User`s guide

ZigBee™ Protocol Tools

3.4.5 Analyzing Network Traffic

The ZENA Wireless Network Analyzer can provide a great deal of information about

device and network operation. The Packet Sniffer window can be used to ensure that

messages are appearing on the air as expected, and that the messages have the

correct format. The NCD window can be used to ensure the network is formed in the

correct manner.

The ZENA analyzer can show how messages propagate through the network. In the

examples above, we see by using the NCD window that the application message is

routed along the network tree, while the Acknowledge is routed more directly. Using the

Packet Sniffer window, we can determine if the message was sent with routing

suppressed, or if routing was requested but a node in the path did not have routing

capacity.

The ZENA analyzer can also provide insight as to physical barriers that are affecting

the system. In the previous example, we can see that physical barriers are probably

preventing two nodes from talking directly.

With a larger scale network, the ZENA analyzer can also help determine if device layout

needs to be optimized for the system’s required network traffic. If the ZENA analyzer

indicates that a great deal of traffic is being routed through a single device, that device

may be getting overloaded. An alternate arrangement of devices might generate more

balanced network traffic.

3.4.6 Exporting Data

In some cases, it may be necessary to export the raw message data to another tool for

further analysis. To export raw data, select the desired packets in the Packet Display

window, right click on the packets and select Copy To Clipboard. The raw packet data

will be exported to the clipboard in ASCII format, each packet on a new line, with a

space after each byte.

The formatting of the data is:

• Packet ID (four bytes, least significant byte first)

• Time-stamp (four bytes, least significant byte first)

• Packet length (one byte)

• Packet data (transmission order)

Approximately 21000 bytes of packet information can be exported at one time.