802.11n: platform vs. point solution
DESCRIPTION
Watch the full OnDemand Webcast: http://bit.ly/platformvpoints With 802.11n ratification a distant memory, news regarding this giant leap in WLAN capability has also waned. But while 11n has quietly receded into the media background, WLANs have crept out of the cocoon of the data-only world and taken flight as full-fledged networking platforms. From dedicated 802.11 communication systems to generic voice and video over wireless with the explosive availability of smart phones, 802.11n is driving a major shift from locally available point solutions to widely distributed, highly available access for all types of applications. Technological advances typically highlight new technological challenges, and this quiet revolution is no exception. Networks, devices, and applications all need to be monitored and managed. Mobility introduces previously unconsidered consequences. The network topology constantly changes as users access and exit the network. New devices with new capabilities crop up almost every day. This web seminar will analyze this wireless metamorphosis with a focus on addressing these key technological challenges. In this web seminar, we will cover: * Wireless trends * The Wi-Fi lifecycle * 802.11n as a driving force * Management layers for complex wireless networks What you will learn: 1. The importance of careful Wi-Fi design and planning 2. How to use 802.11n to your advantage 3. How to dissect and address your wireless management needsTRANSCRIPT
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Jay BotelhoDirector of Product [email protected] me @jaybotelho
802.11nPlatform vs. Point Solution
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Agenda
• Wireless Trends
• The Wi-Fi Lifecycle
• 11n – A Driving Force
• Designing and Planning
• The Wireless Management Onion
• 11n – What Matters to You
• Company Overview
• Product Line Overview
© WildPackets, Inc. 3802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
Platforms
• Hardware PlatformA group of compatible computers (computing devices) that can run the same software (firmware).
• Software PlatformA major piece of software, as an operating system, an operating environment, or a database, under which various smaller application programs can be designed to run.
• PlatformA horizontal surface or structure raised above the level of the surrounding area.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/platform
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Wireless Trends
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Trends to Watch
• Blurring the lines – Wi-Fi and Cellular‒ Wi-Fi complements cellular‒ Voice Enterprise – moving from proprietary to standards-based‒ Voice handoff‒ Fitting 11n into the design
• Consumer devices in the enterprise
• The rebirth of the smart AP
• Net Neutrality – “Freedom to Access vs. Access Itself”‒ QoS pricing?‒ Tethering
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Trends to Watch (cont.)
• Wi-Fi certification‒ Wi-Fi Direct (P2P)
• Best of What's New 2010 designation from Popular Science• Enables devices to connect, share, sync, print, and play - when,
where and how users want‒ Hot-spot certification – truly secure hotspot connections?
• Higher throughput from new spectrum allocation‒ 60GHz‒ Very High Throughput 5GHz
• NOT on my list – Consolidated network management
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The Wi-Fi Lifecycle
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Network Designand Requirements
”How to create a high performance Wi-Fi network?”
ManagementTroubleshootingExpansion ”How to resolve issues and cope with changes? How to expand the network?”
DeploymentandVerification ”Does my network function as required?”
Ensure coverageVerify performanceCheck correct AP configurationsTest end-to-end network
operation
See the network coverage and performance during and after deployment
Solve Wi-Fi issues, such as 802.11n issues Excessive interference Rogue APs, Broken APs Coverage holes / leakage Plan for added capacity or
coverage
See network trouble spots and find corrective measures
See the impact of added access points or new technologies
Define applications to be usedDefine areas to be covered
Find locations for the APsDetermine AP configurationsFind optimal antennas and their
alignment
See the network coverage and performance prior to depoyment
The Wi-Fi Life Cycle Has a Lot to Consider
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11n – A Driving Force
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Example – Purdue University
• "The management of our wireless network, when you boil it down, is three people. It's three busy people, but not three suicidal people." - Scott Ksander, Executive Director of Networks and Security
• 6,000 802.11n APs, 265 buildings, 10,000 users
• Using a controller-based architecture is a must
• Uses Cisco software for centralized monitoring but requires specific trouble-shooting tools for the field
• 11n is a must – Purdue learned the hard way that large lecture halls with 802.11bg APs could not tolerate 600 students logging in at the same time
Source: http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid7_gci1373978,00.html
© WildPackets, Inc. 11802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
The Real World at Liberty University
• Multi-channel, IP-based video (IPTV) over wireless
• Provide roaming students with universal access to multi-channel video
• Delivery of 15 live TV channels
• Liberty's campus channel as well as ABC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and a range of other broadcasters
• Serves 46,000 local/remote students and 2,600 FTEs
• Network includes more than 770 Aruba 802.11n access points
Source: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Liberty-University-Launches-Campus-Wide-Wireless-IPTV-Using-80211n-Wi-Fi-From-Aruba-NASDAQ-ARUN-1069662.htm
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Designing and Planning
© WildPackets, Inc. 13802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
Wireless Network DesignNo Longer An Option
• Visual, Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi toolkit for‒ 3D Network Design‒ Deployment and Verification‒ Troubleshooting
• Created for IT administrators / managers and wireless professional services persons
‒ For anyone dealing with a Wi-Fi network of over 10 APs
• Software application, runs on Windows laptops (XP/Vista/7 32/64bit)
• Supports 802.11n, and 802.11a/b/g
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Automatic Network Planning
Select your requirement, such as VoIP
Indicate desired coverage areas
Select AP model and AP parameters
Automatically find optimal number of APs, AP placement, and configurations based on your requirements
ESS calculates the locations and configurations for the APs for the entire building – in 3D!
Fully supports 802.11n
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The Wireless Management Onion
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Spectrum
RF activity over time (bottom is now, top is 2,5 minutes ago)
A wireless camera was first turned off, then switched on to cause an RF havoc
Wi-Fi Channels 1-3 are mostly affected by the device
Find issues caused by non-802.11 devices, such as microwave ovens, wireless cameras, motion detectors, and Zigbee.
RF intensity (the higher the more intense)
Momentary RF intensity (blue = max, green = avg)
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Wi-Fi
Network Issues Visualization pinpoints network problem locations and causes with a single view
Instant, on-the-spot assessment using the Live Network Status view. Take the laptop the problematic location and see what’s wrong.
Each color represents a different cause for network errors:Low signal or data rate, insufficient overlap, high packet loss, high latency times
Troubleshoot network issues on-the-spot, or after survey
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© WildPackets, Inc. 18802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
Network
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Wired and Wireless
• Security protocols and policy• Rogue APs and clients• Ad-hoc networks• Wireless security attacks• QoS configuration and use• Signal strength• Dropped packets and retries
• Tracking wireless packets onto the wired network
• QoS configuration and use• VPN/MPLS• Application vs. network latency
AccessPoint Router
Air-link
PrivateNetworkor the
Internet
AuthServer
Ethernet Ethernet
WLANController
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11n – What Matters to You
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How Much Do You Need?
• MIMO
• Channel Bonding
• Block Acknowledgements
• Aggregation
• Short Guard Interval
• Beam Forming
802.11n – Are You Seeing It All?
Aruba Networks, 2008
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Availability
• Must distinguish between APs and wireless adapters
• “NxM” = 3x3 is pretty easy to find‒ Both for APs and wireless adapters
• 3x3:3 is difficult to find‒ Look for 450 MHz throughput – not many out there‒ APs are a bit easier to find‒ Wireless adapters are much more difficult to find
• Form factor is also an issue‒ PCIe cards (internal laptop adapters) will be first to market‒ USB devices coming slowly – power is an issue in “:3” devices
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Company Overview
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Corporate Background
• Experts in network monitoring, analysis, and troubleshooting‒ Founded: 1990 / Headquarters: Walnut Creek, CA‒ Offices throughout the US, EMEA, and APAC
• Our customers are leading edge organizations‒ Mid-market, and enterprise lines of business‒ Financial, manufacturing, ISPs, major federal agencies,
state and local governments, and universities‒ Over 7,000 customers / 60+ countries / 80% of Fortune 1,000
• Award-winning solutions that improve network performance‒ Internet Telephony, Network Magazine, Network Computing Awards‒ United States Patent 5,787,253 issued July 28, 1998
• Different approach to maintaining availability of network services
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What We Do
• Provide network visibility and intelligence …‒ WatchPoint, OmniPeek, OmniEngines
• Expert systems – we find the problems for you• Superior drill-down capability – trouble-shoot from anywhere• Flexible, customizable, extensible – leverage your investment
‒ Professional services, training, best practices
• For all network segments …‒ Data center to desktop to remote office‒ LAN, WAN, Wireless …‒ HTTP, Email, Database, VoIP, Video …
• To …‒ Network engineers; IT Management; Developers
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Real-World Deployments
Education
Health Care / Retail
Financial
Telecom
Government
Technology
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Product Line Overview
© WildPackets, Inc. 29802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
Product OfferingsSoftware and Turnkey Appliances
• Enterprise Monitoring and Reporting‒ WatchPoint Server‒ OmniFlow, NetFlow, and sFlow Collectors
• Network Probes & Recorders‒ Omnipliance Network Recorders – Edge, Core‒ TimeLine Network Recorder‒ OmniAdapter Analysis Cards
• Distributed Analysis Software‒ OmniPeek – Enterprise, Professional, Basic, Connect‒ OmniEngine – Enterprise, Desktop, OmniVirtual
• Portable Solutions‒ OmniPeek software‒ Omnipliance Portable
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WatchPointCentralized Monitoring for Distributed Enterprise Networks
• High-level, aggregated view of all network segments
‒ Monitor per campus, per region, per country
• Wide range of network data‒ NetFlow, sFlow, OmniFlow,
SNMP
• Web-based, customizable network dashboards
• Flexible and detailed reports
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© WildPackets, Inc. 32802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
Omnipliance Network Recorders
• Captures and analyzes all network traffic at the source 24x7‒ Runs our OmniEngine intelligent probe software‒ Generates vital statistics on network and application performance‒ Intuitive root-cause analysis of performance bottlenecks
• Intelligent data transport‒ Network data analyzed locally‒ Detailed analysis passed to OmniPeek on demand‒ Summary statistics sent to WatchPoint for long term trending and
reporting‒ Efficient use of network bandwidth
• Expert analysis speeds problem resolution‒ Fault analysis, statistical analysis, and independent notification
• Multiple Issue Digital Forensics‒ Real-time and post capture data mining for compliance and
troubleshooting
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TimeLine Network Recorder11.7Gbps Sustained Capture
• Fastest network recording and real-time statistical display — simultaneously
‒ Network statistics display in TimeLine visualization format
• Rapid, intuitive forensics search and retrieval‒ Historical network traffic analysis and quick data rewinding‒ Several pre-defined forensics search templates making
searches easy and fast
• A natural extension to the WildPackets product line
• Turnkey bundled solution
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Omnipliance Network RecordersPrice/performance solutions for every application
Portable Edge Core TimeLineRuggedized
TroubleshootingSmall Networks / Remote Offices
Regional Offices /Small Datacenter
DatacenterWorkhorse
Chassis 1U 3U 3U
Memory 2 GB / 8 GB 4 GB / 8 GB 6 GB / 24 GB 18 GB / 24 GB
Expansion 1 PCI-E / 2 PCI-X 1 PCI-E or 1 PCI-X 4 PCI-E 4 PCI-E
Storage 500 GB / 2.5 TB 1 TB 8 TB 8 TB / 16 TB / 32 TB
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OmniPeek Network Analyzer
• OmniEngine Manager‒ Connect and configure distributed OmniEngines/Omnipliances
• Comprehensive dashboards present network traffic in real-time‒ Vital statistics and graphs display trends on network and application
performance‒ Visual peer-map shows conversations and protocols‒ Intuitive drill-down for root-cause analysis of performance bottlenecks
• Visual Expert diagnosis speeds problem resolution‒ Packet and Payload visualization provide business-centric views
• Automated analytics and problem detection 24/7‒ Easily create filters, triggers, scripting, advanced alarms and alerts
© WildPackets, Inc. 36802.11n: Platform Vs. Point Solution
Key Differentiators
• High-level network monitoring to root-cause analysis
• Single solution for today’s converged networks‒ Wired, Wireless, 1GB, 10GB, VoIP, Video, TelePresence, IPTV
• Reduce and even eliminate network downtime‒ Automated monitoring 24x7‒ Speedy resolution of network bottlenecks
• Improve network and application performance
• Uniquely Extensible Platform – tailored to your needs
‒ Plug-ins and APIs for integration and customization
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Q&A
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Thank You!
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