The Summit Client Utility

Business-critical ASDs are specialized devices that require specialized software to deliver the security, trouble-free operation, and manageability that customers require. Summit software includes drivers, an integrated supplicant, and a full-featured management and monitoring utility called the Summit Client Utility (SCU). Key software capabilities include operating system support, security, Wi-Fi certification, Cisco Client Extensions support, and administration. For details on software capabilities, click here. This page provides an in-depth look at SCU.

The Summit Client Utility (SCU)

SCU is an integrated application designed for end users and administrators of ASDs that use a Summit radio module. Using SCU, an end user can view:

• The contents of profiles, each of which contains the RF, security, and other settings for the Summit radio.
• Global settings, which apply to every profile.
• A snapshot status of the current wireless network connection.
• More detailed status information on the radio, the AP to which it is connected, and the RF connection or link between the two.
• In-depth diagnostic information on the connection and the radio, so users can accurately report key data to an administrator when there is a connection or performance issue.
• Other information on the radio, such as software versions and regulatory domain.

After completing an administrator login to SCU, an administrator can perform these additional tasks:

• Turn the adapter (radio) on and off
• Select the profile to be used
• Create, rename, edit, and delete profiles
• Alter global settings, which apply to every profile
• Perform various troubleshooting and diagnostic tests

SCU provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for access to all of its functions. This GUI consists of five windows, with tabs for easy selection of each window. The five windows are Main, Profile, Status, Diagnostics, and Global Settings.

Main Window

Here are highlights of the Main window:

1. Admin Login/Logout: To login to SCU as an administrator, you select this button when "Admin Login" is displayed and supply the correct admin password on the dialog box. Clicking the button again logs you out as an administrator, leaving access to only end-user functions.

2. Enable/Disable Radio: When the radio is enabled, selecting this button disables it; when the radio is disabled, selecting this button enables it.

3. Active Profile: A user can view the name of the active profile or use the selection list to select a different profile.

4. Status: Indicates the radio's association and authentication status. Status conditions include "Down", "Disabled", "Not Associated", "Associated" and "Authenticated" (inclusive of the EAP Type used for the authentication).

5. Radio Type: Indicates the type of radio installed in the device, e.g. "BG" when an 802.11b/g radio is installed.

6. Reg. Domain: Indicates the regulatory domain (e.g. ETSI, FCC or TELEC) for which the radio is configured. "Worldwide" means that the radio can be used in any domain.

7. Software Versions: Indicates the versions of the device driver and the version of SCU that are running on the device.

8. About Button: Supplies information on the Summit Software Suite that on a Windows application normally would appear under Help | About.

9. Tabs: Enable easy selection of any SCU window.

Profile Window

Here are highlights of the Profile (formerly referred to as "Config." in previous versions of SCU) window:

1. Edit Profile: This is used to select the profile to be viewed or, if you are an administrator, edited.

2. Actions: Four actions are available to an administrator:

• New: Create a new profile with default settings and give it a name (and then change settings using other selections on the window)
• Rename: Give the profile a new name, one that is not assigned to another profile
• Delete: Delete the profile, provided that it is not the active profile
• Scan: Opens a new window which displays a list of available APs with their respective SSIDs, Signal Strength (RSSI value) and Security Status. Selecting an AP from the list returns an administrator to the profile window and populates a new profile with the information available from the scan to simplify setting up a new profile.

3. Radio: When an attribute in the list box is selected, the current setting or an appropriate selection box with the current setting highlighted appears on the right. For example, selecting SSID causes an edit box to appear; selecting transmit power causes SCU to display a drop-down list box with available settings. Administrators may edit these settings for the profile selected in the Edit profile list box.

4. Security Settings: The items at the bottom of the window enable the administrator to configure the settings for authentication and encryption.

• Encryption: Displays the means of data encryption associated with the selected profile. Administrators can select from various means of encryption for the selected profile. When a means of encryption that uses static encryption keys, e.g. WEP or Pre-Shared Keys, is selected the administrator can tap the "WEP keys/PSKs" button which will open a new window in which keys may be entered and saved with the profile.
• EAP Type: Displays the EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) Type associated with the selected profile. Administrators can select form various EAP Types for the selected profile. Administrators can tap the Credentials button to enter EAP credentials such as passwords or certificates.

5. Save Changes: Tapping the Commit button will save any changes made to the selected profile.

Status Window

The Status window provides status information on the radio connection between the client device and the access point to which it's associated. Status items include IP address and MAC address for the client, IP address and MAC address for the access point, connection channel and data rate and received signal strength and signal quality from the access point.

Diagnostics Window

The Diagnostics (Diags), or troubleshooting window provides the following functions:

• (Re)connect: Attempt to connect or reconnect to the AP using the current profile, logging all activity in the output area at the bottom of the window.
• Release/Renew: Obtain a new IP address through release/renew, logging all activity.
• Start (Stop) Ping: Start a continuous ping to the address in the edit box next to it, logging all activity. Once the button is clicked, its name and function will change to Stop Ping. Pings will continue to run until the Stop Ping button is tapped-- even when changing to the Status windows. By default, the destination ping address is the address of the access point to which the client is associated-- users can change this address to any valid IP address.
• Diagnostics: Tapping the Diagnostics button will dump the configuration of the radio to the screen for examination and troubleshooting. Tapping the Save To... button enables users to save the contents of the diagnostics screen to a text file which can then be sent to a network administrator for examination and troubleshooting.

Global Settings Window

The Global Settings window enables a user to view and an administrator to configure settings that apply globally to radio and application operation. Global Settings apply equally across all profiles. Adjustment of Global Settings from their default values enables administrators to fine-tune the operation of the Summit radio and SCU to optimize performance and usability for specific wireless infrastructures, applications and device types. Typically, changing Global Settings from the defaults should only be performed by trained wireless networking professionals.

The Summit Software Developer's Kit (SDK)

SCU provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for access to all of its functions. Access to these functions also is available through an application programming interface (API) that is provided to every Summit customer as part of our Software Development Kit (SDK). A Summit customer can use the API to manage the adapter from another utility, such as one that the customer provides with its mobile devices. Wavelink Avalanche also uses this API.