Hey guys! I'm Kendall with Fluke Networks, for those of you who don't know me. Seems like there's a few questions, so let me see what I can help with

You definitely got the main delineation between LinkRunner AT 1000 & 2000 right - 2000 also offers network testing over fiber. LinkRunner ATs have a lot of functionality over LinkSprinters, but I tend to lean towards grabbing my LinkRunner for unmanaged environments. They allow for faster wire mapping and tracing, and are actually tone generators as well. The main crowd pleaser for LinkSprinter is it's ability to get the switch advertisement info (CDP/LLDP/EDP) and check PoE, test DHCP, Gateway/router, and make sure you can get an internet connection at that drop (all of this is also built into the LinkRunner ATs).

It packs a punch and the starting model is only $199. It was really made to solve 80% of your troubleshooting issues at a better price point for SMBs. Solid addition to a tool kit!

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm kinda new here, but I'll be around

Hey all! So we all know ML is doing AMAs now (very exciting!) and I've been toying with doing Fluke Networks (/NETSCOUTs) first EVER AMA here! Thanks to @Minion-Queen for the invite!
First, would ya'll want us to do one?! And IF we were to do one here, what tech topics do you think you'd be asking questions about? Wired troubleshooting? Wifi? Monitoring? VoIP testing? Application Monitoring? Granted it's open for everything, I'm just trying to figure out which of our tech experts I need to bribe with pizza

Thanks @jenuinecase! Glad to be here

/nervously sweats hoping no one else has used this meme previously in the thread that I didn't fully read/

Thanks to everyone who participated in the AMA! Some great conversation today, we had a ton of fun.
I know I owe you some more info on network taps @travisdh1 and @dafyre so I will post back in here once I can track something down for you.
I'm super happy to announce the winner of the LinkSprinter Network Tester chosen at random very scientifically by me closing my eyes and scrolling through the thread is... @Dashrender! Congrats!! I'll PM you for shipping information.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to PM me or tag me in a thread. As one last note, just a reminder that the Enterprise/network test side of Fluke Networks (everything we talked about here today) is now with NETSCOUT! So be sure to check us out there in the future.

Thanks again everyone!!

I might be able to get a LinkSprinter or something to do a giveaway during the AMA if ya'll want?

@MattSpeller said:

@gjacobse said:

@Reid-Cooper said:

Fluke makes great stuff. Hard to go wrong with their stuff in your "go bag." And another vote for a large USB stick. And if you can find a small screwdriver kit with a lot of different sizes and types and don't forget about Torx.

Yes,.. Fluke is the standard when talking about testing and metering. I would love to have some of their gear,.. but there is a limit on what I need / much less afford. They make some of the best DVM and network tools.

Absolutely agree. You'll pry my 179 from my cold dead fingers.

Haha! This thread just made my day

@DustinB3403 Check out the LinkSprinter 300. Not only will this help you out to quickly determine general troubleshooting such as, is the problem in the PC or hte Network and if the Network, where. For cable test and identification, it will also give you distance to fault and show open/short/split. Another handy feature is it has flash port, so if you don't know what's connected to what and you have an un-managed switch, you plug the LinkSprinter in at the wall jack and watch the ports, you'll see one light blinking in a different pattern, that's your connection. In a managed switch, will just tell you what switch/slot/port VLAN you are plugged into.

@Dashrender Any device with a browser and the ability to connect to choose a wifi connection is supported! We decided not to do an app specifically for that reason, so it could support as many devices as possible.

A quick follow up for @travisdh1 and @dafyre - The network taps we offer are through VSS Monitoring. They were a sister company to Fluke Networks, but were also part of the NETSCOUT acquisition.
Here's a link to a single port fiber tap that might be of interest:
http://www.vssmonitoring.com/high-density-fiber-tap/
But here's a more general view of everything we have:
http://www.vssmonitoring.com/products/

I honestly don't have much of a background here personally, but I'm more than happy to connect you with our VSS team if you're looking for something more detailed or have additional questions! Just PM me.

We're crazy Christmas decorators in my house as well! We tend to keep it simple with a gold and white tree

Thanks for the warm welcome folks!

@MattSpeller said:

@KendallHershey said:

Haha! This thread just made my day

zomg a wild Fluke rep appears - heelllloooooooo

Any chance you could hook me up with a fuse for my 179? I'm really attached to both my arms and legs which seems to be the going rate for one of them.

Why, hello there! Unfortunately, Fluke and Fluke Networks are actually two separate operating companies (most people don't know that) and although I can usually track down answers to questions, I don't have any pull when it comes to getting free Fluke stuff. But if you ever need help on the networking gear, I'm your girl!

I know, the whole Fluke/Fluke Networks things is SO confusing! Fluke Networks was actually born out of Fluke (and thus why it has the same brand name/colors), and at some point decided to split off into it's own company (no idea why). We were still owned by the same parent company, and talk with each other a lot, but were totally separate.

And to make it even more complicated, Fluke Networks was actually recently divided, the cable certifiers are still with Fluke, but the networking side of our test portfolio was acquired by NETSCOUT! Including me, and the testers we chatted about here in this thread. Oye!

Hello and welcome!
We’ve got a bunch of our product experts in the room here, most on wired and wireless troubleshooting. I’m Kendall, NETSCOUT's (/Fluke Networks Enterprise’s) social gal, and I’ll be helping to field and answer questions. So what do ya got for us?!

So far we have Lisa Schwartz, Product Manager for Link-Solutions (LinkSprinter, LinkRunner AT, Link-Live Cloud Service) and Vincent Choi, Product Manager for OneTouch AT (wired + wireless troubleshooting). Plus we've got a few folks on call depending on what questions come up. Looking forward to this!

@DustinB3403 @Minion-Queen For the reply to testing throughput between our closets: Our OneTouchAT offering support throughput testing based on RFC2544 between two 1Gbps location. For testing up-stream/down-stream rate seperately, two OneTouchAT units will be needed. For round-trip validation, OneTouchAT can work with a LinkRunner to perform the test.
If 10G link is needed, the OneTouch with 10G test module can work with a OptiView XG to conduct the test.
The OptiView XG to OneTouch 10G test will be based on Y1564 that allows multi-streams (up to 4) with different patterns that can be defined for testing SLA when multiple traffic streams are loading the link

@Dashrender said:

@KendallHershey said:

@Dashrender said:

@KendallHershey said:

Does anyone have any wireless issues or projects coming up at all? Or mostly concerned with wired in this group?

I do play to replace my ancient (8+ years) cisco WAP system. replacement is in the budget for this year.
YEAH!

Awesome!! Are you planning on doing the survey and deployment yourself or will you be contracting that?

I plan to do everything myself.

You'll definitely want a planner/survey tool to help make sure you're maximizing your coverage - check out our planner (http://www.flukenetworks.com/enterprise-network/wireless-network/AirMagnet-Planner) and survey tool (http://www.flukenetworks.com/products/airmagnet-survey). The AirCheck (mentioned earlier) would also be a good option for post-installation maintenance and troubleshooting, or OneTouch AT which would include both wired and wireless troubleshooting in one tool, with VoIP and throughput testing as well. We're one of the only vendors that actually services every point of the wireless life cycle.

@Dashrender said:

@Minion-Queen said:

I know a lot of guys around here talk about SMB cost for things. How can a single shop IT guy not use this stuff? Yes there is a cost to purchase said item but, the cost saving in time and frustration, now that is where it's at!

So I'm thinking about this. I guess it boils down to - how much do I have to pay someone who already owns this equipment to come in and do a survey versus buying the equipment myself, learning to use (always a good skill - I do get this) and then using it. If the cost of purchase vs paying a company to do a survey is close, then buying starts making sense, especially when you look at the ability to use it in the future at low/no cost.

The MSRP of the Survey/Planner bundle is $4,360. The skill is very valuable to learn! But, that's always the key question. We've got a ton of resources to help you learn about migrating to 11ac, for example, if you're interested: http://www.flukenetworks.com/content/802-11ac-University?ls=PRML&lsd=WLAN11acUni

But I think either way, you're going to want a post-install troubleshooting tool. Wireless can be extremely tricky. Sometimes something like getting a new microwave in the kitchen could cause issues for the users on the other side of the wall. In my experience, it can require more upkeep than something more static like a wired infrastructure. It's very dependent on many different factors.

@Dashrender said:

Fastest prize delivery in the west!

Thanks again @KendallHershey and Fluke! and of course ML!

I'm magic. Shh don't tell.

I'm not going to bribe YOU guys to ask questions! haha Nice try @RojoLoco.

But I WILL take areas you'd like to chat with us about