topic CISCO wireless tools in Wireless

CISCO wireless tools

gabelz — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 08:02:07 GMT

Hi all,

I need a little clarification about Cisco wireless tools.

Cisco WLC is basically to configure wireless network(ap,ap groups,radius,etc),isn't it?

But when I need to monitor APs,clients,RFs,channels,etc...,Cisco WLC is not really "friendly",basically a lot of commands trough CLI.

So,which wireless tools will be necessary for a complete wireless Cisco experience(configuration,monitoring,meraki dashboard style)?

Thanks in advance,

Re: CISCO wireless tools

Mark Elsen — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 10:02:55 GMT

- In depth monitoring for a Cisco (9800) WLC is best done with integration into Catalyst Center (formerly DNAC) , assurance licensing advised if you need application monitoring too. ; meraki (dashboard) is a different track , with everything integrated already.
But in the 9800 WLC you will have some basic provisioning too for monitoring RF related parameters :
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/217738-monitor-catalyst-9800-kpis-key-performa.html#anc6 (e.g.!)

Re: CISCO wireless tools

balaji.bandi — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 10:04:47 GMT

Prime use to the tool old days (depends on what WLC controller you using)

Latest Catalyst Center (AKA - DNAC)

check below guide :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/cloud-systems-management/network-automation-and-management/dna-center/2-3-3/user_guide/b_cisco_dna_center_ug_2_3_3/m_work-with-wireless-2d-and-3d-maps.html

Re: CISCO wireless tools

Jerome BERTHIER — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 10:26:34 GMT

Hello

First of all, you may use the WebUI interface embedded on the WLC.

It is much user friendly thant CLI and you'll find several tools to monitor your setup. You'll find dashboard as well as best practices assessment.

If you want a more complete tool, you can look at Prime Infrastructure or Catalyst Center (formerly DNA Center). It is quite similar with the WLC WebUI but it adds planning tool and a way to manage several WLC and sites.

If you want to audit and optimise your configuration, you can look at Wireless Config Analyzer Express. It is published as a cloud tool or onprem application to run :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/wireless-lan-controller-software/212795-wireless-config-analyzer-express.html

https://github.com/CiscoDevNet/wcae

It will analyze in depth your setup.

Which model and controller version are you running ?

Regards

Re: CISCO wireless tools

gabelz — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 11:03:24 GMT

Hi Jerome,

Thanks for your time,but ,for example, I can't find a way to check AP channel utilization trough GUi,just a bunch of CLI commands,

show advanced 802.11b monitor or

show ap auto-rf 802.11a

is something can be done trough GUi as well and I can't sort it out?

TIA

Re: CISCO wireless tools

Jerome BERTHIER — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 11:34:44 GMT

You do have channel utilization in the monitoring pane of the main dashboard of the WebUI.

Then if you want to go further you'll find detail in the monitor tab of the advanced mode of the WebUI.

As an example, documentation for AireOS 8.1: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/8-1/olh/wlc-olh-81.pdf

As I said, WCAE is a precious tool to analyze your RF and client environment.

Regards

Re: CISCO wireless tools

Haydn Andrews — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 05:02:09 GMT

As others have said
DNAC

Meraki

WCAE

Other Network Management Systems - Solarwinds for example

Custom dashboard with some API calls to the 9800