WiFi Analyzing/Sniffing

Hardware

this hard ware we recommend to be used for WiFi sniffing:

• CSL USB 2.0 WLAN Adapter 300Mbit (2,4/5GHz)
• cost below 20USD/Euro
• optional you can use a AirPcap NX
• optional Octoscope Device

This HW based on a Chipsatz: Ralink RT5572 and is Dual Freq. 2.4 and 5 GHz as well as it has RP-SMA Antenna Connectors. The standard Linux Kernel Driver has built in and enabled Monitor Mode which is needed to fetch all WiFi Traffic. By use of another WiFi Stick/Module please need make sure you will have a Driver with enabled Monitor Mode available.

Software

• Linux OS - we recommend a Ubuntu 20.04 based Linux 64bit
• Wireshark 3.2.5 - you can test this wireshark - v
• you can use other tools as well but make sure the tool can generate *.pcapng or *.pcap logfiles so we can analyze them

To setup and configure the WiFi HW driver, Linux Network Subsystem as well as Wireshark with all needed parameter we provide here a Script to setup all automatic.

Test Setup

Please try to setup like shown below:

• setup AP's and DUT with WPA2-PSK CCMP/CCMP security with same key
• Both AP's were configured with 50ms beacon intervals
• Both AP's and the DUT are setup on same channel and same bandwidth (20MHz)
• Try to isolate as much as possible from other WiFi networks of RF noise - best by located all inside a isolation chamber
• Roaming settings were:
• Scan Interval: 8 seconds
• RSSI Delta (2.4 GHz): 9 dBm (may not applicable in this testing.)
• RSSI Delta (5 GHz): 8 dBm
• Roam Threshold (2.4 GHz): -50 dBm (may not applicable in this testing.)
• Roam Threshold (5 GHz): -50 dBm
• setup diagram

generate data traffic

to generate traffic and test the performance use below commands or adapt them according to you needs:

• Setup Receive System (Linux PC/Laptop/Server)

• setup with iperf command : iperf -s -u -i1

• example : iperf -s -u -i1

• Setup Sender System (Linux PC/Laptop/Server)

• setup with iperf command : iperf -c<IP of Receiver> -u -b<data rate in Mbit/s>M -i1 -t<how long in s>

• example : iperf -c192.168.1.2 -u -b1M -i1 -t900

Notes

• please use the WiFi interface of the HW you want to use phy#*
• you can easy check this by type without new HW installed iwconfig
• connect the new HW to your Computer and run iwconfig again - there will be a new device show up wl*

wlxdc4ef4086948  IEEE 802.11  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Retry short  long limit:2   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          
wlp3s0    IEEE 802.11  ESSID:"FALINT"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.422 GHz  Access Point: 18:A6:F7:F4:D2:48   
          Bit Rate=300 Mb/s   Tx-Power=22 dBm   
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:on

• when start the Script choose the phy#* with the interface name wl*

phy#2
	Interface wlxdc4ef4086948
		ifindex 8
		wdev 0x200000001
		addr dc:4e:f4:08:69:48
		type managed
		txpower 20.00 dBm
phy#0
	Interface wlp3s0
		ifindex 3
		addr 7c:5c:f8:e4:5d:e6
		type P2P-device
		txpower 0.00 dBm

• You need to have root access on you Linux system to be able to configure the Network Layer!
• After Wireshark start use the already marked interface - most probably it will be mon0 by click on the blue left top shark Icon.
• we recommend to activate the Wireless Toolbar as well go to Wireshark Menu Bar: View -> Wireless Toolbarclick to activate
• in the Wireless Toolbar mon0 should be shown as Interace and the channel you want to analyze should be shown.
• by use the drop down box you should be able to select the needed channel
• if you can NOT change the channel - you setup is not correct.
• now you should be able to see WiFi packages in the View like shown in this