Switch Recommendations
Note: If you use a Cisco Catalyst 4000 Series Switch as the main router in the network, ensure that it contains, at a minimum, either a Supervisor Engine 2+ (SUP2+) or Supervisor Engine 3 (SUP3) module. The SUP1 or SUP2 module can cause roaming delays, as can the Cisco Catalyst 2948G, 2980G, 2980G−A, 4912, and 2948G−GE−TX switches.
You can create a switch port template for use when you configure any switch port for connection to an access point. This template should add all the baseline security and resiliency features of the standard desktop template. In addition, when you attach the access point to a Cisco Catalyst 3750 Switch, you can optimize the performance of the access point by using Multilayer Switching (MLS) QoS commands to limit the port rate and to map Class of Service (CoS) to Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) settings.
Any traffic that is not required by WLAN clients should not be sent to an access point. A template should be designed in such a way that helps create a secure and resilient network connection with these features:
∙Return Port Configurations to default Prevents configuration conflicts by clearing any pre−existing port configurations.
∙Disable Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) Disables dynamic trunking, which is not needed for connection to an access point.
∙Disable Port Aggregation Protocol (PagP) PagP is enabled by default but is not needed for user−facing ports.
∙Enable Port FastAllows a switch to quickly resume forwarding traffic if a spanning tree link goes down.
∙Configure Wireless VLANCreates a unique wireless VLAN that isolates wireless traffic from other data, voice, and management VLANs. This isolates traffic and ensures greater control of traffic.
∙Enable Quality of Service (QoS); do not trust port (mark down to 0)Ensures appropriate treatment of high−priority traffic, including softphones, and prevents users from consuming excessive bandwidth by reconfiguring their PCs.
WS−C3750−48PS−S Inline Power Switches can be used to provide power to access points that are capable of receiving inline power.
The Catalyst 6500 allows you to forward packets at line rate with all the features described here as well as integrating numerous service modules. The Wireless Service Module (WiSM) allows you to have two controllers each with the capability to control 150 access points each. With up to five WiSMs per chassis, this allows you to control over 1500 access points that support 50,000 clients within a single high performance switching architecture.
Deployments and Configuration
Badge Configuration
The Vocera Badge Configuration Utility (BCU) and the configuration of the badge can introduce roaming and latency into your environment if done incorrectly. Using the BCU and the Badge Properties Editor (BPE), verify these settings (see Figure 8):
∙Subnet Roaming is disabled.
∙Scan Default Channels (1,6,11) is checked.
∙Broadcast Uses IGMP is enabled.
∙Roaming Policy is set to 2 or higher.
