Wireless Access

Hi 

We have a customer, who is having AP61, AP70, AP125 and AP135, mixed in their network. These APs are randomly mixed & deployed. For example a floor may have a AP61, an AP135, and also a AP125.  Now, the customer is intrested to buy and install some AP225. :-) So to support the AP225, we will be upgrading the software on the controller to the latest available 6.3.1.7. 

The question in my mind is, is this mix of varied technology APs(abg, abgn, and abgn & ac) in same location. Can they work well? or some fine-tuning will be needed? 

How a bgn client connected with a AP70, will be roaming to a AP135(which is n standard) will be connecting, with respect to the speed?.  for assumption the client connected at 54mbps at AP70, on moving to the AP135, will still be connecting at 54mbps or it the n-rate speed? Will roaming happen seamlessly or sometime fail to happen? 

You can run that version of ArubaOS to support all of those access points, but I would keep the non-802.11n access points and the 802.11n access points physically separate.  

- Client roaming and performance will be uneven going from single radio (AP61) to dual radio access points.  It will also be uneven roaming from non-802.11n to 802.11n access points.

- If the access points are not separated, the customer could spend more time trying to manage customer performance expectations, than actually deploying.

- Roaming and client performance characteristics are unpredictable going from one phy to another, so that could lead to a myriad of untested, never before seen issues.

In the end the goal should always be making the customer experience more predictable.  Separating access points by capability is the best way to do that.

hello Collin

We have got a client which got a mix AP 105, AP 135, APs 175 and one AP 275

So basically he should have like the AREA of APs 225s

The Area of APs 135s?

And the Area pf APs 105?

The AP 175 are placed obiously in outdoors on open spaces so the students can use the wifi  anywhere, so in this the student migh roam from a AP 175 to a AP  225 or to a ap 135 or to a ap 105

For now they got them all mixed up not like an area of ap 135 or area of ap 105....

Cheers

Carlos

Nightshade1,

Capability is limited by the client, in your situation.  The person who opened the thread had non-802.11n as well as single-radio non-802.11n access points which would have limited the performance to the AP's capabilities and put performance at a disadvantage.  You have a more flexible situation in that all APs you listed are at least 2x2, like most laptops, so most of your clients will still be able to perform at their maximum negotiated rate.  You probably only should be concerned in a high density area where you have more than one access point that they be the same.

Hello Collin

What will happen if most of the devices were 802.11ac devices 3x3?

and that device went from an AP 225 to a AP 105 romaing? wouldnt be the same case of the person that opeend the tread?

Cheers

Carlos

Yes, but how much you are exposed to that would depend on (1) how many 3x3 AC devices you have - there are very few on the market right now and (2) how many areas do you have where 225 share space with AP105s.  That could be a very small number.  Your most likely devices are single stream 802.11n mobile devices or laptops that do 2x2 802.11n

If you have alot of 3x3 AC devices, make an area where you have only AP225s and encourage your users with 3x3 devices connect to those for the greatest performance.

It is not a dealbreaker to have a mixed environment, it just needs to be managed based on your client population.

Thanks Collin

Just wanted to be sure it was like that :)

Ill just advice them that if they do not plan to replace everything with 225 then they should be thinking on moving those APS and make a area for those ap 225 another for the other aps and so on...  Like for the future.... as more ac clients will be coming i think.

Cheers

Carlos

Carlos,

It is more about a strategy to avoid issues down the road.  It is not a strict rule.

exactly!!

I do want to avoid issues down the road...

I try fallowing the best practices, good advaices from aruba fellows also, to reduce support calls to almost none..

For now they got AP 135 and AP 105 and AP 175

They just bough a bunch of AP 225 and one AP 275.

For now like you said they do not have issues as most of the client cards are 2x2... but when they start having cards of 3x3 n  and 3x3 ac they migh encounter something...

And i prefer telling them now to avoid anything in the future

Cheers

Carlos

my main concern is that tha AP61 is not gointg to keep up with the n and ac acess points i wouild replace the ap61 in the cluster  ac and N channels could work but the G would be a little concern there