Inside Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: New WiFi Diagnostics tool
Apple has added a new Wi-Fi Diagnostics utility to monitor the performance of wireless networks, record events, capture raw network frames, and log diagnostic data that can be sent to Apple by users for troubleshooting.
The new app is in the hidden /System/Library/CoreServices folder, where Mac OS X stores a variety of utility apps that are integrated into the Mac desktop, including the Dock, Finder, Software Update, and Archive Utility.
Users can launch the tool by Option clicking on the Wi-Fi Menu Bar icon, which then presents an otherwise hidden "Open Wi-Fi Diagnostics" option (below).
After opening, the tool presents options to Monitor Performance, Record Events, Capture Raw Frames, or Turn on Debug Logs. A Learn More button outlines what these options do in a drop down sheet (below).
Monitor Performance works similar to AirPort Utility's Wireless Clients graphing feature, but provides a more detailed presentation of signal and noise for the client, rather than tracking every active client on a given base station. It can also Report the collected data to Apple for use in troubleshooting issues.
Other options log events or capture raw frame data in the background to a temporary .pcap (packet capture) file, which can similarly be reported to Apple for troubleshooting help.
Also noticeably new and different in Mac OS X Lion is network setup for 802.1x security. Formerly, users could manually enter settings or install a profile the automatically configured the settings. In Lion, Apple informs users that their network administrator will deliver a configuration profile (below).
Apple created configuration profiles for iOS along with a system site administrators can use to roll out initial settings and subsequent updates to their users. In Lion Server, the same infrastructure can be used to remotely deliver network configuration files that automate the management of Macs just like iOS devices.
The new app is in the hidden /System/Library/CoreServices folder, where Mac OS X stores a variety of utility apps that are integrated into the Mac desktop, including the Dock, Finder, Software Update, and Archive Utility.
Users can launch the tool by Option clicking on the Wi-Fi Menu Bar icon, which then presents an otherwise hidden "Open Wi-Fi Diagnostics" option (below).
After opening, the tool presents options to Monitor Performance, Record Events, Capture Raw Frames, or Turn on Debug Logs. A Learn More button outlines what these options do in a drop down sheet (below).
Monitor Performance works similar to AirPort Utility's Wireless Clients graphing feature, but provides a more detailed presentation of signal and noise for the client, rather than tracking every active client on a given base station. It can also Report the collected data to Apple for use in troubleshooting issues.
Other options log events or capture raw frame data in the background to a temporary .pcap (packet capture) file, which can similarly be reported to Apple for troubleshooting help.
Also noticeably new and different in Mac OS X Lion is network setup for 802.1x security. Formerly, users could manually enter settings or install a profile the automatically configured the settings. In Lion, Apple informs users that their network administrator will deliver a configuration profile (below).
Apple created configuration profiles for iOS along with a system site administrators can use to roll out initial settings and subsequent updates to their users. In Lion Server, the same infrastructure can be used to remotely deliver network configuration files that automate the management of Macs just like iOS devices.
Comments
--- On an unrelated note ---
I can't quite get used to the reversed tab interface control. It seems more gimmicky than improvement. But I'm not yet using 10.7, so maybe somebody who is can chime in on this. It almost seems like they want to provide a "physical" movable control for touch interfaces, rather than a series of AM radio-like push buttons.
I can't quite get used to the reversed tab interface control. It seems more gimmicky than improvement. But I'm not yet using 10.7, so maybe somebody who is can chime in on this. It almost seems like they want to provide a "physical" movable control for touch interfaces, rather than a series of AM radio-like push buttons.
I'm with you on this one. But it's just like iOS and I'm sure I'll get used to it.
I'm sure there are great 3rd-party tools out there, but it's always preferable to have these things built right in. Hopefully all that data Apple can collect will only help things in the long run too!
I've been using something called iStumbler for a while now.
Sometimes I like to see what channel I'm on compared to everybody else in the neighborhood and also to see the signal strength compared to everybody else.
I would like to see a network sniffer. There are times that I can see network activity via AirPort Extremes' flashing green light but I don't know who's talking. It would be nice to have a sniffer on my network to see who is talking and to whom they are talking to.
You are either talking about "Little Snitch" or "Wireshark". Between those two, your requirements should be well met. Both work wonderfully on your Mac.
I can't quite get used to the reversed tab interface control. It seems more gimmicky than improvement. But I'm not yet using 10.7, so maybe somebody who is can chime in on this. It almost seems like they want to provide a "physical" movable control for touch interfaces, rather than a series of AM radio-like push buttons.
The "reversed tab" seems to make sense for me right now, but I haven't played with it in person yet.
I can't quite get used to the reversed tab interface control. It seems more gimmicky than improvement. But I'm not yet using 10.7, so maybe somebody who is can chime in on this. It almost seems like they want to provide a "physical" movable control for touch interfaces, rather than a series of AM radio-like push buttons.
It?s still has radio button functionality. Meaning, you don?t have to do a click, hold and drag maneuver to switch between the tabs. You can, if you want, but simply clicking on the new tab area will switch it, too.
I can see what you?re saying about gimmicky, but after using Lion I don?t think that is the intention. I believe Apple is simply doing adding familiar features from iOS back into Mac OS X to make the transition to Macs more comfortable. Lets face it, no matter how much faster Macs are growing than the rest of the PC industry they are still a drop in the bucket in the number of unique users compared to iOS-based iDevices.
I don?t see any evidence that Apple plans to make Mac OS X?s primary display also be the main input device. I say primary because I am still holding out for the glass, multi-touch trackpad to also be an AMOLED display at some future date.
Good, it's about time that they built that into the OS.
I've been using something called iStumbler for a while now.
Sometimes I like to see what channel I'm on compared to everybody else in the neighborhood and also to see the signal strength compared to everybody else.
Now here -- surprise -- is a useful post from you.
Now here -- surprise -- is a useful post from you.
And your post was pretty dumb, and not very useful, to be honest.
If you don't like the majority of my posts, then feel free to skip over everything that I write in the future.
A way to capture real-world wi-fi situations, this can only help to make OS X and iOS better.
--- On an unrelated note ---
I can't quite get used to the reversed tab interface control. It seems more gimmicky than improvement. But I'm not yet using 10.7, so maybe somebody who is can chime in on this. It almost seems like they want to provide a "physical" movable control for touch interfaces, rather than a series of AM radio-like push buttons.
I wanted to try out 10.7, so running it from an external drive. Don't worry- I got used to it in 5 min. I love the new animation effects throughout the interface, including that one- adds fluidity, and can actually help normal people understand what just happened, instead of a jarring effect. I personally think the sliders are an improvement visually- in terms of functionality, it won't make one difference once way or another. Just another way to present the exact same thing. However, I think it's beneficial in the long term to unify so UI elements from iOS/OSX - and this does just that.
PS- I LOVE the new dashboard (find it quicker to access, more intuitive), and gestures to slide between that, desktop, and open fullscreen apps.
--- On an unrelated note ---
I can't quite get used to the reversed tab interface control. It seems more gimmicky than improvement. But I'm not yet using 10.7, so maybe somebody who is can chime in on this. It almost seems like they want to provide a "physical" movable control for touch interfaces, rather than a series of AM radio-like push buttons.
Same applies in diagnostics.
Scummy Microsoft can do it, and it's often handy to know at a glance that your computer has made it to the network, but not to the net. I assume windows pings a server on the net.
Currently I use the Dropbox icon to tell me this.
"Wi-Fi"...? Not "AirPort"...? Is Apple giving up on some of their branding?
It makes sense since Macs connect to other Wi-Fi networks than those supplied by AirPort base stations.
<fingers crossed>
Off topic a little but ... No one else seems to have mentioned that the scrolling logic for up and down has been reversed, i.e. you scroll the opposite way to go up and down as in 10.6 and earlier. Unless this is just my MBP. I see no option to alter this anywhere. Left and right remains the same obviously. Actually after a while it seems more intuitive but it's hell switching between 10.6 and 10.7