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ApplicAtion Brief

AirWave VisualRF

Network-wide Visibility and

Location Mapping

Identiying service quality issues aecting users is a dicult task or organizationsmanaging mission-critical wireless networks. Traditional port-based network

management tools are not designed to provide an accurate picture o theissues aecting service quality the RF environment, mobility controllers, wired

inrastructure, and access points.

AirWave VisualRF, by Aruba Networks, brings the visibility and context neededto eectively manage todays mobile network. Providing an accurate view o theentire network, VisualRF automatically generates maps o the RF environment

and the underlying wired topology, showing what the network looks like in realtime. VisualRF builds this map using RF measurements gathered rom active,

authorized wireless access points and controllers, without requiring costly,separate location appliances. AirWave VisualRF displays exactly who is on the

network, where they are, and how the network is perorming. Armed with the RFcoverage and location data provided by VisualRF, IT administrators can solveproblems aster, improve service quality or users and make better decisions

about the network.

How Is VisualRF Used?

Whether youre planning a new wireless network or trying to isolate a usersproblem on the network, a picture is worth a thousand words. Ater all, the

networks perormance depends not only on how the inrastructure is perorming,but also on where users are and how well the APs signals reach them.

VisualRF calculates signal coverage and the location o wireless clients, RFID

tags, and rogue devices identied on the WLAN as well as intererers detectedthrough spectrum analysis. It uses a combination o dynamic RF sampling and a

predictive model based on site and inrastructure characteristics or areas whereRF sampling isnt available to calculate coverage and location. The VisualRFmodule exposes this inormation via an interactive web interace, displaying ully

integrated maps and location inormation to sta across the IT organization. Anopen XML API provides or a cost-eective way to utilize location data in a variety

o external location-based business applications.

The Aruba Advantage

A Bee Use Exeiece

AirWave rom Aruba Networks hasbeen designed rom the ground up asan operations solution or the wholeIT organization; rom the service desk,to the NOC, to network engineering.Each team member has role-basedaccess to relevant inormation, and itsusually just a click or two away.

Use-Ceic Maageme

AirWave provides a single, accuratepicture o everything that aectsservice quality or users rom wiredinrastructure, to the RF environment,to individual mobile devices. It alsointegrates seamlessly with existing ITservice management tools or moreecient problem resolution.

Ieigece f Bee

Decisi-Makig

AirWave provides a wide range o

actionable inormation, rom time-sensitive alerts to historical reporting.With data that spans days, months,and seasons, IT sta always havewhat they need to spot trends, plancapacity, and crat the right strategiesor their organization.

Mui-Ved, Mui-Aciecue,

Mui-Geeaia

Even in multi-vendor networks andmixed architectures with multiplegenerations o products, AirWave

provides a single view to monitor andmanage the entire network.

VisualRFs heat map view depicts the strength o the RF coverage in each location.

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www.arubanetworks.com |1344 Crossman Avenue. Sunnyvale, CA 94089

1-866-55-ARUBA | Tel. +1 408.227.4500 | Fax. +1 408.227.4550 | ino@arubanetworks.com

2011 Aruba Networks, Inc. Aruba Networks trademarks include AirWave, Aruba Networks, Aruba Wireless Networks, the registered Aruba the Mobile Edge Company logo, Aruba Mobility Man-agement System, Mobile Edge Architecture, People Move. Networks Must Follow, RFProtect, and Green Island. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property o their respective owners.AB_AW_VRF_US_110621

Ke Feaues

SIMplE SEtUp proCESS

No need or additional dedicated sensors, exciters or location servers

Imports existing building foor plans and maps rom third-party tools

Supports DWG, DWF and DFX CAD, PDFle ormats as well as common image le ormats

Batch upload tool can import hundreds o foor plans at one time

Automatically discovers and polls devices via AirWave

Automatically tracks any device that associates with the network, including laptop computers,PDAs, wireless VoIP phones, scanner guns and many Wi-Fi asset tags

Automatically tracks non-802.11 devices that interere with your wireless network

EFFECtIVE SItE plAnnInG DEploy yoUr nEtworK rIGht thEFIrSt tIME

Determines the right quantity and placement o APs, controllers and switches based on your

coverage goals

Supports 3rd party AP and network inrastructure products

Incorporates switches and wiring closets into network design

Automatically generates bill o material reports in Microsot Word ormats to simpliy the quote

and physical deployment process

VISUAlrF plAn: FrEE StAnDAlonE plAnnInG tool

Runs on Windows-based laptops and workstations

Uses the same RF planning and visualization algorithms as VisualRF Allows plans made ofine to be imported into VisualRF (and vice versa)

EFFICIEnt troUBlEShootInG

Dierent visual overlays display heat maps o expected signal quality, expected 802.11 data

rates, channel utilization, upstream relationships between APs and wiring closets and the

number o radios that can serve a voice client at every point on a foor plan

Automatically recalculates coverage maps and device locations as it receives real-time data rom

the wireless LAN inrastructure

Perorms what-i analysis or proactive coverage planning by simulating the ailure o a number

o deployed radios

opEn ArChItECtUrE

XML API enables cost-eective integration o valuable location data with other applications

ACCUrAtE loCAtIon DAtA

Allows quick location o users and wireless devices or troubleshooting, planning and asset

tracking

Generally achieves resolution below 10 meters horizontally and vertically without requiring

special sensors or site surveys

Plays back a users location history over the past day to aid in troubleshooting and recovery o

lost devices

Last known location o each tracked device is stored indenitely to help nd lost or stolen

devices

rF StAtIStICS

RF Statistics allow AirWave administrators to track and display various RF inormation over a

specied period o time or detailed analysis o:

RF channels, power, and noise

ARM events

Active sources o intererence Other relevant data used to generate specic RF health reports

BEttEr SECUrIty

View locations o rogue APs discovered by AirWave RAPIDS or aster investigation and threat

removal

Plan the proper locations or dedicated Wi-Fi sensors such as Aruba Air Monitors to ensure

complete coverage o your organizations RF environment

ApplicAtion Brief

AirWave VisualRF

I a problem intereres with

one o our mission- critical

applications, our users dont

care whether it is caused

by the devices frmware,

the wireless APs signal or

a down switch they just

want it fxed. With its new

wired inrastructure and

mobile device management

capabilities, AirWave delivers

the type o user- centric

management that meets our

users needs and aligns with

our goal o driving down IT

support costs.

Geg Caaa

Senior Network Engineer

Boise Inc.