Advanced RF properties at your disposal to improve Enterprise WLAN deployments and spectrum quality BRKEWN-3010
Jim Florwick
Platform TME – Wireless
CiscoLive 2014 Milan
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House Keeping Notes – Wednesday April 16, 2014
Thank you for attending Cisco Connect Toronto 2014, here are a few housekeeping notes to ensure we all enjoy the session today.
Please ensure your cellphones are set on silent to ensure no one is disturbed during the session
I will take questions during the session, but may ask that your hold it if we’re ahead of the material
2
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What We’re Going to Cover
3
How important is the RF? – The Physical Layer – we will focus exclusively on the physical
Site Survey – When was the last time a survey was done?
Tools – A word about tools
– Prime Planner, Ekahau, AirMagnet, Spectrum analysis
What are your Priorities?
RRM – RF Grouping
– Dynamic Channel Assignment
Tuning – RRM, Client Link, Band Select, HDX – RX_SOP/SmartRoam, RF Profiles
Summary
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By The End of This Session
You should understand – Where to get information
– How to evaluate that information and use it
– Understand what tools and techniques are available to solve specific issues
– Use the information presented to create an action plan for change
– Improve your networks capacity and your users lives
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Wireless Trends- What’s Your Goal?
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1999
Wireless Evolution From Best Effort to Mission Critical
Hotspot System
Management Scalable
Performance
802.11n/OBSS
Self Healing &
Optimizing
802.11ac Gigabit Wireless
HS2.0
HDX
1999 2005
2007 2010 2013
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The changing RF landscape
7
Protocol Date Characteristics Spatial
Steams
20 MHz
Channels
802.11 1997 1,2 Mbps, infra Red, spread and DSSS,
802.11FH 2.4 GHz
1 1
802.11b 1999 1,2,5.5,11 Mbps, DSSS 2.4 GHz 1 1
802.11a 1999 6,9,12,18,36,48,54 Mbps – OFDM – 5 Ghz 1 1
802.11g 2003 6,9,12,18,36,48,54 Mbps OFDM 2.4 GHz 1 1
802.11n 2005 MCS 1-15-23 1-3 SS, OFDM, 20,40 MHz, 2.4
and 5 GHz
1-3 1-2
802.11ac 2012 1-8 SS MCS 1-9, OFDM, 20-40-80-160 MHz, 5
GHz
1-8 1-8
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2013 is the first year we’ve seen higher 5 GHz adoption rates
CiscoLive and Mobile World Congress - high tech shows –
SuperBowl different crowd 98.5% 802.11n
0.1
38 40
55
29
50 60
99
62 60
45
71
50 40
0
20
40
60
80
100
1205 GHz
2.4 GHz
98% 802.11n for 2012 and 2013!
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Key Reports – Cisco Prime
Clean Air – How much of your spectrum is being used by NON Wi-Fi
devices?
Client – What protocols are your client using? Unique Client Summary – should be a frequent
reference
Device – Channel Utilization – how much spectrum do you have?
Security Are Rogue Access points using your spectrum? Which AP’s hear them – how loud?
The above reports will tell you what/who is using your spectrum, how efficiently you are using your spectrum and how much you have left
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Deploying with Spectrum in Mind
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Deploying with Spectrum in Mind
Role of site survey is as important as ever—but has evolved
Evaluate the existing application requirements, available spectrum and Client types/mix
Focus should be on fixed infrastructure – AP placement
– Density is important = capacity
– Protocols supported
– Rates supported
– Interference sources
Mitigating issues
Planning tools
Designing for Sustainable Spectrum Management
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About Site Surveys
When was the last time you did a site survey?
– What where the design goals when that survey was done?
– Coverage or Capacity model?
– Client/AP types and technology?
Technologies Change – how many devices/clients where on your network the last time you did a survey
What are your design Priorities? What where they when you last did a survey?
You don’t know what you don’t know and not all 802.11 technologies are complimentary – air time rules
12
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A Word About Tools
What you use is less important than how you use it –
Internal vs external adapters
– Internal adapters – even the same model will have different antenna arays and placement for different model laptops
– External adapters – can be moved with the application – and provide consistent results – regardless of the platform used
Use the same Tool to compare results!
Recheck results from a known environment with version updates
Free Tools – Nothing is Free
How to compare Apples to Apples
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What has not changed? 802.11 and Duty Cycle – Channel Utilization – Air Time
802.11 error recovery is limited - Still
– Retransmit a packet
– Rate shift
Duty Cycle of RF is logarithmically proportionate to Channel Utilization
Channel Utilization is Capacity
Busy network – less interference tolerance
Less busy – might not even notice low levels of interference
Bandwidth is like Money – the more you get the more you spend
At a minimum – you have more users on your network this year than you did last year – and a lot more than you had 5 years ago….
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How does Interference impact Wi-Fi? Separating the FUD from the Fact’s
802.11a/b/g/n - CSMA/CA or LBT (listen Before Talk)
Collision Avoidance – 802.11 very very polite – by design – CCA – Collisions – SNR
CCA – Clear Channel Assessment – ED – quick – low power - prone to false positives – Preamble – takes time – power – less prone to false
CCA threshold for 802.11b/g is -65 dBm
CCA for 802.11a is different -65 dBm ED, if true then 20 dB lower for Preamble interrogation needs to be processed -85 dBm
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CCA Blocked or High
802.11n traffic
Video Signal
Video Camera Duty
Cycle
90-100%
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How does Interference impact Wi-Fi? Separating the FUD from the Fact’s
Collisions - Non Wi-Fi devices do not participate in our CA mechanism – they have their own
No respect for Wi-Fi – results in: – Corrupted packets – Increased retransmissions – Increased Duty Cycle – Less available bandwidth
SNR – Signal to Noise ratio
High SNR Low SNR
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802.11 and Duty Cycle – Channel Utilization
802.11 error recovery is limited
– Retransmit a packet
– Rate shift
Duty Cycle of interference is logarithmically proportionate to channel time available
Busy network – less interference tolerance
Less busy – might not even notice low levels of interference
Bandwidth is like Money – the more you get the more you spend
For a deep dive on CleanAir and it’s best in class features see –
BRKEWN-3010 Orlando, Fl. June 2013
• Available on CiscoLive365
RRM – Radio Resource Management
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RRM—Radio Resource Management
What are RRM’s objectives?
– To dynamically balance the RF infrastructure and mitigate changes
– Monitor and maintain coverage for all clients
– Manage Spectrum Efficiency so as to maintain the optimal throughput under changing conditions
What RRM does not do
– Substitute for a site survey
– Correct an incorrectly architected network
– Manufacture spectrum
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RRM Monitors the RF Group
Continuously monitors dynamic changes in environment
– Collection of statistics and metrics used by DCA, TPC, and CHDM
– Provides assessment of the overall “RF health” of the network
Stats/metrics include:
– Noise (e.g., radar, Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens)
– Interference (802.11—rogue APs)
– Signal – (our AP’s)
– Load
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How Does RRM Do This?
DCA—Dynamic Channel Assignment
–Each AP radio gets a transmit channel assigned to it
–Changes in “air quality” are monitored, AP channel assignment changed when deemed appropriate (based on DCA cost function)
TPC—Transmit Power Control
–Tx Power assignment based on radio to radio pathloss
–TPC is in charge of reducing Tx on some APs—but may also increase Tx by defaulting back to power level higher than the current Tx level
CHDM—Coverage Hole Detection and Mitigation
–Detecting clients in coverage holes
–Deciding on Tx adjustment (typically Tx increase) on certain APs based on (in)adequacy of estimated downlink client coverage
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RF Grouping Neighbor Messages = OTA – Over The Air - RF analysis
Neighbor AP messages are sent every 60 seconds at highest power and lowest supported data rate
Neighbor Messages are used by receiving APs and their WLCs to determine how to create inter and Intra-WLC RF Groups and Physical RF Neighborhoods
Each AP listens for other AP’s neighbor messages – and if it’s RF Group name matches – the message is forwarded to it’s controller and ultimately to the RF Group leader
A list is maintained for each AP in the RF Group of who heard his neighbor messages and how loud
Neighbor messages are
sent from each AP to
multicast address
01:0B:85:00:00:00
For a deep dive on the concepts of grouping, Neighbor Discovery, and collection of off channel metrics used in RRM algorithm’s – please read – Radio Resource Management (RRM) RF Grouping
• Part of the 7.4 RRM Design Guide presently under revision
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RRM—DCA— Dynamic Channel Assignment
Ensures that available RF spectrum is utilized well across frequencies/channels
Best network throughput is achieved without sacrificing stability or AP availability to clients
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RF Channel “64”
RF Channel “44”
RF Channel “100”
Analyzes and Optimizes
Channel assignments
Coordinates 20,40, and 80 MHz OBSS
assignments Using OTA measurements
What It Does
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Who calculates DCA – It runs on the RF Group
Leader WLC
– Decisions on channel assignment change made on a per AP, per radio basis
DCA manages channel assignments to each AP – Assigns channels to radios
– Changes the existing assignment on some radios, if appropriate
What criterion is evaluated: – RSSI-based Cost Function that
captures overall interference (including non-802.11 noise) on a per channel basis
Monitor=>Access Points=>Detail
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DCA represents each channel using essentially a compound signal to noise ratio. This is called a cost metric or CM.
Contributions to this metric are
– Signal – Our AP’s TX and RX neighbor
– Noise – Non Wi-Fi interference
– Interference – Managed and unmanaged rogues
– Load – Cisco Channel Utilization
You can manipulate what you want to contribute to the metric – by default Signal, Noise, and Interference are selected.
Wireless=>802.11a/b=>RRM=>DCA
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• Defaults are generally best
• Avoid Foreign AP Interference
If enabled – places a higher penalty on rogue devices
Is to encourage DCA to work around the neighboring AP
Encourages good neighbor borders
Can cause a lot of channel changes if enabled with a lot of transient rogue devices – disable if this is the case
• Load – disabled. This accounts for Cisco AP load only. Can cause a lot of channel changes in a heavily used network. Wireless=>802.11a/b=>RRM=>DCA
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DCA evaluates the Cost Metric to determine optimal channels for the network
The user defined threshold – DCA Sensitivity Threshold – allows customization of the algorithm
The threshold is a Hysteresis to dampen DCA function
If sensitivity is medium for 2.4 GHz then in order for a channel change to be made the new channel must be 10 dB better than the current channel or no change will occur.
Version Band Low Medium High
6.0 + 2.4 GHz 5 dB 10 dB 20 dB
5 GHz 5 dB 15 dB 20 dB
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DCA Example
What changes first is the CPCI selection process, randomization prevents pinning –
For a given CPCI, calculations permit changing first hop channels
Second hop channels considered
Solution is submitted to NCCF
CPCI and 1st neighbors are removed from the CPCI list
Next randomized CPCI is selected
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Selection of 20 MHz – all AP’s set to 20 MHz
Selection of 40 MHz – All 40 MHz capable AP’s set to 40 MHz
– 20 MHz only AP’s will remain 20 MHz
Selection to 80 MHz – all 80 MHz capable AP’s set to 80 MHz
– Others – 802.11n at 40 MHz, and 802.11a at 20 MHz
Wireless=>802.11a/b=>RRM=>DCA
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Using the example of an 80 MHz OBSS – (Overlapping BSS)
AP-AC wins contention on my primary channel and will send data on that channel and 3 other bonded channels.
The VHT header tells all 802.11AC stations that I’m using an 80 MHz OBSS and even tells what 20 MHz sub channels it’s using
But What of the lowly 802.11a station, or the 802.11n (HT) station who don’t speak 802.11ac and it’s fancy VHT language?
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Never Fear – LBT (Listen before Talk) to the rescue – CCA! (Clear Carrier Assessment)
CCA thresholds where adjusted in the 802.11ac specification to allow Overlapping BSS and IBSS stations coexist by adjusting the contention requirements for Sub Channels
In the table above – you can see that all 3 protocols have equal contention on the primary.
Any primary operating within a secondary 20 or 40 will loose contention
Any secondary 20 operating in a secondary 40 will win contention over other secondary's!
Protocol Primary Secondary 20 MHz Secondary 40 MHz
802.11a -82 dBm
802.11n -82 dBm -62 dBm (20 dB liberty)
802.11ac -82 dBm -72 dBm (10 dB liberty) -76 to -79 (3-6 dB liberty)
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The 802.11AC specification allows for an RTS to be sent on all sub channels as an 802.11a frame, and expects a CTS if a primary channel is assigned to one of the sub channels
– The specification says that RTS is optional, but CTS is mandatory
– Will clients implement this?
Even when the secondary40 channel is
occupied by a transmission, an 80 MHz
11ac AP can select to transmit 40 MHz
for the time being, thus the system still
fully utilizes the channel. (The
placement of the primary on which half
of the secondary40 is no longer a
critical concern.)
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The level of constructive coexistence among OBSS’s is based on these criteria:
– Fair channel access
– Fairness between 11ac and 11ac is neutral
Fairness between 11ac and legacy (11n and 11a)
Number of hidden nodes decreases
Number of collision decreases
Overall performance and efficiency increases
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In simulations and analysis, the general level of constructive coexistence decreases between two OBSSs in the order for these possible scenarios:
1. Primary and secondary20 channels mismatched
2. Primary channel on secondary40 or secondary 80 channels
3. Primary channels aligned
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Channel 40,44
802.11n 802.11ac
Channel 48,52,40,44
-54 dBm
120 Mbps
50 Mbps
-64 dBm
50 Mbps
120 Mbps
-74 dBm
220 Mbps
10 Mbps
-84 dBm
210 Mbps
90 Mbps
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Channel 48,52
802.11n 802.11ac
Channel 48,52,40,44
-54 dBm
120 Mbps
50 Mbps
-64 dBm
120 Mbps
50 Mbps
-74 dBm
120 Mbps
50 Mbps
-84 dBm
200 Mbps
90 Mbps
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How does DCA keep track of all the other AP’s and the channels their using?
Remember the DCA cost Metric?
Add Bias to a given channels CM to reinforce good channel solutions
Bias values match the given 3 performance scenarios – B1, B2, B3 for our AP’s and R1, R2, R3 for rogues increasing the bias for lower coexistence values
For instance - Not using Channel 60, and the resulting CM for channel 60 is +128!
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DCA will search for a 20, 40, 80 MHz solution for each AP – and only populate up to the AP’s capabilities
DCA channel Width settings determines the DCA mode
The AP Type determines the possible Channel Widths
DCA search’s for 20, then 40, then 80MHz channel widths and presents the solution as a grouping of cost metrics
Metrics for the same channel– can and will change for the channel width solution searched due to BIAS settings
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Airewave Director: metrics20 After Normaliz( 52, -81.68)( 56, -74.51)( 60, 128.00)( 64, -55.38) <snip>
Airewave Director: metrics40 After Normaliz( 52, -78.53)( 56, -75.49)( 60, 128.00)( 64, -55.37) <snip>
Airewave Director: metrics80 After Normaliz( 52, -59.23)( 56, -59.18)( 60, 127.98)( 64, -56.65) <snip>
*RRM-MGR-5_0-GRP: Sep 23 15:59:38.556: 64:d9:89:42:29:50 <snip>
Note – there are 3 similar but different answers - It is
3 different questions with 3 different set’s of rules. What determines
Which answer is used?
*RRM-MGR-5_0-GRP: Sep 23 15:59:38.551: 64:d9:89:42:29:50 Airewave
Director RRM Chan Assignment Mode: 2 Lrad Capability: 2 DCA Channel Width:
2 0= 20 MHz
1 = 40 Mhz
2 = 80 Mhz
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802.11ac and 80 MHz - lets see what this baby can do!
Likely already a full spectrum (the network was already there right?) – Using DFS channels already?
– Already have 40 MHz assigned for 802.11n?
Likely DCA is at medium Sensitivity 10 dB Hysteresis – Changing Channel Width – is a major change
– Expanding some channel Width’s to 80 Mhz and others to 40 Mhz is not trivial
– Don’t limit the possible solutions to within 10 dB!
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5 GHz 20/40/80/160 MHz Channels
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40
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48
52
56
60
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40
80
160
US
Europe
20
40
80
160
Indi
a
20
40
80
160
China
Existing Channel New Channel
UNII-2 UNII-1 NEW! UNII-2 NEW! UNII-2 UNII-3 NEW!
5250
MHz 5350
MHz
5470
MHz 5725
MHz
5825
MHz
5925
MHz
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Feature Benefit
256-QAM 5/6 coding 30% faster – at any #ss
Rate vs Range – significantly
increased
Faster speeds – further from the AP –
faster overall cell – less airtime
consumed
802.11ac – ONLY 5 Ghz Finally,Seriously, overdue….
Optional 802.11n Specifications
Removed – discarded - junked
Less implementation choices = less
client variability
Manufacturers already committed to
implementation
Many already delivering product
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Do you have spectrum available for 80 Mhz? – Evaluate by Regulatory
Do you use 40 MHz for 802.11n AP’s today? – If not – why not?
– Does it make sense to use 80 MHz?
Plan the Implementation – and understand that this is a Major Change to your existing spectrum plan
Let DCA help you
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Best Practices for Implementing 802.11ac
Decide what Channel Width you will use
Implement new hardware –
Initialize DCA in Startup Mode – FROM the RF group Leader(s)
Remember – all of this is 5 GHz only!
7.3 and above – from the CLI - Config 802.11a/b channel global restart
Managing Efficiency
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RX Utilization 36
TX Utilization 7
Channel Utilization 96
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Channel Utilization – what is it?
Channel Utilization is the physical – and the logical Air Time consumed
It is – physical signal in the air above CCA
It is - the logical CW and NAV
It is – All RF in the air – ours as well as rogues – if it’s 802.11 and we hear it – it counts
It is the metric which represents the AP’s TX_op in the current channel
And- it represents the whole channel – not the AP’s utilization
Root Cause for Channel Utilization must be isolated
– Self Interference – SSID’s, Data Rates, AP isolation vs Density – control with Configuration
– Non – Wi-Fi interference – possibly controllable
– Rogue Devices/networks – configuration management
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Spectrum Is a Shared Finite Resource
Understand Protocol Selection 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac and Duty Cycle—Important? Why?
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0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
6 12 36 54 130 173.3 300 540
64 Bytes
128 Bytes
256 Bytes
512 Bytes
1024 Bytes
2048 Bytes
Data Bytes
Time μS
Data Rate - Mbps
HT/VHT 40
3ss
HT/VHT 20
2ss
OFDM
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Every SSID Counts!
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Each SSID requires a separate Beacon
Each SSID will advertise at the minimum mandatory data rate
Disabled – not available to a client
Supported – available to Existing associated client
Mandatory – Client must support to associate
Lowest mandatory rate is beacon rate
Highest mandatory rate is default mcast rate
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AP-3700 – Supports Client Link 3.0
So why Client Link 3.0? • ClientLink’s beamforming capability unlike the standard improves
the SNR for all clients including legacy clients.
• Because this technology does not depend on any client-side hardware or software capabilities, it works with mixed-client networks seamlessly with 802.11ac and 802.11a/n clients that co-exist on the same Access Point
• Standards based beamforming only works with .11ac clients and most of them do not support it at this time.
A real “purpose built” AP is one that can support Cellular modules, Monitor radios, Wave-2
upgrades and can future protect your investment.
We also didn’t “accidently” build the AP-3700 you might say “purpose built” includes
ClientLink innovation, Spectrum Intelligence and Quality RF performance from the center
of RF Excellence located in Richfield Ohio… Yes QUALITY DOES MATTER…
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5 2.4
Optimized RF Utilization by Moving 5 GHz Capable Client Out of the Congested 2.4 GHz Channels
802.11?
BandSelect Access Point Assisted 5 GHz Band Selection
Dual-Band Client Radio
2.4/5GHz
Discovery Probes
Looking for AP
Discovery
Response Solution
BandSelect directs clients to 5 GHz optimizing RF
usage
Better usage of the higher capacity 5GHz band
Frees up 2.4 GHz for single band clients
Challenge
Dual-Band clients persistently connect to 2.4 GHz
2.4GHz may have 802.11b/g/n clients causing
contention
2.4GHz is prone to interference
RF Profiles
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RF Profiles to Manage your RF Configurations
RF Profiles work in Conjunction with AP Groups (beginning in release 7.2)
You can create separate RF profiles for both 2.4 and 5 GHz
1 profile for each band (802.11a/802.11b) can be assigned to an AP group
What can be adjusted within a profile continues to expand with DCA expected in version 8.1
Today
– 802.11 data rates
– TPC Power Threshold and Min max Power settings
– DCA (in 8.0!)
– Coverage hole algorithm settings
– High Density – HDX configurations RX_SOP, Client Limit, Mcast data rate
– Client Distribution
82
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RF Profiles – RRM – Create
RF Tuning parameters can be applied through profiles assigned in AP groups
2 Profiles per AP group – 1 ea. 2.4 and 5 GHz
Profiles must be applied on ALL WLC’s from which AP’s will be assigned (same as AP Group)
Permits control of granular groups of AP’s
We love it…
83
Wireless=>RF Profiles
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Profiles : Granular Control
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Data Rates
Load Balancing
TPC, DCA,Coverage Hole
High Density
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Profiles – Applied Through AP Groups
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Create Profiles
Create or edit AP Groups
Apply Profiles (2.4/5 Ghz) to AP groups
Assign AP’s
HDX – High Density Experience
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Bigger Cells, More Users Control Cell Size by Data Rate selection and RX tuning
The Cell is the unit of bandwidth Manage the per user bandwidth
by managing the size of the Cell RF Profiles allows you to treat 2
groups of AP’s differently in order to tune the deployment to peak performance
Here are some additional tools to manage higher density encounters and win
90
167
PAX
40 PAX/per
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When Coverage meets Capacity
You’ve eliminated several SSID’s
You’ve raised your data rates to fit the coverage areas
You’ve added AP’s to areas where additional coverage is needed…..
Channel Utilization won’t come down – and power is already at the lowest settings
Welcome to High Client Density
91
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RX-SOP – Receive Start of Packet threshold
92
The AP has a threshold on each radio at which it logically honors a packet
Below this threshold – it is treated as noise
Above this threshold it is treated as Wi-Fi – and all the logical utilization that goes with that
When you start to add more channels for capacity – you will tune data rates and placement to decrease your transmit footprint
Use Antenna’s to focus your receive sensitivity
RX-SOP allows you to tune the receive cell size to match the Tx cell size
If you hear less – you will have less Channel Utilization
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RX-SOP – (Receive - Start of Packet) – What is it?
Receiver Start of Packet Detection Threshold (RX-SOP) determines the Wi-Fi signal level in dBm at which an AP radio will demodulate and decode a packet.
The higher the level, the less sensitive the radio is and the smaller the receiver cell size will be
By reducing the cell size we can affect every thing from the distribution of clients to our perception of channel utilization
This is for High Density designs – and requires knowledge of the behavior you want to support
A client needs to have someplace to go if you ignore it on the current cell
WARNING – This setting is a brick wall – if you set it above where your clients are being
heard – they will no longer be heard. Really.
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RX-SOP – Why Use It?
Reduce sensitivity to interference and noise – reduce Channel Utilization
It sharpens the cell edge – we will hear what we intend to cover
Caveats –
– You can significantly reduce coverage
– You can make it impossible for intended clients to associate or communicate with your AP
This feature is to be used in conjunction with a known design to solve a specific problems when you understand the coverage and usage of the network by the users
RX-SOP is available at the global level as well as in RF profiles – Strongly recommend applying only through profiles – to solve specific problems with HDX
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RX-SOP configuration
Settings High, Medium, Low, Auto
Auto is default behavior, and leaves RX-SOP function linked to CCA threshold for automatic adjustment
Most networks can support a LOW setting and see improvement
This affects all packets seen at the receiver
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Optimized Roaming- help for clients that are not so smart….
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Optimized Roaming Disabled Optimized Roaming enabled
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Optimized Roaming
Sets a threshold RSSI value and or Minimum Data rate that a client will be sent a Disassociate
Developed to support Cellular Hand Off
Global configuration of 4 Parameters available – Enable/Disable
– Interval (seconds)
– Data Rate threshold
– RSSI threshold configured through Data CHD
Trigger is Pre-Coverage hole event – set under CHDM config
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Optimized Roaming configuration
Enable/Disable – Global command
Interval = #seconds between checks at the Radio
Data Rate threshold-
Used in conjunction with RSSI threshold, if set is a gating function where both data rate and rssi must be true for action – default is disabled
RSSI threshold – set through data RSSI config in Coverage at the global level, and under RRM in RF Profile
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Optimized Roaming Logic
Data RSSI Data Rate Result
True Disable (default) Disassociate
True False No Action
True True Disassociate
• Uses CHDM Data RSSI for trigger Alone – decision is based on RSSI seen at the radio
• Combined with Data Rate – provides additional gate for action – and preserves CHDM Function
• If Used with Client Low RSSI check, and the higher of the two values is used (with 6 dB hysteresis).
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Optimized Roaming & Low RSSI feature “WARNING”
Low RSSI check is a completely separate feature – and sets a low RSSI threshold which a client must be above to associate to the AP
Optimized Roaming has a 6 dB hysteresis built in to prevent thrashing
i.e. If Optimized roaming is set to -75, then to rejoin the AP the clients signal must improve to -69 dBm
The logic checks low RSSI – AND Optimized roaming before allowing a client to Join – and both must pass
For a deep dive on High Client Density design practices see BRKEWN-2019 RF design for the Mobile Device Explosion 2013 CL Orlando
• Available on CiscoLive365
Summary
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Summary
Evaluating what the goal of your network is on a regular basis will enable you to make better design decisions
Good tools make and defend good decisions
Eliminating spectrum hogs should be first priority – strongly consider eliminating anything not OFDM all together (Legacy 802.11b)
Understand how RRM gathers information and makes it’s decisions
Allow RRM DCA to do it’s job – best practice to restart DCA after major changes to numbers, types, placements of AP’s
Not all your coverage zones have the same needs – use RF profiles!
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Links/References
Cisco 802.11n Design and Deployment Guidelines
Cisco High Density Wireless Lan Design Guide
Cisco Client Link White Paper
Client Link testing – Miercom
Client Link 2 Testing - Miercom Report Cisco 3600e/i
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106
Recommended Reading
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