Introduction to Wi-Fi network testing

The Test Agent software has the capability to connect to Wi-Fi (WiFi) networks and to run tests and monitors over such networks. This requires a Test Agent with a Wi-Fi Network Interface Card (NIC).

If you are using a preinstalled Test Agent from Paragon Active Assurance, a specific hardware model with an mPCIe Wi-Fi card from Intel is required (“HW Medium Wi-Fi”). Such Wi-Fi-capable preinstalled Test Agents have the iwlwifi driver installed. Note: These preinstalled Test Agents are no longer available for purchase.

If you are using x86 hardware not provided by Paragon Active Assurance, you again need a Wi-Fi NIC made by Intel (iwlwifi driver).

Currently the cards supported are those available for version 4.14 of the Linux kernel.

The Wi-Fi cards provided by Paragon Active Assurance have been tested together with our hardware. If you use a different Wi-Fi card, measurement accuracy cannot be guaranteed since not all possible setups have been verified.

The following Wi-Fi standards are supported:

• IEEE 802.11g

• IEEE 802.11n

• IEEE 802.11ac

Disclaimer

Wi-Fi result metrics are affected by many factors beyond the control of Paragon Active Assurance, such as other traffic, interference from other signals, and materials used in building structures. The results can therefore vary widely and must be interpreted with caution.

Related topics

• Use the Wi-Fi interface configuration dialog to configure the Wi-Fi card.

• Use the Wi-Fi logger task to collect Wi-Fi network measurements.

• Use the Wi-Fi switcher task to change Wi-Fi interface parameters.