RF Domain Sensor Configuration

WIPS (Wireless Intrusion Protection System) protects wireless client and access point radio traffic from attacks and unauthorized access. WIPS provides tools for standards compliance and around-the-clock wireless network security in a distributed environment. WIPS allows administrators to identify and accurately locate attacks, rogue devices and network vulnerabilities in real time and permits both a wired and wireless lockdown of wireless device connections upon acknowledgment of a threat.

In addition to dedicated AirDefense sensors, an access point radio can function as a sensor and upload information to a dedicated WIPS server (external to the access point). Unique WIPS server configurations can be used to ensure a WIPS server configuration is available to support the unique data protection needs of a RF Domain.

WIPS is not supported on a WLAN basis, rather, sensor functionality is supported on the access point radio(s) available to each managed WLAN. When an access point radio is functioning as a WIPS sensor, it is able to scan in sensor mode across all legal channels within the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz band. Sensor support requires an AirDefense WIPS Server on the network. Sensor functionality is not provided by the access point alone. The access point works in conjunction with a dedicated WIPS server.

In addition to WIPS support, sensor functionality has been added for Extreme Networks‘ ExtremeLocation system. locationing system. The ExtremeLocation system for Wi-Fi locationing includes WiNG controllers and access points functioning as sensors. Within the ExtremeLocation architecture, sensors scan for RSSI data on an administrator defined interval and send to a dedicated ExtremeLocation Server resource, as opposed to an ADSP server. The ExtremeLocation Server collects the RSSI data from WiNG sensor devices, and calculates the location of Wi-Fi devices.

To define a WIPS server configuration used with the access point‘s RF Domain:

  1. Go to Configuration → Devices.
  2. Select an RF Domain from those listed on left-hand side of the UI.
    The RF Domain configuration menu displays in the left-hand UI.
  3. Select Sensor.
    Click to expand in new window
    RF Domain - Sensor Configuration screen
  4. Use the Sensor Policy drop-down menu to select a sensor policy for sending RSSI information to a dedicated system for device locationing calculations. Different policies can be created with either a default set of scanned channels or with custom channels, widths and weighted scan priorities. Specific channels can also be isolated and locked for specific channel scans.
    Note

    Note

    If a dedicated sensor is utilized with ADSP for rogue detection, any sensor policy selected from the Sensor Policy drop-down menu is discarded and not utilized by the sensor. To avoid this situation, use ADSP channel settings exclusively to configure the sensor and not the WiNG interface.
  5. Select the Create icon to create a new sensor policy or select the Edit icon to update the configuration of an existing policy. The Sensor Policy addition screen displays with the Scan Mode set to Default-Scan. The user configurable parameters available within the screen differ depending on the Scan Mode option selected. For more information, see Sensor Policy.
  6. In the ExtremeLocation Appliance Configuration field, select the + Add Row button to populate the ExtremeLocation server details.
    Within the ExtremeLocation Appliance architecture, sensors scan for RSSI data on an administrator defined interval and send to a dedicated ExtremeLocation server resource, as opposed to an ADSP server.
    Server Id Use the spinner control to assign a numerical ID for the ExtremeLocation server resource.
    Note: As of now only one server is supported.
    IP Address/Hostname Provide the hostname of the ExtremeLocation server resource for receiving RSSI scan data from the AP. Hostname cannot exceed 64 characters or contain an underscore.
    Note: Enter the ExtremeLocation server‘s hostname and not the IP address, as the IP address is likely to change periodically in order to balance load across multiple Location server instances.
    Port Use the spinner control to specify the port of the ExtremeLocation sensor server resource receiving RSSI scan data from a dedicated sensor. The default port is 443.
  7. Enter the ExtremeLocation Tenant‘s account number in the Tenant Account field.
    Use this field to configure your ExtremeLocation Tenant account number. Every Tenant, subscribing for the ExtremeLocation service, is communicated (via, email) an account number that uniquely identifies the Tenant. When configured in the RF Domain context, reports pushed to the ExtremeLocation server by RF Domain APs contain this account number. Including the Tenant account number reinforces the Tenant's identity.
  8. Select the Enable NSight Sensor checkbox to enable the NSight module
  9. Select OK to save the changes to the Sensor configuration.
    Click Reset to revert to the last saved configuration.
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