Objective:
This guide explains how to collect packet captures from all interfaces of an Access Point (AP) simultaneously for troubleshooting purposes. This method is useful for diagnosing wireless connectivity issues.
Requirements:
- A computer with Wireshark installed (wired or wirelessly connected to the network)
- Access to the affected AP's IP address
- Access to the SmartZone's web user interface
Procedure:
1. Start the Capture on the AP:
- Access the SmartZone's web user interface.
- Navigate to the specific AP for which you want to capture packets.
- In the AP settings, find the option to initiate a packet capture on the AP radio.
- Start the packet capture from the AP radio. Ensure that it captures data from all interfaces simultaneously.
2. Prepare Your Computer:
- Ensure that Wireshark is installed on your computer.
- Launch Wireshark.
- Before starting the capture, navigate to Capture > Options.
- In the 'Capture Options' window, click 'Manage Interfaces'.
- In the 'Manage Interfaces' window, go to the 'Remote Interfaces' tab.
- Click the '+' icon to add a new remote interface.
- Type the IP address of the affected AP in the 'Host' field.
- Leave the 'Port' field blank.
- Select 'Null authentication' from the dropdown menu.
- Click 'OK'.
3. Select All Interfaces:
- Back in the 'Manage Interfaces' window, all interfaces of the affected AP will be listed and checked. Ensure they are all selected.
- Click 'OK'.
4. Prepare for Capture:
- Be ready with a testing device in the affected area before proceeding, as you will start receiving a significant amount of traffic.
- Click 'Start' in Wireshark to begin capturing traffic from all interfaces simultaneously.
5. Perform Testing:
- Conduct the testing required to replicate the issue. Make sure the issue is replicated while the packet collection is performed.
- Once the testing is completed, stop the capture in Wireshark.
- Save the captured data in Wireshark to a file for further analysis. (If the captured that is too much, filter the desired packets and save only the portion of interest)
- Access the GUI of the AP and stop the capture from there.
Collect the Support Log:
- Collect the support log of the AP. This log may contain valuable information for diagnosing the issue.
By following this procedure, you can initiate a packet capture from the AP radio using the SmartZone's web user interface and gather packet captures from all interfaces of the AP, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting and resolving wireless connectivity issues.
