connection and gives a full diagnosis of any issues and problems observed during the connection process.
- Interference Analysis — AirMagnet includes a dedicated page that clearly lays out all of the sources of wireless interference including competition form other Wi-Fi devices, hidden nodes, and environmental noise.
- Regulatory Compliance — Users can purchase the optional reporting module to gain access to legally validated compliance reports for 9 of the most common industry regulations including HIPAA, SOX, GLBA, PCI, BASEL-II, and ISO 27001.
- Intermittent Performance Problems — Understanding why the network that worked fine yesterday does not work today is one of the most common and troubling challenges of managing an enterprise WLAN. AirMagnet automatically identifies more than 130 classes of problems including RF problems, 802.11e issues, operational errors, traffic flow problems, overloaded devices, configuration vulnerabilities, authentication and encryption problems, security intrusions, DoS Attacks and unauthorized devices and connections.
No. The Enterprise Analyzer is designed specifically for use with a Cisco controller-based architecture and lightweight APs. Autonomous APs are NOT supported. However, all controllers and LWAPP capable APs are supported.
Absolutely not. The Enterprise Analyzer is a perfect complement to the features available in Cisco's WCS. Cisco WCS helps users configure, manage and monitor their wireless LANs. The AirMagnet Enterprise Analyzer offers technical troubleshooting and reporting. The Enterprise Analyzer is NOT an IDS system — it is an enterprise class network analyzer. Just like traditional wired network analyzers, AirMagnet gives network managers access to a rich set of real-time data that supplements their network management platform.
No. The Enterprise Analyzer requires APs to be in "Sniffer Mode". This mode allows the AP to forward all the data from the local wireless environment, enabling a deep technical analysis of all wireless traffic and devices.