Wireless Monitoring Tools: Netstumbler, WirlessMon, InSSider

Wireless Monitoring

A monitor that does not require a wired connection to the computer system. The first wireless monitors are expected to be released in mid-2008 using wireless USB. To work, a wireless monitor must first packetize the graphics information so that it can be sent over a standard USB connection; then, a wireless USB transmitter picks it up and sends it; and finally, a receiver on the monitor takes in that data and converts it back into graphic pixels. Wireless monitors offer two basic configurations: adapter sets that let customers transform their existing displays, or monitors with wireless connectivity built-in.

Parameter Description

RSSI :- Receive signal strength indicator of the client RF session.

SNR :- Signal to noise ratio of the client RF session.

Bytes Sent and Received :- Total number of bytes sent to the client and received by the controller from the client.

Packets Sent and Received :- Total number of packets sent to the client and received by the controller from the client.

Client RSSI History (dBm) :- History of RSSI as detected by the access point with which the client is associated.

Client SNR History :- History of SNR as detected by the access point with which the client is associated. 

NetStumbler

NetStumbler (also known as Network Stumbler) is a tool for Windows that facilitates detection of Wireless LANs using the 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g WLAN standards. It runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. A trimmed-down version called MiniStumbler is available for the handheld Windows CE operating system.

The program is commonly used for:

• Wardriving
• Verifying network configurations
• Finding locations with poor coverage in a WLAN
• Detecting causes of wireless interference
• Detecting unauthorized ("rogue") access points
• Aiming directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links 

WirelessMon

Monitor the status of wi-fi adapters and gather information about nearby access points and hotspots in real-time with WirelessMon.

WirelessMon offers comprehensive graphing of signal level and real time IP and 802.11 WiFi statistics. It can log all wireless information it has collected into a file, for archival purposes and future reference.
WirelessMon is a software tool from PassMark Software which lets you:

• Verify that the 802.11 network configuration is correct.
• Test WiFi hardware and device drivers are functioning correctly.
• Check signal levels from your local WiFi network and nearby networks.
• Help locate sources of interference to your network.
• WirelessMon supports the MetaGeek Wi-Spy (2.4i, 2.4x and DBx) useful for finding interference from non 802.11A/B/G devices transmitting on the same frequencies.
• Scan for hot spots in your local area (great for wardriving!)
• Create signal strength maps of an area
• GPS support for logging and mapping signal strength
• Correctly locate your wireless antenna (especially important for directional antennas).
• Verify the security settings for local access points.
• Measure network speed & throughput and view available data rates.
• Help check wi-fi network coverage and range

 

 

 

InSSider

inSSIDer is a Wi-Fi network scanner for Windows. It received a 2008 Infoworld Bossie Award for "Best of open source software in networking"

• Works with internal Wi-Fi radio
• Wi-Fi network information (SSID, MAC, Access point vendor, data rate, signal strength, security, etc.)
• Graph signal strength over time
• Shows how Wifi networks overlap
• Open source (Apache License, Version 2.0)
• GPS Support
• Export to Netstumbler(*.ns1) files
• KML Logging