3Com 3CRWX120695A WXR100, 3CRWXR10095A manual Planning the 3COM Mobility System

136CHAPTER 5: PLANNING THE 3COM MOBILITY SYSTEM

Computing MAP After you provide information about floor plans, RF obstacles, and

Placementwireless coverage requirements, 3WXM can design your 3Com wireless network for this floor using the following process:

„Compute and place MAPs (See “Computing and Placing MAP Access Points for a Coverage Area” on page 136.)

„Assign channels to MAPs (See “Assigning MAP Channels” on page 144.)

„Compute optimal power (See “Computing Optimal Power” on page 147.)

3WXM determines the number of MAPs that need to be installed in the area and the number of WX switches needed in the wiring closet (if the floor has them), and then places them on the floor plan. You can move the MAPs on the floor plan to more convenient locations to simplify installation. 3WXM also determines the WX to which a MAP should connect.

3WXM assigns transmit power levels and channels for each MAP. The power levels and association rates are set to optimize cell sizes for the coverage area. 3WXM shows the expected (simulated) coverage of the completed design, and allows you to see how the coverage changes when you make adjustments to MAP location or power levels.

Computing and When you perform Compute and Place for one or more coverage areas, Placing MAP Access 3WXM automatically calculates the number of MAPs you require, based

Points for a Coverage on coverage area information, and also places them in appropriate Area locations on the floor.

3WXM assumes that MAPs are mounted on the ceiling and takes the ceiling height into account when placing MAPs. 3WXM assumes that coverage is required down to 3 feet above the floor (the average height of a user’s desk). By default, 3WXM assumes that you want to directly connect the MAP access points to WX1200 switches and that you do not want redundant MAP connections for backup. You can change these design constraints.

By default, especially when you are performing Compute and Place for a coverage area for the first time, the results do not account for existing MAP access points. Manual overrides of the MAP results are not taken into account if you perform Compute and Place again.