This release note describes AirMagnet Laptop Wireless LAN Analyzer v2.0 feature enhancements and limitations. For operational instructions, please refer to the AirMagnet Laptop Wireless LAN Analyzer User Guide. A soft copy of the User Guide is available in PDF format on the AirMagnet product CD.

Minimum System Requirements

• Windows XP or Windows 2000
• Memory: 128 MB minimum (256MB recommended)
• 20 MB of free disk space for installation
• Open PCMCIA card slot

More Operating System Support

AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer 2.0 adds supports Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows XP.

View More Information With Larger Display Areas

AirMagnet 2.0 takes advantage of the large display by unfolding the handheld screens, allowing you to view more data on each screen. AirMagnet uses a Smart Size technology to display the most useful information in response to available screen space without the use of annoying scrollbars. For example, on the Infrastructure screen, the node detail is displayed in a separate table, if there is adequate space.

Display More Charts At The Same Time

Now you can view more than one chart by simply selecting the number of charts from the combo-box . You may view up to six charts of information at one time.

Save More Frames With Larger Capture File

The maximum capture buffer size is increased to 64 MB to allow you to capture more frames for later review. This larger capture file allows network professionals to save as much information as they need to diagnose even the most elusive network problems. The capture buffer size is selectable with the following options: 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB.

Save Capture File in More Formats

AirMagnet 2.0 adds support for saving files in Ethereal and sniffer file format.

Print More Information

AirMagnet 2.0 adds printing support for all main screens and includes a print preview feature.

More Configurable Alarm Thresholds

AirWISE technology monitors WLAN characteristics and reports anomalies before they become critical problems. With AirMagnet 2.0, users can configure and tune the alarm criteria (threshold) for their specific WLAN environment. This capability further removes the need for WLAN administrator to constantly monitor WLAN statistics and filter through alarms.

More WLAN Performance Alarms

Three new performance alarms are implemented for AirMagnet 2.0. They are:

WLAN hidden station (or hidden node) problem causes packet collisions at the AP. Hidden stations result in high CRC error rates and high frame retry percentages. AirMagnet detects hidden station problems with its patent pending technology, and alerts WLAN administrators of the specific stations causing the problem.

AP system or firmware resets are a common source of problems in WLANs. Such resets may be caused by ill-behaving software or hardware implementations, or by excessive configuration changes - each requiring a firmware reset in order to take effect. AirMagnet automatically detects these AP resets with yet another of our patent pending technologies.

WLAN stations constantly probe for APs until they can successfully associate with one. Such probe requests are link layer broadcast at low speed (1 or 2mbps), and as a result consume much more WLAN bandwidth than regular WLAN traffic. AirMagnet 2.0 can automatically report on these stations insuring network administrators can provide help to users that need, while keeping WLAN performance at a high level.

Limitations

• AirMagnet detects VPN implementation by looking into protocols above the 802.11 link layer. When real time WEP decryption is not available (Aironet in use, WEP key not configured, 802.1x dynamic key in use), AirMagnet will not be able to detect VPN usage.

Technical Support

For technical assistance or feature enhancement requests, please send e-mail to support@airmagnet.com or call technical support at 650-694-6754, Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific Standard Time.