Wireless Network

Management
By E. Masinde
Introduction to network
management
• Wireless network monitoring and troubleshooting are
essential aspects of managing and maintaining a
reliable and efficient wireless network. Network
administrators must ensure that their networks are
operating smoothly by constantly monitoring network
performance and addressing any issues that arise. This
process can be divided into three primary components:
network monitoring techniques, troubleshooting
methodologies, and tools used for both monitoring and
troubleshooting.
Network Monitoring Techniques:
• Network monitoring involves observing and analyzing the behavior
of a wireless network to identify potential issues and ensure
optimal performance. There are two primary approaches to
wireless network monitoring:
• Passive Monitoring: In passive monitoring, network administrators collect
and analyze data without actively probing or interacting with the network.
They use tools to capture wireless traffic, inspect packets, and analyze
network activity. Passive monitoring can help identify security
vulnerabilities, detect unauthorized access points, and monitor network
performance.
• Active Monitoring: Active monitoring involves sending test packets or
traffic across the network to measure performance indicators, such as
latency, throughput, and packet loss. Active monitoring can help assess
the network's responsiveness, availability, and capacity, as well as identify
network issues before they impact users.
Troubleshooting Methodologies:
• Troubleshooting is the process of identifying, diagnosing, and resolving
network issues. Effective troubleshooting relies on a systematic approach,
which includes:
• Identifying Common Wireless Network Issues: Network administrators must be
familiar with common wireless network problems, such as interference, poor
coverage, weak signal strength, and misconfigurations. Understanding these
issues helps administrators quickly diagnose and address network problems.
• Root Cause Analysis: Once a problem has been identified, administrators must
determine its root cause by analyzing network data, reviewing configurations, and
conducting tests. Root cause analysis can help narrow down the issue to a specific
device, configuration setting, or environmental factor.
• Problem Resolution and Documentation: After determining the root cause,
administrators must implement a solution to resolve the issue and restore network
performance. Documenting the troubleshooting process, including the problem,
root cause, and resolution, is crucial for future reference and continuous
improvement.
Network Monitoring and
Troubleshooting Tools:
• Various tools are available to assist network administrators in
monitoring and troubleshooting wireless networks. Some
popular tools include:
• Wireshark: Wireshark is an open-source packet analyzer that allows
administrators to capture and inspect wireless traffic, helping to
identify network issues and security vulnerabilities.
• Network Management Systems (NMS): NMS tools, such as SolarWinds
or Cisco Prime Infrastructure, provide centralized monitoring and
management of wireless networks, offering features like real-time
monitoring, performance analysis, and configuration management.
• Site Survey Tools: Site survey tools, such as Ekahau or AirMagnet,
help administrators visualize wireless signal coverage, identify
interference sources, and optimize access point placement.
Wireless Network Configuration
and Optimization
Introduction
• Wireless network configuration and optimization involve
setting up and fine-tuning the various parameters of a
wireless network to ensure efficient operation and
optimal performance. Proper configuration and
optimization can significantly improve the user
experience, enhance network security, and minimize
potential issues. This process can be divided into four
primary components: network planning and design,
configuration best practices, network optimization
techniques, and tools used for both configuration and
optimization.
Network Planning and Design
• Before deploying a wireless network, administrators must carefully
plan and design the network to meet the desired performance,
coverage, and capacity requirements. Key aspects of network
planning and design include:
• Radio Frequency (RF) Planning: RF planning involves selecting appropriate
frequency bands, channels, and power levels for the wireless network.
Administrators must consider factors such as interference from other wireless
networks, physical obstructions, and coverage requirements when planning
the RF environment.
• Access Point (AP) Placement and Channel Assignment: Proper AP placement is
crucial for ensuring adequate coverage, capacity, and signal quality.
Administrators must strategically place APs to minimize interference, provide
seamless coverage, and balance client load. Additionally, assigning non-
overlapping channels to neighboring APs helps reduce co-channel interference
and improve overall network performance.
Configuration Best Practices:
• Network administrators must adhere to best practices when
configuring wireless networks to ensure security, performance,
and reliability. Some critical configuration best practices include:
• Security Settings: Implementing robust security measures is crucial to
protect the wireless network from unauthorized access and potential
threats. Key security settings include enabling Wi-Fi Protected Access
(WPA/WPA2/WPA3) encryption, using strong authentication methods
(such as 802.1X), and hiding the Service Set Identifier (SSID) to minimize
network visibility.
• Quality of Service (QoS) Policies: QoS policies help prioritize network
traffic based on application requirements, ensuring that critical or time-
sensitive traffic receives higher priority. Administrators should configure
QoS settings to manage bandwidth allocation, reduce latency, and
prevent network congestion.
Network Optimization Techniques
• Network optimization involves fine-tuning various network
parameters to improve performance, reliability, and user
experience. Some key network optimization techniques include:
• Load Balancing: Load balancing helps distribute client traffic evenly
across multiple APs or channels, preventing network congestion and
ensuring optimal performance. Administrators can implement load
balancing techniques such as band steering, which directs clients to the
less congested 5 GHz band, and client load balancing, which distributes
clients across APs based on their load.
• Adaptive Radio Management (ARM): ARM techniques dynamically adjust
network parameters, such as transmit power and channel assignment,
based on real-time network conditions. This helps maintain optimal
network performance, reduce interference, and adapt to changing
environments.
Network Configuration and
Optimization Tools
• Various tools are available to assist network administrators in
configuring and optimizing wireless networks. Some popular
tools include:
• Network Management Software: Network management software,
such as Cisco Prime Infrastructure or Aruba AirWave, allows
administrators to configure, monitor, and optimize wireless networks
from a centralized platform. These tools provide features like
configuration templates, performance analysis, and automated
optimization.
• Site Survey and Heatmap Tools: Site survey tools, such as Ekahau or
AirMagnet, help administrators visualize wireless signal coverage,
identify interference sources, and optimize AP placement. Heatmaps
can be used to visualize signal strength, coverage, and potential
dead zones, assisting in network planning and optimization.
Wireless Network Performance
Evaluation
Introduction
• Wireless network performance evaluation is a critical
aspect of managing and maintaining a wireless network.
It involves assessing the network's performance based
on various key performance indicators (KPIs) and
metrics, identifying areas of improvement, and
implementing necessary changes to enhance the user
experience, reliability, and efficiency. Performance
evaluation helps network administrators ensure that the
network meets the desired service levels, maintain
optimal network operation, and make informed decisions
regarding network upgrades and enhancements.
Concepts in Wireless Network
Performance Evaluation
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Metrics:

KPIs and metrics are quantitative measures used to

evaluate the performance of a wireless network. They
help network administrators identify potential issues,
monitor network health, and make data-driven decisions
to improve network performance. Some essential KPIs
and metrics in wireless network performance evaluation
include:
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
and Metrics
a. Signal Strength and Noise Levels:
Signal strength refers to the power level of the wireless signal received by a client
device, while noise level refers to the background radio frequency (RF) interference
present in the environment. A higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) indicates better wireless
signal quality and improved network performance.
b. Throughput and Latency:
Throughput measures the amount of data transmitted over the network in a given time,
typically expressed in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).
Latency refers to the time taken for a data packet to travel from the sender to the
receiver, usually measured in milliseconds (ms). Higher throughput and lower latency
indicate better network performance.
c. Packet Loss and Retransmissions:
Packet loss occurs when data packets fail to reach their intended destination due to
network congestion, interference, or other issues. Retransmissions happen when lost
packets are re-sent to ensure reliable data delivery. Excessive packet loss and
retransmissions can degrade network performance and negatively impact user
experience.
Benchmarking and Testing Tools
Benchmarking and testing tools help network administrators evaluate
wireless network performance by measuring KPIs and metrics under
various conditions. Some popular benchmarking and testing tools include:
• Speed Tests and Network Analyzers: Speed test tools, such as Ookla
Speedtest or iPerf, measure network throughput, latency, and other
performance metrics by sending test data between client devices and
servers. Network analyzers, like Wireshark or NetSpot, provide in-depth
analysis of wireless network traffic, helping administrators identify
potential issues and bottlenecks.
• Site Survey Tools and Heatmaps: Site survey tools, such as Ekahau or
AirMagnet, allow administrators to map wireless signal coverage, identify
interference sources, and assess network performance across different
locations. Heatmaps visually represent signal strength, coverage, and
other network parameters, assisting in the performance evaluation
process.
Performance Improvement
Strategies:
After evaluating wireless network performance, administrators
must implement strategies to address identified issues and
enhance network performance. These strategies may include:
• Identifying and Resolving Bottlenecks: Network bottlenecks are
points in the network where data flow is limited or constrained,
leading to reduced performance. Administrators must identify
and address these bottlenecks by optimizing configurations,
upgrading hardware, or implementing load balancing techniques.
• Network Upgrades and Enhancements: Network performance can
be improved by upgrading outdated hardware, such as access
points, routers, and switches, or by implementing new
technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6, to enhance network capacity,
throughput, and efficiency.