Latest from NetPerformance.com

NEWS: Network Performance Management Training & Certification to be Offered by NetPerformance.com
NetPerformance.com is offering two levels of PMG NetAnalyst® training and certification classes in November, to be held in Austin, Texas. NetAnalyst is a comprehensive, vendor-neutral training program — ranging from networking essentials to advanced network analysis — designed to enable network professionals to understand how systems interact, how to best use analysis tools for fault and problem isolation, and how to optimize network performance.

PERFORMANCE TOOLBOX: NetStumbler
As WiFi continues to turn up in unusual ways (such as IBM’s/Xing’s Kyoku-NAVI wireless karaoke machines) locating these devices becomes increasingly necessary. From the system administrator perspective, there may be a rogue 802.11 device operating outside of administrative policy; from the adventurous spirit viewpoint, there may be an opportunity to observe and perhaps utilize 802.11 bandwidth on an access point that remains unsecured. Spotting them for either agenda requires nothing more than an 802.11 adapter and the relevant configuration program, but you will glean only so much viable information using standard issue desktop applications contained on companion driver and installation disks. You can stumble your way through the wireless bubble and determine more usable information with NetStumbler.

TECHNOLOGY BRIEF: WLAN Performance
[WLAN connections] are prone to interference and attenuation (degradation of signal) from building materials and other electronic devices that may use similar frequencies (such as cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, or microwaves). The further away a wireless user gets from a wireless access point (WAP), the more likely they are to be affected by attenuation and interference. But unlike a radio station’s audible signal, data that gets lost on a wireless network typically must be retransmitted, if only because most networked applications use Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) for transport. Retransmission of lost data also impacts performance, and reduces overall throughput for user application(s).

FLUKE NETWORKS: Wireless Site Survey Best Practices
As wireless technology continues to mature, new wireless applications and appliances continue to emerge. There is increasing demand for transmitting voice and video, as well as the need for accurate positioning of users and assets accessing the WLAN. Site surveys are invaluable for designing and optimizing WLAN networks to support these applications. This paper, posted on SearchNetworking.com and sponsored by Fluke Networks, provides insight into best practices for executing wireless site surveys.

DEVELOPER’S CORNER: At Your Service or How to Make the Most of Your Web Services
“Web Services” has become the hot new “buzzphrase” on development radar screens these days. It seems as though everybody is talking about them and everyone from a small start-up blogger who codes a simple REST-based feed to a development shop stuffing SOAP and XML into every developer’s toolbox is working with Web Services in some way. Web Services have become a hot, popular topic in development shops and for good reason.