NetAlly EtherScope nXG DATA SHEET
EtherScope® nXG
Portable Network Expert
Overview
The EtherScope® nXG Portable Network Expert is a multi-technology, all-in-one
handheld network analyzer that enables engineers and technicians to get more
done faster, from deployment to maintenance and documentation of their everchanging Wi-Fi and Ethernet access networks. With its simple operation, yet
in-depth visibility, and the ability to remotely access and control EtherScope nXG,
engineers can now fully enable and leverage the “local hands” of field technicians
to expedite problem-solving.
Test, verify, and troubleshoot technology upgrades, NBASE-T, 10G and Wi-Fi
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networks with advanced Android™-based troubleshooting apps and purpose
built test hardware
Verify up to 10G Ethernet link performance for critical servers, uplinks and key
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end devices, and validate Wi-Fi network performance
DATA SHEET
Empowers technicians who may not have access to network management
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systems or other engineer-level tools, to assess and document complex
network deployments with multiple VLANs and Wi-Fi SSIDs
Enables remote engineers to troubleshoot and collaborate with on-site
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technicians to solve tough problems at remote sites, saving time and cost of
travel
Seamlessly consolidate, analyze, and manage field test data, and integrate with
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network management systems via the complimentary Link-LiveTM Cloud Service
Automatically discover and instantly map your wired and Wi-Fi networks
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using Link-Live cloud service; speeds troubleshooting and keeps network
documentation up-to-date. Exports to Visio.
Now with
Network Mapping
Capabilities!
Key Features
All-in-one to address multiple technologies
The EtherScope nXG has two sets of native Wi-Fi network interfaces: a 4x4 adapter to scan
and test Wi-Fi networks, and a 1x1 adapter for remote control connection and testing. Both
interfaces support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and can show analysis of utilization and status of Wi-Fi
channels, SSIDs, BSSIDs, access points, client devices, and interferers. The EtherScope nXG
provides visibility of Wi-Fi 6 devices.
Main Ethernet Test
Ports (RJ-45 & SFP)
USB-A
The EtherScope nXG has two Ethernet ports. The main test RJ-45 port supports Multi-Gig
networks from 10/100/1000Mbps to 2.5/5/10G to verify link speed SNR, and duplex advertised
and connected. It can request and verify PoE power under load from up to 90W PSE’s.
Alternatively, it can interface to fiber networks via single/multi-mode SFP+ to test 1/10Gbps
fiber-based Ethernet. The second RJ-45 management port connects to 10/100/1000Mbps
Ethernet for remote control, and conducts network scanning and tests where needed. It is also
the port for cable testing.
The EtherScope nXG has built-in Bluetooth v5/BLE and USB interfaces to discover and
configure nearby devices.
Cable Test &
Management
Ports
USB-C
Android is a trademark of Google LLC
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Simplifies tasks and empowers technicians to verify
complex networks with next generation AutoTest
The EtherScope nXG has out-of-the-box AutoTest profiles with best practice
pass/fail thresholds for quick assessment of network configurations and
services of Wi-Fi and wired networks.
Ethernet Network: switch port PoE characteristics, VLAN Tagged traic
detection, 802.1x authentication, link speed advertised vs negotiated,
DHCP/DNS/Gateway availability and accessibility.
Air Quality: assess number of APs, co-channel and adjacent channel
interference, and channel utilization
Wi-Fi Network: supports various authentication and security schemes
to connect to SSIDs/BSSIDs for coverage by signal/noise, and DHCP/DNS/
Gateway availability and accessibility.
Multiple profiles can be created for complex networks with multiple VLANs
supported per switch port, and Wi-Fi networks with multiple SSIDs each
with its own set of IP targets. These can then be organized into profile
groups that execute each test against each profile in sequence. The result
is that multiple VLANs, and SSIDs can be verified and documented in one
go. Since the pre-defined profiles can be executed individually, the profiles
group serves as a resource for technicians to verify each specific VLAN or
SSID during troubleshooting. With profile groups, engineers can transfer
their network configuration and test knowledge to technicians, saving
training time and eort.
24-Hour Monitoring for Intermittent Issues
Periodic AutoTest – In this mode, AutoTest runs at specified intervals (from
1 minute to 24 hours) and sends the results to Link-Live to view the results
over time. This is an eective way to “monitor” aspects of your network for
an extended period, or to help diagnose intermittent issues without having
to manually execute multiple tests. Results are automatically timestamped
and can be prefixed with a user-entered comment for grouping or
organization. Test results can be quickly analyzed in Link-Live using the
filtering and sorting functions. Email notifications can warn you when
errors are found.
NBASE-T network
with VLAN and 802.1x
authentication
Wi-Fi Air Quality - detects
oversubscribed channels
Add and customize profiles
for standardized testing
Wi-Fi SSID connectivity
and coverage
A number of additional enhancements in version 1.2 expand the use models
for EtherScope nXG, provide more actionable information, and make the
network analysis process even more eicient. See the EtherScope nXG v1.2
release notes for additional information.
Multi-Gig Link Validation
With the expanding deployment of Multi-Gig switching (typically to feed
greater bandwidth to Wi-Fi 6 access points), users are finding that their
cable plant may not support the desired speed. Cable quality, length,
installation workmanship, and noise in the environment all can contribute
to “downshiing” to lower-than-expected speeds.
Cabling SNR Measurement – EtherScope nXG can now verify copper media
for Multi-Gig capability (1 / 2.5 / 5 / 10Gig), and provide root cause diagnosis
when link speed downshiing occurs.
Cabling SNR measurement
validates Multi-Gig links
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List of Problems Automatically Detected by EtherScope nXG
Wired Network Problems
• Bad Subnet Mask
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Duplicate IP Address
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DHCP Server Not Responding
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EtherScope nXG Received Multiple DHCP Oers
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EtherScope nXG Received Used IP from DHCP
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EtherScope nXG Lost DHCP Lease
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Max Clients on SSID
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High Interface Utilization*
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High Interface Errors*
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High FCS Errors*
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High Packet Discards*
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Detected Half-Duplex Interfaces
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High CPU Utilization*
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High Disk Utilization*
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High Memory Utilization*
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Recent Device Reboot*
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Spanning Tree Topology Change
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SNMPv3 Agent Responded to SNMPv1/v2 Query
Wi-Fi Deployment and Analysis
Wi-Fi Network Problems
• AP with Encryption Disabled
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Client with Encryption Disabled
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Using Open Authentication
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Using Shared Key Authentication
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High Utilization on Channel*
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High Retries on Channel*
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High Non-802.11 Utilization on Channel*
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Co-Channel Interference Threshold (#AP)*
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Co-Channel Interference AP Signal Level*
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High Utilization on AP*
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AP Overloaded with Clients*
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High Retries on Device*
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BSSID Channel Changes*
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RF Regulatory Violation
AirMapper™ Site Survey
With the AirMapper app, EtherScope nXG users now quickly and easily gather
location-based Wi-Fi measurements and create visual heat maps of key
performance metrics in the Link-Live Cloud Service, or, for more detailed analysis
and presentation, in AirMagnet Survey PRO. Simple to use, the AirMapper app is
ideal for quick site surveys of new deployments, change validation, and performance
verification.
Survey project management capabilities in Link-Live provide a major boost in
productivity and collaboration for distributed teams conducting surveys at remote
sites. A team lead can now create a project in Link-Live, upload and calibrate the floor
plan, then automatically push the configured project out to the desired handheld
instruments.
• Complete faster and easier Wi-Fi site surveys with an entirely mobile platform
Perform enterprise-grade surveys without the need of a dongle or tethered device
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with a hardware-based platform for accurate and complete data collection
Collaborate—easily visualize and share survey data through Link-Live Cloud Service
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• Version 1.4 enables simultaneous passive and active surveys to gather critical site
metrics and validate client experience and roaming with one survey.
• The measurement threshold “auto-scale” feature in Link-Live provides more
granularity and instant visibility in variations of key Wi-Fi metrics.
Pass survey data to AirMagnet Survey PRO for more advanced analysis, planning
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and reporting
NOTE: Enhanced site survey visualizations and filtering are available to
PRODUCT SUPPORT
customers with AllyCare support on their EtherScope nXG. For information
about AllyCare, go to support.netally.com/allycare/
AirMapper Site Survey App
Visualize survey data in cloud-based
Link-Live Service, or in AirMagnet Survey
PRO for additional analysis
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Wi-Fi AutoTest - Link Validation
The Wi-Fi AutoTest runs a series of tests by connecting to a selected wireless
network (associate to an AP), providing a status indication of Success,
Warning, or Fail. This comprehensive test validates not only the Wi-Fi
connection, but also each critical supporting network service.(Note: Wi-Fi
AutoTest supports connecting to Captive Portals where a sign-in is required
for access; see User Guide for instructions.)
Wi-Fi Link Test – validates the ability to connect to the selected network.
Drilling into the link test provides in-depth information about the SSID, signal
strength/SNR, channel utilization, retries, and PHY rate. Of note, Roams
indicates the Number of times the unit has disconnected from the previous
AP and connected to a dierent AP with a better signal strength.
The Wi-Fi Link Test graphs save and display data for up to 24 hours in the
past, providing a way to “go back in time” to identify specific problem
instances.
Channel Test – shows the channel on which the AP is operating and
the current 802.11 and non-802.11 utilization in real time, and plots the
percentage of channel capacity used by devices and non-802.11 interference.
AP Test – shows the AP name and SSID of the network it supports, its IP
and MAC addresses, security, channel (if the BSSID is on multiple channels,
the bold number indicates the primary), 802.11 types supported, and client
associations (number of clients connected to the AP).
DHCP, DNS, Gateway Results – these validate the availability and
performance of critical network services via the Wi-Fi network. Diagnostics
on each test provide details on response times and logs for troubleshooting.
Wi-Fi AutoTest
Path Analysis – can be run from the above network services tests to identify
the connection path to the specified service (or server); this is useful to
determine if errors or excessive utilization on the wired network may be
aecting the particular service.
Air Quality Test
The Air Quality Test performs a single scan of the channels in your wireless
network to measure channel utilization and interference.
Each table on the Air Quality results screen shows the top four channels in
each band with the highest utilization or co-channel interference, along with
the number of APs operating on the channel including adjacent channel
interference detection in the 5GHz band (to detect 40 and 80 MHz-wide
overlapping BSSIDs.
Channel Utilization and Interference
Quickly determine if channels are over-utilized with Wi-Fi traic and/or with
non-Wi-Fi interference and noise. You can also gain visibility on the level of
Wi-Fi traic and interference over the last 60 seconds on a selected channel,
as well as, the access points, clients, and interferers using this channel. Drill
into details and detect devices that can cause interference, such as, microwave
ovens, wireless game controllers, Bluetooth® devices, Zigbee devices, and
wireless video camera.
Air Quality results showing
excessive utilization and
co-channel interference
Automated Problem Detection
EtherScope nXG automatically diagnoses various conditions on both wired and
wireless networks and identifies specific problems. Tapping the Problems card shows
all discovered issues, which can be sorted by severity or time detected. Drill in to see a
detailed description of the problem and recommended course of action to mitigate.
Channel Map
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