Wireless Access

Hi all 

I'm looking for insights on a specific scenario where you have have a pair of controllers configured in a cluster and the number of APs exceeds the capacity of a single controller . Instead of prioritizing redundancy, the focus is on increasing the license capacity to accommodate more APs So  AP load balancing is enabled within the cluster. and Redundancy is disabled in the cluster profile as well VRRP is already configured  

Will AP load balancing still function properly without redundancy?  how the AP discovery will happen ? is the client will be affected ? what will happen if one of the controller Fail ? 

Thanks 

What version of Aruba OS are you running?

------------------------------
Shpat | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP
Just an Aruba enthusiast and contributor by cases
If you find my comment helpful, KUDOS are appreciated.

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:39 AM
From: Joe_Go
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

Hi all 

I'm looking for insights on a specific scenario where you have have a pair of controllers configured in a cluster and the number of APs exceeds the capacity of a single controller . Instead of prioritizing redundancy, the focus is on increasing the license capacity to accommodate more APs So  AP load balancing is enabled within the cluster. and Redundancy is disabled in the cluster profile as well VRRP is already configured  

Will AP load balancing still function properly without redundancy?  how the AP discovery will happen ? is the client will be affected ? what will happen if one of the controller Fail ? 

Thanks 

8.10.0.15

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:45 AM
From: shpat
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

What version of Aruba OS are you running?

------------------------------
Shpat | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP
Just an Aruba enthusiast and contributor by cases
If you find my comment helpful, KUDOS are appreciated.

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:39 AM
From: Joe_Go
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

Hi all 

I'm looking for insights on a specific scenario where you have have a pair of controllers configured in a cluster and the number of APs exceeds the capacity of a single controller . Instead of prioritizing redundancy, the focus is on increasing the license capacity to accommodate more APs So  AP load balancing is enabled within the cluster. and Redundancy is disabled in the cluster profile as well VRRP is already configured  

Will AP load balancing still function properly without redundancy?  how the AP discovery will happen ? is the client will be affected ? what will happen if one of the controller Fail ? 

Thanks 

Before in Aruba OS 6, there was an option of Oversubscription and in such scenarios you would have some "space" to oversubscribe a controller. This is not anymore available in the Aruba OS 8.x 

So my previous answers, i guess, explains it all.

8.10.0.15

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:45 AM
From: shpat
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

What version of Aruba OS are you running?

------------------------------
Shpat | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP
Just an Aruba enthusiast and contributor by cases
If you find my comment helpful, KUDOS are appreciated.

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:39 AM
From: Joe_Go
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

Hi all 

I'm looking for insights on a specific scenario where you have have a pair of controllers configured in a cluster and the number of APs exceeds the capacity of a single controller . Instead of prioritizing redundancy, the focus is on increasing the license capacity to accommodate more APs So  AP load balancing is enabled within the cluster. and Redundancy is disabled in the cluster profile as well VRRP is already configured  

Will AP load balancing still function properly without redundancy?  how the AP discovery will happen ? is the client will be affected ? what will happen if one of the controller Fail ? 

Thanks 

Thanks for the explanation, that's clear. So, in case the current setup is using VRRP IP to ADP while having redundancy and AP load balancing enabled, what will happen if I turn off redundancy? Will the master controller receive all the APs and apply AP load balancing automatically, or do I need to manually specify which controller each AP should connect to before disabling redundancy?

Before in Aruba OS 6, there was an option of Oversubscription and in such scenarios you would have some "space" to oversubscribe a controller. This is not anymore available in the Aruba OS 8.x 

So my previous answers, i guess, explains it all.

8.10.0.15

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:45 AM
From: shpat
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

What version of Aruba OS are you running?

------------------------------
Shpat | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP
Just an Aruba enthusiast and contributor by cases
If you find my comment helpful, KUDOS are appreciated.

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:39 AM
From: Joe_Go
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

Hi all 

I'm looking for insights on a specific scenario where you have have a pair of controllers configured in a cluster and the number of APs exceeds the capacity of a single controller . Instead of prioritizing redundancy, the focus is on increasing the license capacity to accommodate more APs So  AP load balancing is enabled within the cluster. and Redundancy is disabled in the cluster profile as well VRRP is already configured  

Will AP load balancing still function properly without redundancy?  how the AP discovery will happen ? is the client will be affected ? what will happen if one of the controller Fail ? 

Thanks 

Actually, the term Master is inexistent in the Aruba OS 8.x. So in case of what used to be Master - Local, in the Aruba OS 8.x and onwards, you can't Anchor AP and Users in Mobility Conductor / Mobility .

If you want to know more about the concepts this video is very good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-wV55N8hgc&list=PLsYGHuNuBZcYpBiC2gr5ENHzu7v7XLvIt

So in your case, what will happen is that the AP Discovery will use VRRP and they will try to connect to the primary (highest priority controller) on the VRRP. AP Load balancing will still work if it remains enabled and it will work based on the thresholds and capacities you have configured.

On your question if the Main Controller will receive all APs automatically, Yes but it will only be temporarily because VRRP IP for discover, which is used by the APs will attempt to register them to the controller with the highest priority. However, the AP load balancing will redistribute them across both controllers as stated above but this will happen dynamically and there is no need to do manual assignments.

Thanks for the explanation, that's clear. So, in case the current setup is using VRRP IP to ADP while having redundancy and AP load balancing enabled, what will happen if I turn off redundancy? Will the master controller receive all the APs and apply AP load balancing automatically, or do I need to manually specify which controller each AP should connect to before disabling redundancy?

Before in Aruba OS 6, there was an option of Oversubscription and in such scenarios you would have some "space" to oversubscribe a controller. This is not anymore available in the Aruba OS 8.x 

So my previous answers, i guess, explains it all.

8.10.0.15

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:45 AM
From: shpat
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

What version of Aruba OS are you running?

------------------------------
Shpat | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP
Just an Aruba enthusiast and contributor by cases
If you find my comment helpful, KUDOS are appreciated.

Original Message:
Sent: Feb 17, 2025 09:39 AM
From: Joe_Go
Subject: General Discussion about Load Balancing Behavior on Cluster

Hi all 

I'm looking for insights on a specific scenario where you have have a pair of controllers configured in a cluster and the number of APs exceeds the capacity of a single controller . Instead of prioritizing redundancy, the focus is on increasing the license capacity to accommodate more APs So  AP load balancing is enabled within the cluster. and Redundancy is disabled in the cluster profile as well VRRP is already configured  

Will AP load balancing still function properly without redundancy?  how the AP discovery will happen ? is the client will be affected ? what will happen if one of the controller Fail ? 

Thanks