Aruba Networks Version 3.3 manual RF Plan Tool, RF Planning and Operation

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Chapter 7

RF Planning and Operation

Wireless networks break many of the old rules when it comes to designing a network; as a result, new tools are needed to help administrators quickly and effectively deploy and maintain a wireless network. The following sections describe the RF Plan and Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) tools that Aruba provides to help operate the WLAN effectively and efficiently.

RF Plan Tool

RF planning, in the days of autonomous Access Points, was a painful experience at best. It was often a headache to look at a two-dimensional map of AP placements and attempt to determine which channel and power setting should be used. Because early Access Points were extremely expensive and the widest coverage possible from each was needed, a detailed site survey was performed accounting for building wall construction and possible interference sources. As the wireless link becomes the primary connection for major enterprise deployments and the cost of APs has fallen, the need to increase AP density to allow higher throughput has changed site survey process.

Aruba Networks recommends a dense deployment of APs as discussed earlier in this document. This model reduces or eliminates the need for a formal site survey. In general, many professional WLAN designers say it is better to spend less money today on a site survey that provides a limited one-time snapshot of your environment. Instead, it is an industry best practice to use those funds to buy a few more APs that provide improved service and long-term benefit.

The Aruba RF Plan tool easily imports an image of each floor of a building to be covered and suggests AP counts and placement based on the following simple rules:

zConnection needs (speed, coverage, or AP count)

zRedundancy (cell overlap)

The system will suggest a layout that meets the criteria. The user can easily reposition one or more APs to accommodate building features or customize coverage. Once the APs have been placed, the user can examine the predicted RF environment as seen in the image below.

Campus Wireless Networks Validated Reference Design Version 3.3 Design Guide

RF Planning and Operation 55

Image 55

Contents Campus Wireless Networks Validated Reference Design Version Crossman Avenue Sunnyvale, California Phone Fax Contents Chapter RF Planning and Operation Introduction Aruba Reference ArchitecturesReference Documents Contacting Aruba NetworksTelephone Support Aruba’s User-Centric Network Architecture Understanding Centralized Wireless LAN NetworksCentralized Wlan Model Introducing Aruba’s User-Centric NetworkArubaOS ArubaOS and Mobility ControllerMobility Controller Access Point Multi-function Thin Access PointsAir Monitor Aruba’s Secure Enterprise Mesh Network Mesh Portal or Mesh PointRemote AP Mobility Management SystemMobility Management System Proof-of-Concept Network PoC Network Physical DesignVlan PoC Network Logical and RF DesignProof-of-Concept Network Proof-of-Concept Network Campus Wlan Validated Reference Design Aruba Campus Wlan Physical ArchitectureAruba Campus Wlan Logical Architecture Data center ManagementMaster Campus Wlan Validated Reference Design Understanding Master and Local Operation Mobility Controller Access Point DeploymentMobility Controller High Availability Master Controller Redundancy Local Controller Redundancy Second Local controller has an opposite configuration Vlan Design Do Not Use Special VLANs Do Not Make Aruba the Default RouterVlan Vlan PoolsVLANs 10, 20, 30 User Mobility and Mobility DomainsMD1 ArubaOS Mobility DomainMaster Controller Placement Mobility Controller Physical Placement and ConnectivityLocal Controller Placement AP Placement, Power, and ConnectivityMobility Controller and Thin AP Communication AP Location and Density Considerations AP Power and ConnectivityOffice Deployment Active Rfid Tag Deployment Voice DeploymentRequired Licenses Configuration Profiles and AP GroupsMobility Controller Configuration Configuration ProfilesAP group Profile TypesAP Groups SSIDs, VLANs and Role DerivationProfile Planning VLANs SSIDsRole Derivation Secure Authentication MethodsAuthenticating with Corporate Authentication Methods for Legacy Devices Authenticating with Captive PortalEmployee Role Configuring Roles for Employee, Guest and Application UsersGuest Role Create a bandwidth contract and apply it to an AP group Create the block-internal-access policy Modify the guest-logon role Device Role Role Variation by Authentication Method Wireless Intrusion Detection SystemWireless Attacks Rogue APs Page Mobility Controller Configuration RF Planning and Operation RF Plan ToolAdaptive Radio Management Page Minimum Scan Time Sec Quality of Service Voice over Wi-FiWMM and QoS Voice-Aware RF Management Voice Functionality and FeaturesTraffic Prioritization Network Wide QoSComprehensive Voice Management Voice over Wi-Fi LAN / WAN Controller Clusters Mobility Management SystemMultiple Master/Local Clusters Page Multiple Master/Local Clusters Licenses Appendix aLicenses Wlan Extension with Remote AP Appendix BWlan Extension with Remote AP Alternative Deployment Architectures Small Network DeploymentMobility Controller located in the network data center Medium Network DeploymentBranch Office Deployment Corporate data center DMZ Pure Remote Access Deployment