Configuring RF load balancing for APs 249
Nortel WLAN—Security Switch 2300 Series Configuration Guide

Configuring RF load balancing for

APs

RF load balancing overview

RF load balancing is the ability to reduce network congestion over an area by distributing client sessions across the AP
(access points) with overlapping coverage in the area. When the total demand of nearby wireless clients exceeds the
capacity of a single AP, there is no interruption of wireless services on the network.
For example, in an auditorium or lecture hall there may be a substantial number of clients in a relatively small amount of
space. While a single AP may be sufficient for providing an RF signal to the entire area, more APs are required to deliver
enough aggregate bandwidth for all of the clients. When additional APs are installed in the room, RF load balancing
allows the client sessions to be spread evenly across the APs, increasing the available aggregate bandwidth by increasing
the number of APs.
RF load balancing is enabled by default. In addition, RF load balancing is done on a per-radio basis, rather than a per-AP
basis. For radios managed by a given radio profile, WSS automatically assesses radios with overlapping coverage in an
area and balances the client load across them.
WSS balances the client load by adjusting and it depends on how APs are perceived by clients. As the capacity of an AP
handling new clients is relative to other APs in the area, WSS makes the AP more difficult for potential new clients to
detect, which causes a client to associate with an AP with more capacity. An AP becomes more difficult to detect and
clients then associate with an AP with higher capacity for client sessions. By default, WSS only prevents clients from
associating with an AP (if there are other APs with available capacity). Clients are not prevented from associating with a
AP if it is the only one available.
You can optionally place AP radios into load balancing groups. When two or more AP radios are placed in the same load
balancing group, WSS assumes that they have exactly the same coverage area, and attempts to distribute the client load
across them equally. The AP radios do not have to be on the same WSS switch. A balanced set of AP radios can span
multiple WSS switches in a Mobility Domain.

Configuring RF load balancing

This section describes the following configuration tasks:
• Disabling or re-enabling RF load balancing
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Configuring RF load balancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Displaying RF load balancing information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255