Monitoring Network Performance

Viewing the Network Statistics

The real-time monitoring shows the performance of the combined network. Each box shows information about performance of a specified network section. In each network section, the blocks show operating parameters of the devices in the network such as:

  • Number of devices currently connected to IW Monitor, in relation to the total number of devices associated to IW Monitor.

  • Device latency (Average latency) values across the network or section during the last six hours.

  • Aggregate network throughput transmitted (Throughput TX) by all devices in the network during the last six hours.

  • Aggregate network throughput received (Throughput RX) by all devices in the network during the last six hours.

  • Aggregate number of data packets sent (Sent Packets/s) by all devices in the network during the last six hours.

  • Aggregate number of data packets received (Received Packets/s) by all devices in the network during the last six hours.

  • Current number of edge devices (Edge devices).

  • Average network or section uptime value (Average uptime). The average uptime value is the combined percentage of time for each network device or section connected to the IW Monitor in the last seven days.

A thin red box appears around the section if any performance-related faults arise and need immediate investigation. The + ADD SECTION at the bottom allows you to customize the section with the device information you want to monitor. To add a new section to an existing network, see Creating a new Section.

Viewing the Devices using Table View

Procedure

Step 1

Click Table View to see the list of devices.

A new screen as below appears:

  • All the devices that are not assigned to any specific sections are shown under Uncategorized. To add uncategorized devices to a specific section, see Creating a new Section.

  • The devices that are assigned to specific network sections are shown in the relevant section.

  • Following table describes each column:

    Parameter

    Description

    Status (icon color and designation)

    Icon colors represent the following device status:

    • Green: Device is online and connected to an IW Monitor with all the performance levels in an acceptable range.

    • Gray: Device is disconnected from IW Monitor.

    • Orange: Device is online and connected to the IW Monitor but has one or more problems that cause it to perform at a lower-than-optimal level.

    • Red: Device is online and connected to IW Monitor but has one or more problems that cause unacceptably low performance. If a device icon is orange or red, the device may have one or more of the following problems:

      • Unusually high packet error rate

      • Unusually high link error rate

      • Unusually low received signal strength

      • Unusually high traffic latency

    Icon designation are as follows:

    • ME: Device is configured as a mesh end.

    • MP: Device is configured as a mesh point.

    • BR: Device is configured as a wireless bridge device.

    • PONTE: This is applicable only for FM PONTE devices.

    • GGW: Gateway is configured as a Global Gateway.

    Label
    This is the user assigned device name.

    Note

     

    You cannot change the device name using IW Monitor. Use IoT OD IW service, the device offline web interface (Configurator), or the device's command-line interface (CLI) to change the device's name.

    IP Address

    Shows the IP address of the device.

    Mesh ID

    Every device has a unique, factory set mesh identification number. for example: 5.a.b.c

    • If the device is set as the primary vehicle-mounted network device, then letter P is mentioned next to the Mesh ID.

    • If the device is set as a secondary device (a subordinate device within a vehicle-mounted network), then the letter S is mentioned next to the Mesh ID.

    FW Version

    Shows value of the firmware release number.

    Role

    Role designations represent the following device status:

    • Fixed Infra: Device is part of a fixed based infrastructure.

    • Fluidity Vehicle: Device is part of a Fluidity network, and installed in a moving vehicle.

    • Fluidity Infra: Device is part of a Fluidity network, and installed as part of a fixed infrastructure.

    Note

     

    For Cisco Catalyst IW9165 and IW9167 devices, the Role parameter is specified for each radio interface. If the radio interface is disabled, it shows as Disabled.

    Frequency

    Shows the device’s current operating frequency.

    Note

     

    For dual-radio devices, the Frequency parameter is shown for each radio interface.

    TX Power

    Shows the user-defined value of the radio device’s maximum transmission power level.

    Note

     

    For dual-radio devices, the TX Power parameter is shown for each radio interface.

    Channel width

    Shows the value of the radio device’s operating channel width.

    Note

     

    For dual-radio devices, the Channel width parameter is shown for each radio interface.

Step 2

Search for any device using the mesh ID number, assigned device name, or the device's IP address.

Step 3

Or, filter the devices based on status such as Critical, Warning, Disconnected. Also, you can select the tabs for a quick view of the section.

  • The Critical filter allows you to view the list of devices for which the thresholds are beyond the upper threshold limit.

  • The Warning filter allows you to view the list of devices for which the thresholds are between the upper and lower threshold limits.

  • The Disconnected filter allows you to view the devices which are disconnected from IW Monitor.

Viewing Device Statistics in Real Time

IW Monitor has network statistics that allow you to view the network-related performance of any device in the current network. The statistical details for a device can be viewed in real-time as they occur. You can also view a performance graph that displays the device's previous performance on a historical timeline.

Procedure

Step 1

Click Data Analysis.

A new screen extends as shown below:

Step 2

For step 1: TIME, you can switch between real (live) and historical data for the data analysis.

  1. To view statistics of a device for a particular period, select History tab.

    From and To time fields and Custom time range field appears.

  2. Select the date and time for both From and To fields.

    Note

     

    The selected duration can't be more than 1 hour.

Step 3

For step 2: SEARCH DEVICE, search for the device using the mesh ID number, assigned device name, or the device's IP address.

Step 4

For step 3: ANALYSE, click Confirm.

A real-time statistical view of the device appears. For History tab selection, a time slider for the chosen period also appears.

  1. The first graph shows received signal strengths of the device and other radio units that the device could potentially connect with:

    • The upper left corner of the graph shows whether the device currently accepts handoff requests.

    • If the chosen device is currently connected to a Fluidity-enabled (vehicle-mounted) radio unit, a thick, dashed black line is superimposed over the Fluidity device's RSSI line. This line is the RSSI envelope and represents the strongest available signal.

      Note

       

      In the right-hand section of the graph, devices to which the current device is connected are listed in descending order of received signal strength (RSSI).

  2. The Throughput graphs show the throughput statistics as a function of Mbps/time. The throughput is shown for the selected device and the device to which the chosen device is currently connected.

    Note

     

    The left graph shows uplink statistics (data flow from the current unit), while the right graph shows downlink statistics (data flow to the current unit).

  3. The LER / PER graphs shows the current link error and packet error rates (expressed in percentages over time) and the comparative signal modulation rates. LER and PER are shown for the selected device and the device to which the selected device is currently connected.

    Note

     
    The left graph shows uplink statistics (data flow from the current device), while the right graph shows downlink statistics (data flow to the current device).

  4. The graphs in the fourth row shows the modulation and coding schemas (MCS) for the selected device and the device to which the selected device is currently connected.

    Note

     
    The left graph shows uplink statistics (MCS of the current device), while the right graph shows downlink statistics MCS of the unit to which the current device is connected).
  5. The upper left corner of the graph shows whether the device currently accepts handoff requests.

    Note

     

    This graph is shown only for vehicles.

Step 5

Click Edit to view the statistical view for another device.

Viewing the Devices from Topology

Procedure

Step 1

Click Topology.

A new screen appears with topology.

Step 2

Click on the device for more details.

Step 3

Click on the wireless link or a mobile unit.

A new screen appears as shown.

Step 4

Click on the Fluidity Vehicle Unit.

A new screen appears as shown.

Step 5

Click on Web page and it redirects to the respective web interface of the device.

Step 6

Click Settings to change the information displaying in the topology view:

  1. In the Appearance tab, you can edit the following:

    • EDIT MODE: The toggle button allows you to lock or unlock the position of any device on the topology map.

    • SHOW LINKS: If the toggle button is enabled, the links not in use as routes are shown.

    • KPI VALUES ON ROUTES: If the toggle button is enabled, the selected KPIs (L.E.R, P.E.R, RSSI, and Link Utilization) mentioned below will be shown for all wireless routes.

    • RESET TOPOLOGY SETTINGS: Click Clear Settings and reset view to clear all the topology settings.

  2. In the Layout tab, you can choose a predefined template to set up the view based on the use case.

  3. In the Background tab, you can customize the background of the topology view.

  4. In the Positioning tab, you can choose between the two below options:

    • Automatic (hierarchy) - Allows the devices to automatically positioned as a tree.

    • Coordinates (CSV file) - You can upload a CSV file with the list of coordinates for each device (latitude and longitude). Then, position any two devices in the panel and all the other devices will be automatically positioned based on the geo coordinates in the CSV file.

Step 7

Click Edit Mode to change the topology view based on devices or background.

The following pop-up appears once you click on Edit Mode:

  1. Click Continue to Edit Mode.

    • In Devices view, you will see the devices.

    • In Background view, you can adjust the background scale and transparency to concentrate on a particular section of the topology view.

  2. Click Save changes.

Step 8

Click Zoom to zoom in/out the topology view.

Step 9

Enable MPO.

  1. Click Settings icon at the top right corner of the screen.

  2. Select MPO > Enable MPO Processing.

  3. Select Time Window and granularity. For example, 1minute to 59 minutes and 1hour to 24hours.

  4. Click Save Changes.

Step 10

Enable MPO telemetry on both Mesh Ends and Fluidity. See the Software Configuration Guide to use the CLI commands.

Step 11

Click Fluidity Vehicle Unit in the topology.

If the MPO telemetry is not enabled, you see warning messages.

If MPO telemetry is enabled, you should see the following metrics:

Metrics

Description

Lost on Primary Path only

This metrics provides details about number of packets lost, or received out-of-order on the primary MPO path only, over the total number of packets sent on the primary path.

Received on alternate paths

This metrics provides details about the number of packets accepted on any of the MPO alternate paths over the number of packets sent on all the paths.

Filtering and Viewing Network Events

Procedure

Step 1

Click to view a log of network events for the current device.

A new screen extends as shown below:

Step 2

For step 1: Select the available time range options from the Custom time range drop-down list or set the start date and time and end date and time as required.

Step 3

For step 2: Click Confirm.

A log of network related events is shown for the chosen date/time range.

Step 4

If required, click Level to choose the overall criticality level of the shown list of network events.

The levels are as below:

  • Critical - Critical level events have an immediate, negative impact on system performance and/or system integrity, and must be addressed immediately.

  • Warning - Warning level events have a potentially negative impact on system performance, and should be addressed as soon as practically possible.

  • Info - Info level events are normal system events. This is the default event display level.

  • Trace - Trace level events are considered trivial, but can be useful for diagnostic troubleshooting.

Note

 

Criticality levels are inclusive of the chosen level, and all levels below the chosen level. For example:

  • If you select Critical, only Critical events are shown.

  • If you select Warning, then Critical and Warning events are shown.

  • If you select Info, then Critical, Warning and Information events are shown.

  • If you select Trace, then Critical, Warning, Information and Trace events are shown.

Step 5

Choose the specific network event types as below:

  1. Click Events.

    A pop-up appears.

  2. In the pop-up, click the relevant category from left pane, and select the check-boxes for the required network event.

  3. Click Apply.

    All the specified network-related events are shown in descending chronological order (more recent events are shown at the top of the log).

  4. (Optional) To clear the applied filters, click Clear Filters.

  5. (Optional) To edit the time range of the log, click Edit.

Exporting a Network Event Log as a CSV File

Procedure

Step 1

Request the log of network events as mentioned in Filtering and Viewing Network Events.

Step 2

Click .

A Export Log pop-up appears.

Step 3

Check the date/time range shown in the Export Log pop-up, and click Export.

Step 4

Select the location in your computer to save the file.