Access Point Monitoring with PRTG

Along with hubs, routers, switches, and repeaters, wireless access points provide for seamless communication in a network by sending data between the wireless network and the wired network via a wireless adapter. Wireless access points serve as interfaces between wireless communication devices and fixed-line data networks. They increase the area from which a network can be accessed, which is particularly important for larger companies with expansive working environments.

Access points (APs) are devices that provide wireless connectivity for devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Depending on the use case, infrastructure, and specific needs, there are various types of access points available:

• Standalone access points: These are independent, basic access points that are typically used in small networks (like home or small offices) where minimal management is required.
• Controller-based access points (managed): These APs work with a centralized controller, allowing for more extensive network management and scalability. A wireless LAN controller (WLC) manages multiple APs simultaneously.
• Cloud-managed access points: These APs are managed and monitored through a cloud-based platform, allowing administrators to control the network remotely.
• Mesh access points: Mesh APs form a wireless "mesh" network, where multiple APs communicate with one another to extend coverage over a larger area without needing to be hard-wired to the network.
• Power over Ethernet (PoE) access points: PoE APs receive power and network connectivity through a single Ethernet cable, making them easier to install in locations without nearby electrical outlets.
• Enterprise access points: Designed for large organizations, enterprise APs support large numbers of concurrent users, provide advanced security, and offer features like multiple SSIDs, guest networking, and VLAN support.
• Unified access points (unified threat management): These APs combine wireless access with additional security features, such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and malware protection.
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access points: Wi-Fi 6 APs are the latest generation, offering enhanced speed, efficiency, and capacity. They are designed to handle the growing number of connected devices.

Access point monitoring refers to the process of observing, tracking, and analyzing the performance and activity of wireless access points (APs) in a network. An access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi. Monitoring these APs ensures optimal performance, security, and network reliability. It is a critical component of network management, particularly in environments with many wireless users or devices, such as businesses, campuses, or public venues.

Access point monitoring can have several focus areas, depending on what you want to particularly keep an eye on. Key aspects include:

Performance tracking:

• Monitoring metrics like signal strength, bandwidth usage, connection speeds, and traffic load.
• Identifying if an access point is overloaded, or if users are experiencing slow or unstable connections.

Device management:

• Tracking which devices are connected to each access point, their IP addresses, MAC addresses, and session durations.
• Allowing for load balancing by distributing connected devices across different access points for optimal performance.

Signal strength monitoring:

• Measuring the quality of the Wi-Fi signal being broadcast by each access point.
• Detecting weak signal areas or "dead zones," where Wi-Fi coverage is inadequate.

Security monitoring:

• Alerting administrators to unauthorized access points or devices attempting to connect to the network (rogue access points).
• Detecting potential intrusions, suspicious activity, and potential security vulnerabilities, such as weak encryption or unauthorized users.

Network health monitoring:

• Providing insights into overall network health by aggregating data from multiple access points.
• Helping with diagnosing network-wide issues, such as latency, packet loss, or congestion.

In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive. On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.