Cisco Spectrum Expert Software Active Devices

Active Devices

The Active Device tree normally displays on the left side of the Cisco Spectrum Expert Software. It shows access points, ad-hocs, and interfering devices if these devices (access points and interferers) are currently live (transmitting). A tree structure organizes access points together, ad-hocs together, and different types of interfering devices together.

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To view the Device Tree, select View > Active Devices.

•If you double-click on a device, a dialog box will appear providing more detail on the device including a picture of a typical device that matches the RF signature. (You can also right-click on the device and select What Is This Device?)

•Right-click on any interferer device and select Find This Device to activate the Device Finder. See "Device Finder Mode" for more information.

Note The Device Finder can only locate certain types of devices. If you right-click on a device that can't be located, you will not be able to access the Find This Device option. Also, a device must be currently active (transmitting) in order to find it. If, in Devices View, you click on a device which is not currently transmitting, you will not be able to access the Find This Device option.

Current Devices vs. Historical Devices

The Active Devices tree only shows devices which are currently active, or transmitting, during the last measurement interval.

For an historical list of detected devices—which includes currently active devices, but also devices which are no longer detected—use the Devices View. See "Working With Devices View" for more information.

You can also see a pop-up list of active devices by mousing-over the trace area of a Cisco Spectrum Expert plot.

Keeping Your Eye On A Particular Device

If there is a particular device that is of interest to you, you can keep an eye on the device simply by clicking on it. Your selected row will be highlighted.

As new devices are detected (or disappear from view), the Active Devices tree will auto-scroll and auto-sort. However, Cisco Spectrum Expert Software will make sure that your highlighted row always remains in view; in other words, auto-scrolling and auto-sorting will be adjusted so that your highlighted row always remains visible on Cisco Spectrum Expert.

Problem Indicators and Security Alerts

Problematic devices shown in the Active Devices pane are highlighted in yellow or red. The colors indicate the interference level of active devices. Yellow means the duty cycle of the interferer is greater than 25% and it affects at least one channel with a BSS device. Red means the duty cycle of the interferer is greater than 50% and it affects at least one channel with a BSS device.

Security and alert settings are available and can be configured using the Settings - Alert window. Once configured, security alert icons display in the Active Devices tree when the predefined triggers occur.

Active Devices and Devices View

Normally, you do not need to see the Active Devices tree at the same time that you are in Cisco Spectrum Expert Software's Devices mode, since in Devices mode you can see all RF devices—both those which are currently active, and historical devices.

If you select the Devices tab in the main Cisco Spectrum Expert Software workspace, and select the push-pin on the Active Devices tree, Cisco Spectrum Expert Software hides the Active Devices tree. However, a small Active Devices tab remains visible at the left side of the display.

Note You can move the mouse over this tab to bring the Active Devices tree back into view temporarily. The Devices Control Panel is temporarily hidden behind the Active Devices pane.

If you then click on the push-pin (circled in the illustration at right), on the Active Devices pane, this puts the Active Devices pane permanently on view. The Devices Control Panel will then still be on view, but you will see it lower down on the left side of the display.

You might want Active Devices on view at the same time as Devices mode, as an easy way to distinguish between currently active devices vs. the more extensive list of devices (active and historical) shown in Devices mode.

See "Hiding/Unhiding the Active Devices List and Control Panel" for more information.

Exporting Data

The Export Data feature provides additional functionality to the list of active devices in the Active Devices tree. The Export Data feature allows you to export device information to a file for future analysis. This option can be accessed by right-clicking on a device in the Active Device tree to display a pop-up menu.

When Export Selected Data... is selected, a window appears providing a default file name and Save in location (Spectrum Captures folder). The window also allows user selection of the file name and Save in location.