NetAlly Fundamentals
A practical one-day introduction to NetAlly network testing tools, covering wired and wireless fundamentals, structured troubleshooting, demonstrations and Link-Live reporting.
Get up and running with NetAlly network testing tools
New to NetAlly? This practical one-day training course gives network engineers and technicians the foundational knowledge needed to start using NetAlly tools confidently on live projects.
Delegates will learn how NetAlly handheld testers fit into a structured network troubleshooting process, covering essential networking concepts before applying them to common wired and wireless problems.
Through instructor-led demonstrations, and realistic troubleshooting scenarios, the course will help you understand test results, identify likely causes and gather the evidence needed to resolve or escalate network issues.
Course Details
- Duration: Half Day (10:00 – 16:00)
- Location: Online
- Course language: English
- Course time zone: GMT (London)
- Format: Instructor-led training with demonstrations
- Products covered: LinkSprinter, LinkRunner, AirCheck G3, EtherScope nXG and Link-Live
Who should attend?
NetAlly Fundamentals is suitable for anyone responsible for installing, validating, maintaining or troubleshooting wired and wireless networks.
The course is particularly relevant to:
- Network and wireless engineers
- Field service engineers and technicians
- Network installers and system integrators
- IT administrators and support teams
- Managed service provider technical teams
- Engineers who are new to NetAlly products
- Organisations introducing NetAlly tools across a wider technical team
No previous experience with NetAlly products is required. A basic understanding of business networks is useful, but the course includes a refresher on the networking concepts needed to interpret test results.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, delegates will be able to:
- Understand where different NetAlly testers fit within the troubleshooting process
- Select the most appropriate tool for common wired and wireless tasks
- Apply a structured Layer 1–3 troubleshooting methodology
- Identify common cable, link, switch, VLAN, DHCP, DNS, gateway and PoE problems
- Validate network services and connectivity using automated and manual tests
- Interpret wired network discovery and diagnostic results
- Assess Wi-Fi signal strength, channel utilisation, authentication and client connectivity
- Investigate roaming and interference-related wireless problems
- Use ping, traceroute and other diagnostic tests to isolate faults
- Save, organise and share test results through Link-Live
- Produce clearer evidence for customers, colleagues and remote support teams
- Approach live troubleshooting work with greater speed and confidence
Course Agenda
1. Welcome and objectives
- Course overview and introductions
- Learning objectives for the day
- Introduction to the NetAlly portfolio
- Where handheld testers fit within modern network installation, validation and troubleshooting workflows
2. NetAlly product overview
An introduction to the principal NetAlly tools covered during the course:
- LinkSprinter
- LinkRunner
- AirCheck G3
- EtherScope nXG
- Link-Live
Delegates will learn how the products are positioned, their principal capabilities and the types of engineer, network and troubleshooting task for which each tool is best suited.
3. Networking fundamentals
A practical refresher on the networking technologies and services that appear within NetAlly test results:
- TCP/IP fundamentals
- Power over Ethernet
- VLANs
- DHCP
- DNS
- LLDP and CDP
- SNMP
- Default gateways
- Local and remote network connectivity
4. Troubleshooting methodology
- A structured approach to Layer 1–3 troubleshooting
- Why effective troubleshooting starts at the physical layer
- Separating symptoms from root causes
- Establishing what is working before investigating what is not
- Common wired and wireless network failures
- Capturing useful evidence for escalation and reporting
5. Wired network testing
Delegates will learn how NetAlly tools can be used to perform common wired network tests, including:
- Cable and wire map testing
- Ethernet link validation
- Switch and port discovery
- LLDP and CDP information
- VLAN identification
- DHCP validation
- DNS and gateway connectivity
- Power over Ethernet testing
- Ping and traceroute
- Interpreting automated test results
6. Practical wired demonstration
A guided investigation of a wired network problem using captured results and live demonstrations.
A demonstration showing the workflow through the issue systematically, interpret the available evidence and identify the most likely cause and recommended next action.
7. Wireless network testing
An introduction to using NetAlly tools to validate and troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks, covering:
- Wi-Fi network and access point discovery
- Signal strength and coverage
- Channel utilisation
- Client connectivity
- Network authentication
- DHCP, DNS and gateway testing over Wi-Fi
- Roaming behaviour
- Interference analysis
- Differentiating wireless problems from upstream wired network issues
8. Link-Live cloud services
Delegates will learn how Link-Live supports test-result management and collaboration, including:
- Uploading and organising test results
- Centralised documentation
- Sharing results with colleagues and customers
- Supporting collaboration between field and remote engineers
- Reporting
- Remote visibility
- Tester and asset management
9. Real-world troubleshooting demonstration
A demonstration of the techniques covered during the course on a selection of realistic wired and wireless scenarios.
The demonstration will reinforce:
- Starting at the correct troubleshooting layer
- Selecting the appropriate NetAlly test
- Interpreting multiple test results together
- Eliminating possible causes
- Identifying the probable root cause
- Documenting findings and recommending next steps
10. Wrap-up and questions
- Review of the key learning points
- Questions and discussion
- Further learning resources
- Available technical support
- Recommended next steps
Our Tutor
Richard Shelford
Wireless Consultant
Richard has been working for major security and networking distribution companies for the last 22 years. In technical support and technical pre-sales roles he’s assisted channel partners with the design, sale, installation and configuration of wireless, switching and firewall solutions for many vendors including Aerohive, Arista, Aruba, Cambium, Ruckus, and Siemens.
Richard holds numerous accreditations including ECSE Design, ECSE Troubleshooting, ECSE Advanced, ECNP, ECNS, and ECWP. He’s also a qualified instructor for Arista and Ruckus.