ACU Monitoring and Troubleshooting Tools
Link Status Meter

If the computer operating system is Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows XP, or Linux, the Link Status Meter (LSM) graphically monitors the signal quality and signal strength between the client adapter and an associated Access Point. The LSM utility is used to determine the performance of the RF link between the client adapter and its associated Access Point.

The Link Status Meter screen provides a graphical display of the following:

  • Signal strength – the strength of the client adapter radio signal at the time packets are being received. It is displayed as a percentage along the vertical axis.
  • Signal quality – the quality of the client adapter radio signal at the time packets are being received. It is displayed as a percentage along the horizontal axis.

To open LSM in Windows, double-click the LSM icon on the ACU main screen.

A diagonal line represents the combined result of the signal strength and signal quality. Where the location of the line falls on the graphical display determines whether the RF link between the client adapter and its associated AP is poor, fair, good, or excellent.

This information can be used to help determine the optimum number and placement of APs in the RF network. By using LSM to assess the RF link at various locations, it is possible to avoid areas where performance is weak and eliminate the risk of losing the connection between the client adapter and the AP.

The AP that is associated to the client adapter and its MAC address are indicated at the bottom of the display.


Lab Activity

Lab Exercise: ACU Utilities

Students will use the ACU utilities to assess the performance of the Radio Frequency (RF) link. The ACU utilities will also be used to view the status, statistics, and link status of the wireless network.

Lab Activity

Lab Exercise: Using ADU Utilities

Students will use the ADU to assess the performance of the Radio Frequency (RF) link. The ADU will also be used to view the general and advanced transmit/receive statistics, adapter information, and run and analyze troubleshooting reports.

Lab Activity

Lab Exercise: Creating an Adhoc Network

Each team will configure several personal computers to communicate with each other without an AP or cables.

Lab Activity

Lab Exercise: Creating an Ad Hoc Network using ADU

Each team will configure several personal computers to communicate with each other without an AP or cables.

Interactive Media Activity

Interactive Activity: Link Status Meter and Free Space Loss Simulator

This activity is a simulator of the Cisco Aironet Link Status Meter (LSM) showing how signal strength is dependent on the distance between the two laptops and signal quality.