Wireless Access

I have the opportunity to deploy a number of dedicated AP's as either AM's or SM's. With the advent of the Spectrum Monitor do they know supersede Air Monitors? or should I consider deploying some of each?

bjackson, 

 

The big question is "What are your requirements for spectrum and air monitoring"?

 

 

 

I don't have any specific requirements defined. I would like to be able identify RF issues and eliminate rogue AP's when identified. 

Starting with ArubaOS 6.1.3.0, you can serve clients, do air monitoring functions and monitor the spectrum of the home channel of the ap.

This might be what you want..

It appears that the Spectrum monitor uses an AP license on the controller where an Air Monitor does not?

I had understood that RF Protect was required but I did not realize that each Spectrum Monitor takes an AP license. I thought that was only the case if an AP was used as a Hybrid and also served clients.

APs as spectrum monitors and in Air monitor mode both consume an ap license.

 

Was that always the case? I had been under the impression that Air Monitors did not use a license.

It is mesh APs that do not broadcast a wireless network that do not consume a license.

 

Please examine chapter 35 of the ArubaOS 6.1 user guide, "Licensing".

 

Inorder to get the option mode Spectrum monitor under radio profiles we need RF protect licnese.

 

Does that answers your question ?

 

AM: Air Monitor Aps do not support user connectivity. They are dedicated to constantly scan the radio environment, gathering Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Layer 2 information. Like Rogue APs etc.

 

SA: Spectrum APs have been setup (temporarily or permanently) to capture radio singals for analysis. APs that gather spectrum data across all operation channels, but to not service clients, are called Spectrum Monitors (SM). APs that DO service clients and also gather spectrum data on the channel of operation are said to be operating in hybrid mode.