Aruba Networks Version 3.3 manual Adaptive Radio Management

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The RF Plan tool is available on the Mobility Controller, Mobility Management System™, and in a standalone version. All of these versions use the same file format, allowing an RF plan to be developed prior to deploying a controller, and then imported into the RF Live application for viewing.

Aruba recommends as a best practice that each customer completes a post-installation site survey to verify that the delivered coverage matches what was predicted. Occasionally, there will be gaps in the coverage or areas that do not meet the predicted signal strength. This is typically due to unexpected construction materials, banks of metal file cabinets or other RF-opaque building features. However, this is infrequent in a dense deployment. If RF gaps are found, a few APs can be adjusted before the cabling team leaves the site, or the spare APs deployed. If there are no coverage gaps, the extra APs can be used as spares for the future or deployed to cover additional areas.

Adaptive Radio Management

Selecting power and channel settings for hundreds or thousands of Access Points across a campus on foot is not something that any administrator would look forward to without software or hardware automation. The RF medium is continuously changing. While today channel 6 may be optimal for a given area, tomorrow the best choice might be channel 1. Something as simple as new construction could alter the RF characteristics of an area, requiring all APs in the local area to be adjusted.

ARM is an RF spectrum management technology that provides a stable, high performing, self healing wireless LAN deployment that does not require Administrator intervention. ARM is a distributed system that involves an AP or AM continuously scanning all of the legal channels within its regulatory domain, and coordinating channel and power settings on all APs using the Mobility Controller. In the Aruba VRD, for Campus Wireless networks, this processing occurs on the Master at the Management layer, and settings are pushed back down to the Locals at the Aggregation layer.

56 RF Planning and Operation

Campus Wireless Networks Validated Reference Design Version 3.3 Design Guide

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Contents Campus Wireless Networks Validated Reference Design Version Crossman Avenue Sunnyvale, California Phone Fax Contents Chapter RF Planning and Operation Aruba Reference Architectures Reference DocumentsContacting Aruba Networks IntroductionTelephone Support Understanding Centralized Wireless LAN Networks Aruba’s User-Centric Network ArchitectureIntroducing Aruba’s User-Centric Network Centralized Wlan ModelArubaOS and Mobility Controller ArubaOSMobility Controller Air Monitor Multi-function Thin Access PointsAccess Point Mesh Portal or Mesh Point Aruba’s Secure Enterprise Mesh NetworkMobility Management System Remote APMobility Management System PoC Network Physical Design Proof-of-Concept NetworkPoC Network Logical and RF Design VlanProof-of-Concept Network Proof-of-Concept Network Aruba Campus Wlan Physical Architecture Campus Wlan Validated Reference DesignAruba Campus Wlan Logical Architecture Data center ManagementMaster Campus Wlan Validated Reference Design Mobility Controller Access Point Deployment Understanding Master and Local OperationMobility Controller High Availability Master Controller Redundancy Local Controller Redundancy Second Local controller has an opposite configuration Vlan Design Do Not Make Aruba the Default Router Do Not Use Special VLANsVlan Pools VlanUser Mobility and Mobility Domains VLANs 10, 20, 30ArubaOS Mobility Domain MD1Mobility Controller Physical Placement and Connectivity Master Controller PlacementMobility Controller and Thin AP Communication AP Placement, Power, and ConnectivityLocal Controller Placement Office Deployment AP Power and ConnectivityAP Location and Density Considerations Voice Deployment Active Rfid Tag DeploymentConfiguration Profiles and AP Groups Mobility Controller ConfigurationConfiguration Profiles Required LicensesProfile Types AP groupProfile Planning SSIDs, VLANs and Role DerivationAP Groups SSIDs VLANsSecure Authentication Methods Role DerivationAuthenticating with Corporate Authenticating with Captive Portal Authentication Methods for Legacy DevicesConfiguring Roles for Employee, Guest and Application Users Employee RoleGuest 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 Wireless Attacks Wireless Intrusion Detection SystemRole Variation by Authentication Method Rogue APs Page Mobility Controller Configuration RF Plan Tool RF Planning and OperationAdaptive Radio Management Page Minimum Scan Time Sec WMM and QoS Voice over Wi-FiQuality of Service Voice Functionality and Features Traffic PrioritizationNetwork Wide QoS Voice-Aware RF ManagementComprehensive Voice Management Voice over Wi-Fi Controller Clusters Mobility Management System LAN / WANMultiple Master/Local Clusters Page Multiple Master/Local Clusters Appendix a LicensesLicenses Appendix B Wlan Extension with Remote APWlan Extension with Remote AP Small Network Deployment Alternative Deployment ArchitecturesMedium Network Deployment Mobility Controller located in the network data centerBranch Office Deployment Corporate data center Pure Remote Access Deployment DMZ