Wyebot stands as a frontrunner in AI-Driven WiFi Automation. The Wyebot Wireless Intelligence Platform consistently captures and meticulously analyzes wireless packets, preemptively resolving WiFi issues long before users become aware of any potential disruptions. Here is a comprehensive guide on Wyebot Wireless Intelligence Platform. Please see how Security researchers bypass Windows Hello with fake fingerprints with Raspberry Pi 4, and How to Prevent Users from Seeing Wi-Fi Password on Windows.
Firstly, I would like to thank Alina (EMEA Customer Success Manager), and Harry (EMEA Director WiFi Assurance) for the opportunity to test and provide feedback on this exceptional product.
Note: The Wyebot sensor presents a plug-and-play solution, eliminating the need for any initial configuration to commence operation. To connect your sensor to the Wyebot cloud,
- Plug the Sensor into a PoE port for power and Internet connectivity via an Ethernet Cable. When PoE is not available, please connect using a 12V adapter.
- After a while, all the cloud LED status will turn to solid green as shown below.
If the Power LED is amber and no other LEDs are active. It is possible that the hardware is faulty on the sensor. Please contact support@wyebot.com with your serial number for further instructions. In my case, all LEDs are active!
Components of Wyebots Intelligence Platform
The Wyebot solution comprises two key components: “A Cloud-enabled SaaS Application” and an “IoT Sensor” equipped with edge computing capabilities.
This intelligence Platform leverages network behavioral profiling, sophisticated wireless algorithms, and advanced wireless optimization functionalities. It ensures 24×7 reliability and peak performance for enterprise WiFi networks. Through its Cloud-enabled architecture and distributed processing on the IoT Sensor, the solution delivers exceptional scalability and industry-leading WiFi analytics.
Additionally, it supports continuous monitoring of wired and WiFi end user quality metrics, empowering IT organizations to proactively maintain business continuity. Furthermore, the IoT sensor boasts industry-leading historical WiFi packet storage, facilitating comprehensive review of past WiFi data communications.
Also, see How to fix Wi-Fi not connecting on Windows 11, how to “Reveal the WiFi password of the Network you are connected to in Windows“, and “How to clear Cache and Manually Update Microsoft Defender“.
Facets of Wyebot Sensor
Wyebot’s WiFi Assurance sensor distinguishes itself through its proactive approach to WiFi optimization, incorporating some of the following key features:
- It is vendor-agnostic, ensuring compatibility across various Access Points.
- With its plug-and-play functionality as described above and requires no configuration thereby making setup effortless.
- Upon powering on, it autonomously scans for available networks, identifying the strongest beacons on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
- It promptly initiates continuous capture of wireless traffic on these channels in real-time, ensuring constant vigilance over network performance and stability.
- It leverages predictive analytics, anticipates and addresses potential WiFi issues before they impact users. Thereby preemptively optimizing network performance.
- It simplifies WiFi optimization, providing unmatched ease of use by removing complexity for users.
Lastly, it distinguishes itself as the sole WiFi Assurance sensor in the market equipped with three wireless radios, along with built-in spectrum analysis and Packet Capture capabilities for up to 24 hours as standard, extendable to one week with the extended PCAP USB option.
Why you should invest in Wyebot Wireless Intelligence
After discussing the facets of Wyebot Wireless Intelligence and its components, it becomes evident that acquiring one of these sensors offers compelling business advantages.
With its advanced features, investing in Wyebot’s product translates into substantial benefits, positioning it as a strategic asset for businesses aiming to enhance network performance and efficiency. You are welcome to read more here.
- Decrease in Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR) by Up to 90%: With Wyebot, network issues are swiftly identified and remediated. Therefore, leading to a drastic reduction in MTTR. By actively monitoring network health and diagnosing problems in real-time, Wyebot ensures that any disruptions are promptly addressed, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.
- Onsite Visits Reduced by Up to 70%: Wyebot’s advanced monitoring and diagnostic capabilities enable remote troubleshooting and resolution of network issues, significantly reducing the need for costly and time-consuming onsite visits. By minimizing physical intervention, businesses can save on resources while maintaining seamless network operations.
- WiFi Problem Tickets Reduced by Over 80%: Wyebot’s proactive approach to network management eliminates potential WiFi issues before they escalate into tickets, resulting in a substantial decrease in problem tickets. By preemptively addressing network issues. Wyebot minimizes disruptions to user experience and enhances overall satisfaction.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: By automating network monitoring and management tasks. Wyebot streamlines operational processes, freeing up IT resources to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance. This efficiency boost translates into cost savings and allows IT teams to allocate their time and expertise more effectively.
- Enhanced User Experience: With Wyebot ensuring optimal network performance, users enjoy consistent, reliable connectivity. This thereby boosts satisfaction and productivity.
Investing in Wyebot’s sensor compelling opportunity for businesses seeking to optimize network performance, cut operational costs, and boost user satisfaction.
Wyebot Initial Configuration Setup
The Wyebot dashboard runs in the cloud, and this enables access from anywhere with Internet connectivity. Accessing the dashboard involves logging in with an email and password as shown below. While Single Sign-On (SSO) is supported, it necessitates additional configuration.
Note: In order to comply with European regulation, European clients are hosted in a dedicated EU cloud.
The Wyebot Sensor is accompanied by a comprehensive quick start guide designed to facilitate seamless device setup. This guide provides step-by-step instructions, ensuring users can quickly and effectively configure their sensor for optimal performance within their network environment as shown below.
Note: For optimal performance, position the sensor in close proximity to one of your access points (APs). This placement ensures that the sensor can effectively monitor client traffic, mirroring the perspective of the AP.
You have the option to secure it to the drop ceiling using the provided clips or mount it directly onto the ceiling using the included mounting template.
Connect to your Sensor
Having connected your Wyebot hardware to the switch, it is time to connect to it. I will be accessing the Wyebot sensor with the provided URL.
Enter your email and click on Next.
Enter your password and click on Login. You can take a look at the “Getting Started Guide” as shown below.
When the login is successful, you will be placed right in the dashboard. You should be able to see your sensor as you can see below, I have got only one sensor at the moment. Also, on the location view, you will be able to see other Wyebot tiles as shown below.
Note: These tiles include the total number of clients, APs and WiFi networks, WiFi Client Distribution and Network Test Analytics
How are Access Points discovered by Wyebot?
Wyebot sensors can discovers and display access point names in the cloud dashboard. When an AP name is discovered, the name will be displayed in the Wyebot dashboard rather than a MAC address. This makes navigating and troubleshooting easier in the Wyebot dashboard.
There are two methods Wyebot sensors use to automatically discover AP names: DHCP Hostname Discovery and Beacon Advertisement.
- DHCP Hostname Discovery: The Wyebot sensor actively listens for broadcast DHCP packets on the wired switchport it’s connected to and correlates the MAC address advertised in beacon frames to identify access points (APs). To capture DHCP traffic from APs, the sensor must reside on the same subnet as the APs’ management port. Wyebot recommends configuring the sensor’s switchport similarly to the APs, typically as a trunk port with the untagged VLAN matching the AP management network and tagged VLANs for all egress SSIDs from the AP. If using a centralized controller, the sensor’s switchport should mirror the WLAN controller’s port configuration. Upon DHCP discovery, the AP name is displayed as “Name (DHCP)” under Device Forensics for easy identification
- Beacon Hostname Advertisement: Some WLAN vendors enable the AP hostname to be advertised in the beacon signal. The Wyebot sensor captures this information in its packet capture and utilizes it to populate the hostname on the dashboard. For older Cisco WLAN controllers, this feature might be activated by default. If you configure this setting in your WLAN controller, you will see Name (Beacon) under Device Forensics for your access point.
Note: You can manually configure access points on the dashboard if necessary. Keep in mind that a manually assigned name will override any name discovered through DHCP or beacon.
Wyebot Access Point (AP) Classification
Wyebot employs advanced AP classification techniques to accurately identify and categorize access points within a network environment. The WIP platform automatically detects and classifies all access points (APs) as Mine, Known, Unknown, or Unauthorized.
Note: The system instantly sends alert notifications upon detecting Unknown or Unauthorized Access Points (APs), denial-of-service attacks, network breaches, and the identification of vulnerable points of entry.
By analyzing various parameters such as signal strength, MAC address, vendor information, and transmission characteristics, Wyebot distinguishes between authorized APs, rogue APs, and potential threats. This comprehensive classification system enables proactive network monitoring and security enforcement, ensuring optimal performance and safeguarding against unauthorized access and potential security breaches.
APS successfully classified as Known and unauthorised. I would recommend checking the box to get notified for New AP Discovery, Unauthorised APs etc as shown below.
Add New Location on the Wyebot Sensor
Note: The Wyebot dashboard offers a valuable feature allowing you to create multiple “locations” to cater to diverse organizational requirements. You can assign groups of sensors to each location, facilitating tailored management based on specific network infrastructures. Each location is customizable, enabling configuration of distinct SSID profiles and network test suites. This functionality proves particularly beneficial for organizations with sensor deployments across multiple areas, ensuring efficient monitoring and optimization of various network environments.
If you have got another Wyebot sensor and would like to add a new location to the dashboard, here is how to do it. Expand the location tab and select add new location.
Alternatively, you can navigate to the managment tab and select locations as shown below.
Assign a name, and optionally add address information. You can use the Synchronize with Location drop down if you’d like to copy all the existing SSID profiles and Network Tests from an existing location.
I would recommend using this approach to group sensors in geographically separate infrastructure and with different SSIDs.
Note: Since many of my readers are MSP on the Veeam Resource Hub. You can employ Wyebot as an MSP, and deploy sensors at customer sites. You can then create limited access to the Wyebot dashboard for these users in order to see only see data from the Locations you specify/configured.
Add a User on Wyebot
This step becomes necessary if granting access to users with various permission levels, as indicated earlier. Assuming the role of an MSP, the objective is to enable “Imoinitie” to access the dashboard with restricted permissions. Here are the steps to do this.
Note: All user creation must be done by an Admin user.
To access user creation, navigate to Management > Users. Click on Add.
From the Add user wizard, select the access type and populate the user information.
Note: On the Management -> Users page, a new user type called “Notification User” is now available for addition. This type of user is exclusively designed for use in Notification Profiles and cannot access the dashboard UI for login purposes. Notification Users are specifically intended for configuring notifications through platforms such as Slack, automated trouble ticketing systems, and mailing lists, providing a specialised solution for streamlined notification management.
You can also configure DND settings but this applies to Network Test Notifications only.
Note: Once all fields are populated, you will be able to specify the location of the Wyebot sensor to which the user will have access.
Once the fields are filled in, clicked Create. For Admin and Limited users, an activation link will be emailed where they need to set a password. After their password is set, they can log in via https://cloud.wyebot.com.
If you need to resend the activation email, click on the user and you will see a Resend Email button. Below shows the image of the new account we just created.
How does the SAML authentication work?
The Wyebot cloud dashboard supports IdP-initiated SAML SSO. This means the browser session starts at the IdP where the user logs in and not at the Wyebot cloud dashboard. After a successful authentication, the user’s browser session is redirected to the Wyebot dashboard where the session is validated and the user is granted access.
Create a Notification Profiles
The Wyebot cloud can notify users when network tests fail or certain events are detected by a sensor. Beginning with software version 4.1, notifications are configured in the dashboard using Notification Profiles. A Notification Profile consists of the following two items:
- Which users to notify
- Under what conditions to send a notification
From the Management tab > Notification Profiles page on the Wyebot dashboard.
Populate the add profile field
A you can see, we have successfully created our notification profile
Rename your Wyebot Sensor
In order to customise your setup, it is recommended to change the name of the sensor to identify the area of the building they are monitoring. Name the sensors to clearly identify the areas they monitor. To do rename your sensor, click on a sensor name to go into an individual sensor’s view.
Upon clicking clicking on the sensor, all issues discovered with solutions will be displayed. We will discuss some of these. To rename your sensor, click on settings
Note: These problems and solutions are listed in order of problem severity. You can also click to view “Historic Data”.
Enter your new sensor name and add a note.
Note: You can also get to this wizard by clicking on the Sensor Config under your device location.
You can optionally upload a photo to help identify your sensor and click Apply.
Upon populating the fields, click Apply. You will be prompted to click on OK to restart the sensor. You will be able to see from the Wyebot dashboard that the sensor is restarting.
Sensor successfully renamed
View Historic Data
Wyebot’s “View Historic Data” feature allows you to access and analyze past network performance data. This feature empowers users to review historical network metrics, such as bandwidth usage, device connectivity, and network health trends, over specific time periods.
By examining past data, users can identify patterns, pinpoint potential issues, and make informed decisions to optimize network performance and troubleshoot any recurring issues effectively. To view “Wyebot Historic Data”, click on your sensor as shown below.
Below is an issue details page based on the time I have selected. You can twerk this to your need.
Confirm My SSIDs
As you can see, we still have the yellow exclamagion mark close to the SSID. In this section, we shall configure your SSIDs within Wyebot.
I will proceed and confirm my SSIDs. Select them and click confirm as shown below.
On the SSID Profiles Confirmed window, click on OK for this location.
Note: You have the ability to configure additional SSIDs using either the Detected SSIDs or Manual Entry options. Wyebot automatically populates some of the strongest SSIDs to streamline the setup process. If there are any SSIDs listed that are not relevant to your network, you can simply select the entry, check it, and choose “Delete” from the action menu to remove it.
Update security
To enhance security, Wyebot provides SSID updates to ensure the protection of your network. These updates include patches for vulnerabilities, improvements in encryption protocols, and enhancements in access control mechanisms.
By regularly updating your SSIDs through Wyebot, you can proactively safeguard your network against emerging threats and maintain a secure wireless environment for your users.
You can also update security of your configured SSIDs by selecting the SSIDs and select the action to “Update Security”.
Click on Yes. You should be aware that this would restart your Wyebot sensor as well.
Device forensics
Utilizing Device Forensics enables a comprehensive examination of 802.11 WiFi elements such as SSIDs, WiFi clients, and Access Points (APs). Alternatively, users can access the navigation bar on the left side of the dashboard, enter any MAC address or Device name to initiate the inquiry process.
Note: Name and signal strength play crucial roles in tracking rogue access points (APs) and hotspots. These parameters enable the identification and monitoring of unauthorized or potentially malicious wireless devices within a network environment.
By actively analyzing name and signal strength data, network administrators can swiftly detect and mitigate security threats posed by rogue APs and hotspots, safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of the network infrastructure.
Enter the IP address and click “Analyze”. The BSSID, AP Classification, Mac adress, WLAN Vendor etc will be populated.
Wyebot Network Test
This section will discuss the steps in creating a new Network Test Profile. Kindly take a look at this Network Test Profile Types for all available Test options. In this section, I will be performing a quick “Ping” test.
An administrator can use Ping, the classic tool for verifying device connectivity, to ping up to 5 separate devices within a single network test profile. They can create multiple profiles to include additional hosts. Network Tests allow the proactive monitoring of the network.
Create a Test Profile
To perform a network test, click on Network Tests and Test Profiles. Click on “Add Test Profiles”.
On the Test Profile Settings, select the network test type, and enter the profile name. Lastly, select the network interface, and hit the create button. Please take a look at the next image below for an example of a Ping test.
Note: Wyebot supports Wireless and Wired interfaces. Enter a host. These can be devices on an internal network (a file server or printer, for example) or websites on the internet. This verifies network connectivity between the sensor and the remote device.
Other configurable test parameters: Host, Ping count, Packet Size and Pass Percentage
Tests can be run on-demand or scheduled. Scheduled tests can trigger an email alert when they fail
Now that you have created a Test Profile, click on Run now. This is because, I have decided to run it on demand.
On the prompt, click on OK.
Our test result is being processed and we are awaiting the result.
View Wyebot Ping Test Result
Our “Ping” test result is available as shown below. You can export or clear the logs as you wish.
Below is the Wyebot dashboard showing the Network Text Analytics results. You can see that the RADIUS Test is not applicable to this wired test we have performed.
Note: On the main dashboard, scheduled network tests automatically generate graphs displaying quality and performance metrics for end-user experience. Failures are indicated by red dots, allowing easy identification. You can view trends and isolate failures for further analysis.
You can see from the organisation status the statistic of test(s) you have performed.
Wyebot Multi-Radio Implementation
Radio #1 takes charge of synthetic WiFi network testing by actively scanning both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels to detect any Access Points (APs) within range.
Radio #2 and Radio #3 act as passive monitors, diligently collecting detailed data on WiFi client connections and distributions across the spectrums. They continuously monitor the channel with the strongest signal for default SSIDs to track, with the flexibility for customized behavior.
Additionally, they provide invaluable spectrum analysis insights. Together, all three radios utilize AI-driven insights to identify various problem scenarios and offer corresponding solution guidance.
Downloading PCAP Files
To download PCAP files, navigate to the Advanced → Trace Download page on the Wyebot dashboard. Upon request, the sensor transfers the PCAP files to the cloud, from where you can download them to your computer.
Select your Radio to download and click on “Retrieve”.
The request has been received and the download will be available very shortly.
Please proceed to download your result.
Note: You cannot directly read the PCAP files from the USB drive by removing it from the sensor and inserting it into a laptop. You will need the right program such as Wireshark etc to analyse this result.
Create Wyebot Sensor Alerts
Let’s discuss email notification on the Wyebot dashboard for Network Tests and Alert Rules. Within the Wyebot cloud infrastructure, users receive notifications when network tests fail or when specific events are detected by a sensor.
This functionality ensures timely awareness of critical network issues, enabling swift responses to maintain optimal network performance and reliability. To enable “Alerts”, Click on the location and select “Advanced” as shown below. On the right pane, click “Alerts” and then click on Add rule.
By default, the Enable checkmark is ticked. Select a Rule Type and a Sensor. Rememeber to click on send notification upon a trigger of this alert.
As you can see below, I have selected an alert type “Sensor Unreachable”. Click on “Create” to create this rule.
We have successfully created our alert.
If you were to create another alert, here is how you would do it. Follow the same step as above and select a different Alert Type.
As you can see, we have another rule created.
Let’s check our email to see if we’ve received a notification that triggers the action we created earlier. Behind the scenes, the Wyebot Sensor has been disconnected.
Change Wyebot Network Connection Type
I will not be demonstrating these steps but will be showing you with graphical images that this is possible. Under the Sensor Config, click on the Network Tab. Select your type of connection. You can either use a Static IP or get your IP via DHCP. When you are done, click on Apply.
Wyebot Sensor Maintenance
The Wyebot Sensor Maintenance examples encompass straightforward tasks such as clearing data, performing a factory reset, and initiating a reboot. These actions ensure the sensor’s continued functionality and reliability, allowing for seamless network monitoring and management.
You can perform any of these actions as you wish.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wyebot Intelligence Platform (WIP) seamlessly integrates with existing WLAN equipment, offering comprehensive visibility into the wireless ecosystem. Its AI-driven approach automates problem identification and solution, supported by robust historical forensics and wired/wireless network testing.
Moreover, it fully supports WiFi-6 technology. As a vendor-agnostic managed service, WIP provides proactive and reactive troubleshooting capabilities. Hosted in the cloud, it leverages data gathered by Wyebot Wireless Intelligent Sensors (WIS42xx / WIS4300), ensuring efficient and effective WiFi diagnostic and monitoring solutions.
IT can use WIP’s remote capabilities to diagnose and troubleshoot issues from any location at any time. This greatly reduces the time and money spent on travel, and the time spent waiting for intermittent issues to reoccur
Proactive alerts empower IT to address issues in real-time, preventing any potential impact on end users. This proactive approach ensures seamless business operations, optimizing performance and enhancing user experience for employees and customers alike.
I hope you found this comprehensive guide on Wyebot Wireless Intelligence Platform very useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.
