NetAlly Network Testing Solutions

Education

Network Troubleshooting for the Education Sector

Networks supporting educational facilities face evolving demands as technology in the education sector has rapidly advanced, providing new learning methods to both students and teachers, while their internal IT organizations struggle to support them with lean teams and budgets. For educators and network professional alike, it seems, everything has changed!

When students are in class, network operations staff face issues with congested links, complaints of “I can’t connect”, and noisy WiFi – but now there is an opportunity. Low-utilization periods have proven to be excellent times for benchmarking performance, throughput testing, discovering and resolving latent issues lurking in the system. Problems can be mitigated without the competing student traffic which can make them harder to find. And in fact, NOW is the time to re-assess the network infrastructure, prior to students returning to on-site learning.

Learn how to address the top five challenges facing network operations in the educational sector and some best practices to resolve them – or prevent them occurring in the first place.

Top 5 Challenges in education sector

Education Carousel
Distributed Network, Many Remote Sites

EtherScope nXG is designed with local network discovery and path analysis to determine what devices are connected at the remote office. From any location, engineers can remotely generate tests back to the server environment to measure the network roundtrip time, server connectivity, and application response time.

EtherScope nXG is designed with local network discovery and path analysis to determine what devices are connected at the remote office. From any location, engineers can remotely generate tests back to the server environment to measure the network roundtrip time, server connectivity, and application response time.

Keeping the WiFi Network Secure

EtherScope nXG automated network discovery feature makes it simple to find new or unexpected devices are lurking in the shadows, especially any new devices identified with a MAC ID of “Linksys”, “Netgear” or “TP-LINK”. In the local environment, network technicians can use the device discovery feature of the AirCheck to monitor wireless devices that advertise connectivity and hunt down any rogue AP’s.

EtherScope nXG automated network discovery feature makes it simple to find new or unexpected devices are lurking in the shadows, especially any new devices identified with a MAC ID of “Linksys”, “Netgear” or “TP-LINK”. In the local environment, network technicians can use the device discovery feature of the AirCheck to monitor wireless devices that advertise connectivity and hunt down any rogue AP’s.

High WiFi Density

Robust, high performance, high density wireless networks are difficult to implement without the ability to “see” the environment. AirMapper Site Survey app, available on the EtherScope nXG and AirCheck G2, helps network engineers to visualize signal and noise measurements across a floorplan, enabling them to find blind spots and interference points.

Robust, high performance, high density wireless networks are difficult to implement without the ability to “see” the environment. AirMapper Site Survey app, available on the EtherScope nXG and AirCheck G2, helps network engineers to visualize signal and noise measurements across a floorplan, enabling them to find blind spots and interference points.

Education Carousel
Wide Technology Base,
Limited Staff Experience

LinkRunner G2 and AirCheck are designed with these specific technicians in mind. One-click autotests allow them to validate DNS, DHCP, LLDP/ CDP, switch connectivity, service ping, TCP connectivity, throughput testing and application response.

LinkRunner G2 and AirCheck are designed with these specific technicians in mind. One-click autotests allow them to validate DNS, DHCP, LLDP/ CDP, switch connectivity, service ping, TCP connectivity, throughput testing and application response.

Challenges IT Organizations Face in Supporting Educational Facilities

Challenges IT Organizations Face in Supporting Educational Facilities and How to Address Them

Challenges IT Organizations Face in Supporting Educational Facilities and How to Address Them

Challenges IT Organizations Face in Supporting Educational Facilities and How to Address Them

Documentation of Devices, WiFi coverage, PoE and Connection Validation

NetAlly tools are designed to upload test results to our complimentary cloud-based environment called Link-Live™. Here, IT organizations can maintain a one-stop spot for automated network documentation such as: connectivity tests, device discovery, network mapping, WiFi heatmaps, packet captures, signal coverage maps, channel tests, throughput tests and much more.

NetAlly tools are designed to upload test results to our complimentary cloud-based environment called Link-Live™. Here, IT organizations can maintain a one-stop spot for automated network documentation such as: connectivity tests, device discovery, network mapping, WiFi heatmaps, packet captures, signal coverage maps, channel tests, amd throughput tests.

previous arrow
next arrow

Steps to success

Access network​
• Validate/troubleshoot connectivity from patch cable to cloud​

Test results​
• Capture every test with zero-touch cloud reporting​
• Manage results and create reports in Link-Live​

Testing methods & procedures​
• Employ the same process, every time, by everyone​

Staff​
• Know who is testing what and when​
• Enable lower/no-skilled staff to do the job​

Budget​
• Provide every tech the right tool for the job – no sharing

Handheld Network Test Portfolio​
“The Right Tool for the Job”​

NetAlly Network Testing Tools

Proven track record of success

University of Colorado – Colorado Springs

Challenges
• Reliable wireless connectivity
• Resolve IT tickets quickly and easily

Solution
EtherScope® nXG, AirMapper™ Site Survey app, and Link-Live Cloud Service

Benefits
• “View Analysis” and topology mapping features in Link-Live for viewing network discovery results, allowing the team to see previously unknown issues causing problems for the network
• Easily track test results and device information, such as MAC addresses, serial numbers, and software versions with Link-Live

Download our full case study here.

Valparaiso University

Challenges
Process for testing network ports in student resident halls was time consuming and inefficient​

Solution
LinkSprinter® Pocket Network Tester

Benefits
• Rapid identification of switch name, port number, & VLAN information​
• Cut project implementation time from 1 month to 1 week​

Download our full case study here. 

“With the NetAlly testing tools, I don’t need to fumble around with multiple tools as I’m troubleshooting and pinpointing issues,” added Ensanian. “Now I’m able to quickly and easily eliminate the source of the problem, such as PoE, a bad cable, or interference. I can check all these things with one tool instead of having to switch tools, which is incredibly handy. It reduces the amount of time I’m troubleshooting. Ultimately, I’m able to get the end-user back online quicker.”
Cody Ensanian
Senior Wireless Network Technician for UCCS