Technical data

44 Meru System Director Configuration Guide © 2012 Meru Networks, Inc.
Using AeroScout

The AeroScout Engine determines the coordinates and sends it to AeroScout
MobileView.
 The AeroScout Mobile View uses location data to display maps, enable searches,
create alerts, manage assets, work with third-parties, and much more.
Figure 5: Aeroscout Mobile Unit
Wi-Fi Mobile Units (MUs) can be located, if associated to some access point, or while
transmitting broadcast messages. The messages transmitted by Wi-Fi Mobile Units
are received by Access Points and are passed along with additional information (e.g.,
signal strength measurements) to the AeroScout Engine, which is a core component
of the AeroScout visibility system. The AeroScout Engine also calculates an accurate
location of the Wi-Fi device. In order to locate the Mobile Units, Access Points that
receive their messages must pass the RSSI values of each message to the AeroScout
Engine. The access points must also be able to collect data messages from MUs that
are not associated with them and pass the RSSI values to the AeroScout Engine.
Reporting Tags and/or Wi-Fi mobile units must not affect the normal operation of the
AP—that is, the AP must be performing in all its supported modes, such as normal
802.11a/b/g communication, monitoring, bridge modes, etc. Due to the high MU
traffic, it is possible to dilute the MU messages that are sent to AeroScout Engine.