AirMagnet bids to analyse Cisco

'Vell...Cisco's just zis guy, y'know?'

By Bryan Betts • Get more from this author

Posted in Telecoms, 21st February 2007 09:54 GMT

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WLAN analysis outfit AirMagnet has brought out software designed to work with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network. AirMagnet already has a version of the tool, which is called Enterprise Analyzer, for Aruba's Mobile Edge Architecture.

Enterprise Analyzer for Cisco uses existing Cisco lightweight access points as sniffers to collect live network traffic data across all the Wi-Fi channels and analyse it for performance issues. At its core is signature detection software which AirMagnet claimed can automatically pick up network problems, explain them to the user, and offer advice on how to fix them.

AirMagnet said not only can the software use an organisation's existing access points, but it can access access points on remote sites too. It includes diagnostic tools as well, enabling it to remotely test network devices and connectivity.

"Enterprise Analyzer makes it possible for us to leverage our clients' existing infrastructures to perform wireless analyses," said Greg Taylor, a senior wireless consultant at INS, a Californian IT consultancy which was recently acquired by BT. "We work with clients who have hundreds or even thousands of access points, and this enables us to reach out to any corner of those networks and perform analyses to maximise network performance."

The software can track interference from Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi sources, test jitter to help solve wireless VoIP problems, and record network data for later analysis, AirMagnet said.

Pricing starts at £6,000 for a company licence covering up to three wireless controllers. ®

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