Monitor Cisco WLC with NetFlow Analyzer

In the last decade, wireless data communication has increased exponentially. Organizations across sectors provide Wi-Fi access in their campuses. In a wireless zone, when you turn on your Wi-Fi device, it is immediately connected to a wireless access point. Cisco's wireless controllers play a crucial role in ensuring such seamless Wi-Fi access in organizations of varying sizes. These wireless controllers can export NetFlow User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets. This helps the admin to monitor the bandwidth usage and shape the traffic. Now, ManageEngine's NetFlow Analyzer supports Cisco WLC (Wireless LAN Controller).

It must be noted that WLC's NetFlow information is different from other NetFlow exports of layer 3 devices. Using ManageEngine's NetFlow Analyzer helps you analyze the bandwidth of the wireless environment. Configuring NetFlow export in WLC is a simple, three-step process.

Step 1 : Configuring the Exporter

1.Select Wireless > NetFlow > Exporter.
2.Click New. .
3.Type the Exporter name, IP address, and the port number(9996) .
4.Click Apply. .
5. Click Save Configuration.

Step 2: Configuring the NetFlow Monitor

1.Select Wireless > NetFlow > Monitor.
2.Click New and enter the monitor name.
3.On the Monitor List page, click the monitor name to open the NetFlow Monitor > Edit page.
4.Choose the Exporter name and the record name from the respective drop-down lists.
5.Click Apply.
6.Click Save Configuration.

Step 3: Associating a NetFlow Monitor to a WLAN

1.Choose WLANs and click the WLAN ID to open the WLANs > Edit page.
2.On the QoS tab, select the NetFlow Monitor from the NetFlow Monitor drop-down list.
3.Make sure the that Application Visibility check box is selected.
4.Click Apply.
5.Click Save Configuration.

After the configuration, make sure that no firewall or router access list is blocking the UDP packets. Then, NetFlow Analyzer will detect the device and start collecting the data.