Wireless Network Logging?

DekHog

DekHog

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Derek
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Does anyone know of a piece of software that will continually monitor a wireless network connection so I can then check the history in it for spurious disconnections?

A friend says his most used small network software (Dental Surgery software) is not working properly, and is convinced it's the network dropping out, but I'm not convinced about this and need to run something for a few days that will confirm this or otherwise. Looking at the windows application logs I'd say the program was just crashing, but he needs convincing...

TIA
 
Which hub/router is it? It may have something already built in that could track it.
 
If hes convinced its the network dropping, why not run an extended ping test from his machine to the switch/router/hub etc and post the results to a text file

This will show if there is any packet loss
 
neil_g said:
i dont but could you bin off the 3rd party wireless app and use windows?
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Ta - The laptops aren't running any 3rd party apps for the wireless anyway, only the windows wireless configuration, but to the best of my knowledge that doesn't log dropped connections, or if it does I've never heard of it...
 
Woblee said:
Which hub/router is it? It may have something already built in that could track it.
Click to expand...

Yup, I didn't have too long when I was in today, but there probably is something in the router firmware - it's a Draytek Vigor 2820....
 
ah right i assumed it was a 3rd party wireless app that was crashing.

to be honest im not sure how youre going to monitor this, if its the wireless dropping out or the program crashing youll get network loss so something like a ping wont help.

whats the event log entry out of interest?
 
noneforit said:
If hes convinced its the network dropping, why not run an extended ping test from his machine to the switch/router/hub etc and post the results to a text file

This will show if there is any packet loss
Click to expand...

Run a quick ping test today, and it was ok - too spurious to pick up using ping I think as it's only happening once or twice a day, and the network is constantly showing a 4/5 connection strength, so there's really no signal issue...
 
If the wireless drops out, it will lose connection to the hub/switch/router then a ping will show 'request timed out' instead of the normal reply for as long as the drop lasts
 
neil_g said:
...whats the event log entry out of interest?
Click to expand...

Can't remember off the top of my head, but it did show 'error' relating to the Merlin software - have cleared all the logs to make a fresh start. If I can get something to log the wireless I can compare it to the timestamp on the windows logs when it occurs again and will know for sure what the problem is...
 
Woblee said:
I've checked the specs on the hub

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2820.html

and it says

Built-in Diagnostic Function
Logging via Syslog

so maybe these might help...... time to dig the manual out, lol.
Click to expand...

Great... a router I've never even heard of before... :D

*Yup, it does a 'User Access Log' so hopefully it's already enabled, but if not will get it done ASAP*
 
noneforit said:
If the wireless drops out, it will lose connection to the hub/switch/router then a ping will show 'request timed out' instead of the normal reply for as long as the drop lasts
Click to expand...

yeah but what im saying is if the wireless app crashes and the connection drops youll still get a time out so youll be no further forward determining what the cause is :)

Can't remember off the top of my head, but it did show 'error' relating to the Merlin software - have cleared all the logs to make a fresh start. If I can get something to log the wireless I can compare it to the timestamp on the windows logs when it occurs again and will know for sure what the problem is...
Click to expand...

merlin being the EPOS system? ah i see you think its that app thats crashing rather than the wireless app crashing.. in which case my point above is moot.

to be honest id be extremely reluctant to run something like EPOS over wireless, if possible id run cat5 or use powerline adapters.

but id grab a screenshot of the event log entry and bung it across to merlin for diag.
 
We use those routers, they're great for security but I don't think there's much in the way of user-friendly logging, only a syslog server option. I've never encountered fallout from the wireless, there's 3 aerials in the back, a bit overkill but does the job.

Are you able to run a CAT5 from the server to the till or workstation to rule out the wireless?

I would put my money on the application crashing.
 
You could try Aircrack and Kismet. Although not generally used to monitor a connection you can pick up a fair amount data, requires a fair amount of technical knowledge though. Another one you could try is CommViewWifi. Its bit $$$ but they have a demo and your Wifi card needs to be compatible with monitor mode.
 
Carol said:
We use those routers, they're great for security but I don't think there's much in the way of user-friendly logging, only a syslog server option. I've never encountered fallout from the wireless, there's 3 aerials in the back, a bit overkill but does the job.

Are you able to run a CAT5 from the server to the till or workstation to rule out the wireless?

I would put my money on the application crashing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, just looked at the router manual and am not convinced myself that the logs will show dropped connections. CAT 5 totally out of the question for various reasons, the first one being he's just spent 75k doing the place up, and it's an lovely old building with high ceilings, cornices, freshly decorated etc, and location of the server means it's a definite no-no...
 
DekHog said:
Yeah, just looked at the router manual and am not convinced myself that the logs will show dropped connections. CAT 5 totally out of the question for various reasons, the first one being he's just spent 75k doing the place up, and it's an lovely old building with high ceilings, cornices, freshly decorated etc, and location of the server means it's a definite no-no...
Click to expand...

powerline adapters.
 
neil_g said:
powerline adapters.
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...unless it's the software crashing, which I really suspect is the case... can't believe it's so hard to find a small utility that would actually log this for me; I thought we had one for everything these days. King Boru's suggestions seem like hard work and overkill for what I need to do...
 
DekHog said:
...unless it's the software crashing, which I really suspect is the case... can't believe it's so hard to find a small utility that would actually log this for me; I thought we had one for everything these days. King Boru's suggestions seem like hard work and overkill for what I need to do...
Click to expand...

id get some anyway to be honest, running business critical software over wireless is asking for trouble in my opinion.

if event log is saying its crashing or theres a problem with it id be inclined to agree with it. id take a screen dump and contact merlin for help diagnosing the fault.
 
DekHog said:
King Boru's suggestions seem like hard work and overkill for what I need to do...
Click to expand...

It is overkill but it also allows you to track suspicious activity and all kind of custom logs. Also, out of interest what type of wireless security are you using?
 
I think its easy to blame the network for application errors. I would get the guys from Merlin involved and see if they can diagnose the problem. They probably have their own logging built-in to their application. You could find out if the crash occurs when they are doing a particular function, or on more than one terminal etc. Try a different wireless adaptor on the terminal, the Draytek Vigor N61 might be worth a try.
 
King_Boru said:
It is overkill but it also allows you to track suspicious activity and all kind of custom logs. Also, out of interest what type of wireless security are you using?
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I'm sure I seen WPA2 in the wireless connections window... will go have a play with the first two you mentioned on my own laptop and see how I get on... Ta.
 
Carol said:
I think its easy to blame the network for application errors. I would get the guys from Merlin involved and see if they can diagnose the problem. They probably have their own logging built-in to their application. You could find out if the crash occurs when they are doing a particular function, or on more than one terminal etc. Try a different wireless adaptor on the terminal, the Draytek Vigor N61 might be worth a try.
Click to expand...

It's actually a PC as the server, and two laptops in the surgeries, so they are obviously using the inbuilt wireless on them for a connection. I never had very long today, but will have a rake around the Merlin installation folder for log files when I go back on Monday... even finding out if it's happening on both laptops at the same time doesn't really tell you anything, as it could still be either or...

I've also emailed Merlin to ensure that Vista is fully supported, as it only mentions up to XP on the website, but my friend did say they had to get a new version since they'd moved over to Vista, so would imagine that all is well but the website just hasn't been updated.
 
I think I've cracked it... was having a good look around on my own laptop and all wireless connections/disconnections can be tracked under the log in Computer Management at Event Viewer > Applications and Services > Microsoft > Windows > WLAN-Autoconfig.

Event 8003 shows disconnections... :thumbs:
 
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