Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating the management of wireless
computer network environments and the detection of rogue and other
devices that may affect the performance and/or security of the wireless
computer network. The present invention enables accurate and cost
effective WLAN airspace mapping. In one embodiment, the present invention
allows any conforming access point the ability to routinely scan its
airspace, collect data on all operating frequencies and report this
information back to a management platform. In one embodiment, the
management and reporting functionality described herein uses a
standards-based vehicle, such as Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP). In one embodiment, the present invention allows for detection of
all wireless traffic within or affecting an enterprise's computer network
environment, picking up all active access points (Ad Hoc or
Infrastructure) and all wireless clients data regardless of SSID,
channel, or security settings. The management platform, according to an
embodiment of the present invention, analyzes information received from
the access points under management to detect and report the state of the
computer network environment. In one embodiment, the present invention
facilitates isolation of rogue wireless devices affecting the computer
network environment and effective decision-making as to management of the
detected device. The present invention also allows network administrators
to optimize the configuration of the wireless network environment for
performance and security.