High Density Wi-Fi Design, Deployment, and Optimization

#CLUS High Density Wi-Fi Design, Deployment, and Optimization

Matt Swartz, CCIE #13232 Cisco Customer Experience, Distinguished Engineer Josh Suhr, CCIE #39980 Cisco Customer Experience, Senior Solutions Architect

BRKEWN-2013

#CLUS Josh Suhr Solutions Architect, Cisco Advanced Services CCIE #39980 (Wireless)

First HD WiFi Project: Sporting Kansas City, 2011 Husband, dog dad, football (AKA soccer) fan, beer & pizza connoisseur

First HD WiFi Project: New York Yankees, 2008 Husband, dad, mountain biker, beer connoisseur

Questions? Use Cisco Webex Teams to chat with the speaker after the session How 1 Find this session in the Cisco Live Mobile App 2 Click “Join the Discussion” 3 Install Webex Teams or go directly to the team space 4 Enter messages/questions in the team space

Webex Teams will be moderated cs.co/ciscolivebot#BRKEWN-2013 by the speaker until June 16, 2019.

These days, nearly everything is High Density!

Then: Now:

Stadiums Enterprise

Convention Centers Airports

Higher Education Healthcare

and more!

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 6 Key Trends in High Density Wi-Fi • Wi-Fi 6 – new hardware and HD improvements • Enhanced capacity w/dual-5GHz • Smarter clients (11k/11v/11r) • More devices per user • Auto authentication & OpenRoaming

• Designing RF for High Client Densities

• Designing WLANs for High Client Densities

• HD Wi-Fi Configuration Tips

• Enemies of High Density Wi-Fi

• HD Wi-Fi Engineering Toolkit

AP to Client . How clients hear AP’s

Site Survey

Updates when iPhone sends report

Cisco Aironet Active sensors…

• are hardware devices (dedicated 1800S sensor or supported models of Cisco AP) • connect to your WiFi network and run a series of tests as a client device • send test results back to Cisco DNA Center for further analysis

See how the sensor sees AP’s: CLI: show dot11 sensor scan list

AP to Client . How clients hear AP’s

Client to AP . How AP’s hear clients

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 13 How AP’s Hear Clients (1800/2800/3800+) For a detail on a single client, at AP CLI: Telnet/SSH to AP and use “show controller d <0|1> client ” for immediate client RSSI readings of a single client

10#sho controller d 1 client FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 Additional info for client FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 RSSI: -47 Statistics for client FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 mac stats_ago expiration FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 0.700000 0

How long ago were these stats updated (in sec)?

*Signal Strength updates every 2- 3 minutes

AP to Client . How clients hear AP’s

Client to AP . How AP’s hear clients

AP to AP . How AP’s hear each other

WLC Config Analyzer (WLCCA) Prime Infrastructure Maps

https://developer.cisco.com/docs/wireless-troubleshooting-tools/

Antenna Selection: Decide which antenna is right for the job.

Consider: • Density of clients to be served • Available mounting assets • Within 65’/20m of furthest client

Antenna Selection: Antenna Placement: Decide which antenna is Where will this antenna provide right for the job. the best throughput and most reliable service?

Consider: • Density of clients to be served • Available mounting assets • Within 65’/20m of furthest client

Antenna Selection: Antenna Placement: Decide which antenna is Where will this antenna provide right for the job. the best throughput and most reliable service?

Consider: Consider: • Density of clients to be served • Line of sight • Available mounting assets • Isolation from ambient RF • Within 65’/20m of furthest • Angle of incidence to client client devices

Primary overhead 2.4/5GHz Dual-Band Stadium Antenna coverage (i.e. 30/30°Az seating areas; > 30’/10m to 3802p + AIR-ANT2513P4M-N 30/30°Elev (9120AXP – late 2019) clients)

2.4/5GHz Augmentation and Dual-Band Patch Antenna short-distance HD 105/125°Az coverage (< 3802e/p + AIR-ANT2566P4W-R 70/60°Elev 30’/10m to clients) (9120AXE/P – late 2019)

Primary overhead 2.4/5GHz Dual-Band Stadium Antenna coverage (i.e. 30/30°Az seating areas; > 30’/10m to 3802p + AIR-ANT2513P4M-N 30/30°Elev (9120AXP – late 2019) clients)

2.4/5GHz Augmentation and Dual-Band Patch Antenna short-distance HD 105/125°Az coverage (< 3802e/p + AIR-ANT2566P4W-R 70/60°Elev 30’/10m to clients) (9120AXE/P – late 2019)

2.4/5GHz Augmentation and Dual-Band Patch Antenna 65/65°Az short-distance HD 3802e/p + AIR-ANT2566D4M-R coverage (15’/5m – 65/65°Elev 30’/10m to clients) (9120AXE/P– late 2019)

Avoid long shots like this

Avoid obstructions in front of your antennas

. Creative options may be required for low seating rows – Handrails – Front walls (aimed away from playing surface) . Ensure compliance with minimum distances to bodies - >20cm . Stick to directional antennas

. Omnis are not ideal for open areas where high capacity is needed . Create smaller cells with directional antennas mounted above, aimed directly downward . Understand RRM implications of this type of design

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 28 AP Concepts for High Density Deployments Increase Coverage and Capacity • Dual 5GHz -Micro/Macro Cell Increase Capacity and Coverage from a Single Access Point Location

One AP for Different Coverage Areas: Provide High Density Service for a Small Coverage Area • Conference room, classroom, patient room, operating room

Simultaneously Cover Wider Areas Such as Hallways and Lobbies Micro-Cell Macro-Cell 3802I/4800/9120AXI AP Only

Better User Experience in Locations with Varying Density Needs #CLUS © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Maximizes Coverage in Two Distinct Areas • Dual 5GHz-Macro/Macro Cell

Deliver Coverage in Two Distinct Areas with a Single Access Point Using External Antennas

Better User Experience in Locations with Consistent Density Needs

Ideal for Warehouses: Optimize Costs with One Dual Radio Access Point That Covers Different Sections of a Large Space Macro-Cell 1 3802E/P, 9120AXE/P APs Only Macro-Cell 2

Supports both Omni and Directional Deployments

Supports directional antennas when the requirement is for two different coverage areas

Stadium Antenna

• 3800 / 4800 / 9120AX APs • Automatically detects when a large number of devices are connected to a network • Adds capacity by changing the access points from 2.4/5GHz to Dual 5GHz • Monitors the network for security threats and RF interference that may affect performance • Schedule more capacity through time of day templates

Supported on Cisco Aironet 2800/3800/9120#CLUSPresentation ID Series© 2019 Cisco and/or Access its affiliates. All rights Points reserved. Cisco Public 38 Want to know more about FRA and other RF- related features?

Today: 2800/3800 Coming Soon: 9120AXE/P

• Industry leading 4x4 MIMO:3 spatial streams (SS) Wave 2 802.11ac access points • Tri-radio, 802.11ac Wave 2, 160 MHz • Built-in BLE Radio • Combined Data Rate of 5.2Gbps • 2 x 5 GHz: 4x4: 3SS supporting

• SU-MIMO / MU-MIMO

• Flexible Radio Assignment: 2.4GHz, Dual-5GHz, Wireless Security Monitoring, and DNA-C Assurance • 1 x 2.4GHz/5GHz for DNA Analytics, Wireless Security monitoring, and Hyperlocation • Gigabit Ethernet and multi-Gigabit Ethernet (1G, 2.5G, 5G) • Built-in Hyperlocation Antenna Array 16-elements <3m Accuracy (median) • HDX Technology ® Cisco Aironet 4800 • USB 2.0 • Analytics-enabled, DNA Ready

Redefining Analytics and Location

• 2x2 with 2 spatial streams • DC or PoE(.3at) power options • Available outdoor-rated AC/DC power adapter • Low-profile with internal directional antennas • 9 dBi (2.4 GHz) and 10 dBi (5 GHz) • Tight/focused coverage area (BW ~ 60 for 2.4 GHz and 40°5 GHz) • Use Case: • Outdoor high-density applications Cisco Aironet® 1560 Series • P-P bridging

Ideal for small to medium-sized deployments Mission critical

Mar Mar Mar ‘19 ‘19 ‘19 Powered by Cisco RF ASIC Catalyst 9115 Catalyst 9117 Catalyst 9120 (Wi-Fi 6 certifiable) (Wi-Fi 6 compatible) (Wi-Fi 6 certifiable)

• 4x4 + 4x4 • 8x8 + 4x4 • 4x4 + 4x4 • MU-MIMO, OFDMA • MU-MIMO, OFDMA (only DL) • Cisco RF ASIC for Next gen CleanAir • Spectrum Intelligence • Spectrum intelligence • Dual 5GHz, HDX • 1 x 2.5 mGig • 1 x 5 mGig • RF signature capture • TWT • Non Triggered TWT • IoT ready (Zigbee, Thread) • Integrated Antenna only • Container support for IOT apps • 1 x 2.5 mGig • TWT Cisco DNA Assurance with Integrated or external Bluetooth 5 USB iCAP antenna SKUs

• Next-generation 802.11ax access points with 4x4 MIMO with four spatial streams: • 4x4:4 on 5 GHz with MU-MIMO and downlink/uplink OFDMA • 4x4:4 on 2.4 GHz with MU-MIMO and downlink/uplink OFDMA • Cisco RF ASIC w/Next Generation CleanAir and RF Signature Capture • Built-in BLE radio (Bluetooth 5.0) • Multigigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps) • Internal and external antenna options

802.11ax and Wi-Fi 6 are interchangeable engineering and marketing terms that have the same meaning Wi-Fi 6 2019

Wi-Fi 5 11AX 2013 Wi-Fi 4 2009 11AC Wi-Fi 3 Wi-Fi 2 2004 11N Wi-Fi 1 2003 1999 11A/G 11G 11B Efficiency Focus

*Pending IEEE 802.11ax ratification & WFA Wi-Fi 6 Speeds & Feeds Focus (Modulation, Channel Bonding, Spatial Streams) certification

A lack of inherent EFFICIENCY in the 802.11 protocol is one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced in our 10+ years of building high-density Wi-Fi networks.

• 802.11 is “polite” • Transmissions are not centrally coordinated (unlike cellular) • 802.11 initially preferred coverage vs capacity • Improvements over time traditionally focused on speeds & feeds (modulation, channel bonding, etc.)

Higher Increase in overall Reduced latency and Improved power data rates network capacity greater reliability efficiency

• 1024-QAM for up to 9.6 • 3x to 4x more throughput • Scheduled uplink and • Up to 3x better battery life Gbps per radio and than 802.11ac via downlink OFDMA for with Target Wake Time single-antenna speeds of OFDMA deterministic “cellular-like” (TWT) 1.2 Gbps latency, reliability, and QoS • Up to 4x capacity gain • New coding structure and • 8x8:8SS in dense scenarios with • Optimized for IoT scale with signaling procedures for BSS coloring hundreds of devices per AP better transmit and • Enables next-generation receive efficiency 4K/8K and AR/VR video • Multiuser MIMO gains on all client types

For more information, see: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/white-paper-c11-740788.html

802.11a/g/n/ac : OFDM

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing User 1 20MHz Channel (or 40 / 80 / 160MHz)

One client, one frame, whole channel TXOP 1

User 1 2 MHz Resource Unit Wi-Fi 6: OFDMA User 2 2 MHz Resource Unit

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access User 3 4 MHz Resource Unit 20MHz

Multiple clients/frames per TX TXOP 1 User 4 8 MHz Resource Unit (“Scheduled” by the AP for Downlink and Uplink)

(one example is shown above; other groupings of RU may be used)

BSS Color is a method to differentiate between BSSs (that is, access points and their clients) on the same RF channel.

• Each BSS (access point) uses a different “color” • Each STA learns its own BSS upon association and thus other BSSs are OBSSs. • Signals with the same BSS color use a low RSSI threshold for deferral, thereby reducing collisions in the same BSS. • Signals with a different BSS color use a higher RSSI threshold for deferral, thereby allowing more simultaneous transmissions.

IEEE 802.11ax: The Sixth Generation of Wi-Fi (Cisco) Whitepapers: Introduction to 802.11ax High-Efficiency Wireless (NI)

• HD WiFi Trends

• Designing RF for High Client Densities

• Designing WLANs for High Client Densities

• HD Wi-Fi Configuration Tips

• Enemies of High Density Wi-Fi

• HD Wi-Fi Engineering Toolkit

. Always aim for 1 SSID – Especially in high density areas . More SSID’s = Worse Performance . Why? – Each SSID requires a separate beacon – Each SSID will beacon at the minimum mandatory data rate – Each broadcast SSID will respond to null probe requests – Exponential amounts of airtime wasted!

. Common to see various existing WiFi deployments in venues . Efficient HD WLANs are deployed holistically – one infrastructure . Benefits? – Configuration consistency – Airtime efficiency – Legacy management traffic that once chewed up 30-40% of airtime typically drops to < 1% of airtime

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 56 Maximizing the Spectrum . How fast can we talk? • PHY Rate Tuning: Why PHY Rates Matter – Signal (RSSI) and Noise are key factors

18Mbps . As client moves further from AP Client near AP: 24Mbps or as noise worsens, client Higher PHY Rate 36Mbps rate-shifts downward More Efficient 48Mbps . Lower rate, more airtime (high signal-to-noise ratio) 54Mbps consumed . Position AP’s and antennas to Client far from AP: allow elimination of low rates Lower PHY Rate (i.e., <18mbps) Less Efficient . Eliminate 802.11b rates (lower signal-to-noise ratio) . Accommodate “Soft Landing”

. Check your noise floor in each band during peak usage – Packet captures with a NIC that you trust (MacBook Pro, etc.) – Fluke AirCheck – Spectrum Expert – Metageek Chanalyzer for Clean Air

• HD WiFi Trends

• Designing RF for High Client Densities

• Designing WLANs for High Client Densities

• HD Wi-Fi Configuration Tips

• Enemies of High Density Wi-Fi

• HD Wi-Fi Engineering Toolkit

. RF Dashboard (8.1+), Cisco Wireless App for iOS/Android . RF Profiles for granular RF control . Dynamic Channel Allocation (DCA) per RF Profile . Transmit Power Control (TPC) minimum & maximum per RF Profile . Tips & tricks on pushing capable clients to 5GHz . RX-SOP threshold configuration and tuning . Roaming enhancements: standards-based and

WLC 8.0+ (2504) WLC 8.1+ (Other Models)

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 61 Cisco Wireless App Monitoring & troubleshooting for mobile devices Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?i d=com.cisco.dashboard.view&hl=en iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cisco- wireless/id1005756119?mt=8

Requires WLC 8.1+ (Other Models)

• In the “old days” we used separate controllers for many RF settings • Now we can use RF profiles • RF Profiles provide granular control of RF parameters – especially useful in High Density WiFi • Long vs. short seating section sizes • High vs. low ceilings in conference halls and theaters • Accommodate existing devices without impacting the entire network – i.e., enable 11b rates only where needed

. Allows better granularity when planning 5GHz channel allocation . Consider eliminating DFS channels for Access Points that serve Business Critical applications . Allows you to assign indoor- only channels appropriately but without need for static channels

What does it do? Reduces RX sensitivity of the AP to a pre-determined power level Example: ignore everything coming into the radio at lower than -80dBm, because those devices are unlikely to be in our cell

Why is it helpful? Allows us to transmit more often to clients in our intended cell

. RX-SOP can be beneficial if optimized cautiously but also dangerous if not optimized properly – Fine line between 1) significant performance improvements and 2) under-serving clients at the cell edge . The RX-SOP threshold doesn’t impact the actual RF energy on the channel, but it does impact our sensitivity to it . We must not “deafen” the AP to the point that it can’t hear TX from a client in our intended cell . Antenna placement is important!

Without Custom RX-SOP Threshold (Default Radio Sensitivity)

-20+dBm

Radio demodulates everything that it can hear – any frame with

enough SNR PROCESSEDFRAMES

-99dBm

Without Custom RX-SOP Threshold (Default Radio Sensitivity) With Custom RX-SOP Threshold

-20+dBm -20+dBm

Radio demodulates Radio only frames above the threshold demodulates FRAMES everything that it PROCESSED can hear – any -81dBm frame with enough SNR -82dBm Frames where SOP -82dBm RX-SOP (start of packet) is Threshold

PROCESSEDFRAMES heard below the FRAMES threshold are ignored IGNORED -99dBm -99dBm

• GUI: Pre-configured thresholds as of WLC v8.0+ – low, medium, high • Custom thresholds (CLI Only) – per RF Profile, use with caution (unsupported!) • config 802.11b rx-sop threshold • config rf-profile rx-sop threshold • show 802.11b extended (to verify)

• For either scenario: understand how the network sees the client at the furthest reach of your intended cell • Leave at least 10dB cushion (i.e. body in front of client etc) • Example: if you hear your furthest client at -71, try -81 • Use methods described on slides titled “How AP’s Hear Clients” • Start conservative, go only more aggressive if your data supports it

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 69 Review: How AP’s Hear Clients (AP3800) For a detail on a single client, at AP CLI: Telnet/SSH to AP and use “show controller d <0|1> client ” for immediate client RSSI readings of a single client

10#sho controller d 1 client FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 Additional info for client FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 RSSI: -47 Statistics for client FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 mac stats_ago expiration FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 0.700000 0

How long ago were these stats updated (in sec)?

• “Power Levels” are relative values • AP transmit power tables differ by: • AP model • Configured antenna gain value (i.e., even if you set antenna type via Prime Infrastructure) • Channel range (i.e. UNII1/2,2e/3) • Show Controller at AP CLI is your friend • Best way to see exactly what your power/channel capabilities and configurations are in dBm • Also – new RF Dashboard (8.1+) shows Tx power in dBm • Use “show controller” at AP to see exactly what TX power is in use

• TPC Min/Max (global OR per RF Profile) allow you to set actual limits on dBm levels to avoid ambiguity of the relative “Power Levels”

• TPC Min – lower power limit specified for a given radio. RRM will never adjust power below this level. • Prevents installations from cooling down when venues are empty – can be 10 dB difference in perceived signal at the floor

• TPC Max – upper power limit specified for a given radio. RRM will never adjust power above this level. • Set to prevent UNii3 and UNii2 cells from being overly large or small. • Pick max power level supported in UNii1 +1 dB and apply to all.

• Produces even cells – matching design goals

. As a rule, smartphones pick the loudest AP, then stick to that AP as long as possible . Many phones won’t go looking for a “better” AP unless things are REALLY bad (low RSSI/SNR) . We attack this problem with workarounds (Optimized Roaming feature) and standards-based features (11k, 11v, adaptive 11r) . Standards-based methods are best!!

. Apple doc on iOS roaming behavior – http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT6463 . Cisco/Apple relationship has led to major Cisco/Apple interoperability improvements . Includes tips on how to take WiFi measurements directly from iOS devices! – Tip: Download Airport Utility from the iOS App Store https://thesweetsetup.com/quick-tip-understand-wi-fi-airport-utility/

https://clnv.s3.amazonaws.com/2019/eur/pdf/BRKEWN-2003.pdf

Model Granular & simplified What Policies on which Sites Going towards a more Modularized and Reusable model with Logical decoupling of configuration entities with what RF characteristics

WLAN AP Group Flex Group RF Profile Basic Policy Wireless Tag Policy Basic Tag Network Policies Network Policies High Density HDX Advanced Wireless Wireless WLAN Site Tag Advanced Wireless site Wireless security Data Rates Wireless settings Decouple Wireless Security RF Tag Remote Site DCA, TPC, CHDM Wireless Security RF Parameters Config

RF Tag Site Specific Remote site Profile threshold Modularize Switching Policy Switching Policy parameters for traps Policies Policy a/n/ac Profile Network Policy b/g Network Policy RF Profiles Switching Policies Client Distribution High Density HDX

High Density HDX Site Data Rates Wireless site Tag Data Rates AireOS Config Model settings AP Join DCA, TPC, CHDM Profile Site Specific Policies DCA, TPC, CHDM Profile threshold for traps Profile threshold for traps Remote Site Client Distribution Config Flex Profile Client Distribution Remote site parameters RF Profile

Access Points

Policy Tag RF RF Tag WLAN Profile Profile 2.4 GHz

RF Policy Profile Profile 5 GHz

Defines the broadcast domain (list of Defines the RF properties of WLANs to be broadcasted) with the the network properties of the respective SSIDs

SiteTag AP Join Profile

Flex Profile

• HD WiFi Trends

• Designing RF for High Client Densities

• Designing WLANs for High Client Densities

• HD Wi-Fi Configuration Tips

• Enemies of High Density Wi-Fi

• HD Wi-Fi Engineering Toolkit

• DSL/cable modems • Are often auto-configured on “least loaded” channel on 2.4ghz • MiFi's, Eye-Fi’s, and hotspot-enabled smartphones • Low PHY rates, max power • Often on overlapping channels due to least-congested channel selection • Causes exponential load on the air due to probe requests/responses and beacons Looks like it belongs… but it doesn’t

• Video cameras, wireless audio (Coachcomm, Zaxcom), lighting, pyro, and cryo systems, etc. • Ever look at a Fluke meter and see zero AP’s where you’d expect to see dozens? Non-WiFi Interferers often drown out 802.11 altogether. • Mitigation: remove them altogether or change frequency if possible

Employ an effective RF policy to manage non Wi-Fi interference as it occurs

Client Count

2.4GHz Noise Floor

5GHz Noise Floor

Client Count

2.4GHz CU

5GHz CU

Client Count Throughput

• HD WiFi Trends

• Designing RF for High Client Densities

• Designing WLANs for High Client Densities

• HD Wi-Fi Configuration Tips

• Enemies of High Density Wi-Fi

• HD Wi-Fi Engineering Toolkit

https://developer.cisco.com/docs/wireless-troubleshooting-tools/#!wireless-troubleshooting-tools/wireless-troubleshooting-tools

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 88 Config Analysis with WLCCA . The WLC Config Analyzer (WLCCA) is an extremely valuable tool when validating and optimizing a Cisco Wi-Fi deployment . WLCCA helps us determine: – Configuration consistency across multiple WLC’s – RF Problem Finder – determine likely “problem” RF areas – AP Neighbors – how do AP’s hear each other? Too well, not well enough? – Additional views of CleanAir data – RRM overview with the RF Summary

Download: https://developer.cisco.com/docs/wireless-troubleshooting-tools/

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 89 Packet Captures • Omnipeek, Wireshark, AirTool . OmniPeek/Wireshark – For packet captures of the WLAN, including beacons and other management traffic – Helpful for troubleshooting of problems at the source . AirTool . Free app for Mac – simplifies packet capture process . https://www.adriangranados.com/apps/ airtool

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 90 Site Surveys . Ekahau Site Survey Pro – Design & Verify – Determine differences in coverage that occur as a result of tuning changes . Airmagnet WiFi Analyzer Pro – Provides in-depth 802.11- based protocol analysis – Realtime tool, useful during events . WiFi Explorer App – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wifi- explorer/id494803304?mt=12

. Layer 1 . Provides a view of real energy on a channel . Identify interferers of all types . Critical part of the “big picture”

• Multi-Radio Survey Device, Spectrum Analyzer, and Realtime Troubleshooting Tool • No more USB dongles that you may or may not inadvertently break off (not that we’ve ever done that…)

https://www.ekahau.com/products/sidekick/overview/

http://www.adriangranados.com/apps/wifi-explorer

• Same SSID, same AP – 2.4GHz overpowers 5GHz

http://www.adriangranados.com/apps/wifi-explorer

• Same SSID, same AP – 2.4GHz overpowers 5GHz • 2.4GHz is in very bad shape (high CU, low throughput)

http://www.adriangranados.com/apps/wifi-explorer

• Same SSID, same AP – 2.4GHz overpowers 5GHz • 2.4GHz is in very bad shape (high CU, low throughput) • I can’t get on 5GHz because 2.4 is too hot! http://www.adriangranados.com/apps/wifi-explorer

Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSID takes 2.4/5ghz decision away from client driver; assumes appropriate 5GHz coverage design

Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSID takes 2.4/5ghz decision away from client driver; assumes appropriate 5GHz coverage design 5GHz power is well-balanced with 2.4GHz

Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSID takes 2.4/5ghz decision away from client driver; assumes appropriate 5GHz coverage design 5GHz power is well-balanced with 2.4GHz If using 2.4 & 5GHz on same SSID – make 5GHz hotter!

• iOS Analytics • Detailed client onboarding analysis • Aironet Active Sensor support • Intelligent Capture • Network Time Travel

…and much more!

https://clnv.s3.amazonaws.com/2018/usa/pdf/BRKEWN-2034.pdf

• Design the RF environment with appropriate antennas and sensible physical placements • Employ HD-focused WLC feature configurations such as RF Profiles for more flexible and robust designs • Understand the key outside factors that may impact a live HD WLAN, including enemies of performance • Get comfortable with Wi-Fi analysis and optimization tools to make informed, data-driven decisions

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 102 http://cs.co/cat9000book http://cs.co/sdabook http://cs.co/programmabilitybook http://cs.co/wirelessbook http://cs.co/assurancebook

EN Booksprints

#CLUS © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public #CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 104 Complete your online session • Please complete your session survey after each session. Your feedback evaluation is very important.

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Demos in the Walk-in labs Cisco campus

Meet the engineer Related sessions 1:1 meetings

#CLUS #CLUS Backup Wi-Fi 6 in High Density Wi-Fi: OFDM vs OFDMA

802.11a/g/n/ac : OFDM

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing User 1 20MHz Channel (or 40 / 80 / 160MHz)

One client, one frame, whole channel TXOP 1

1 frame from 1 client takes the entire 20MHz channel for a single TX Opportunity

Wi-Fi 6: OFDMA User 1 2 MHz Resource Unit Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access User 2 2 MHz Resource Unit Multiple clients/frames per TX User 3 4 MHz Resource Unit

(“Scheduled” by the AP for Downlink and Uplink) 20MHz

1 TXOP 1 User 4 8 MHz Resource Unit • In W—Fi 6, a 20MHz channel contains 256 Subcarriers (Tones) • Subcarriers are grouped into 2MHz, 4MHz, (one example is shown above; other groupings of RU may be used) 8MHz, and 20MHz Resource Units (RUs)

Our 20MHz channel becomes up to (8) 2MHz Resource Units: Up to 8 clients, 8 frames for a single TX Opportunity!

Reduces latency – increases efficiency

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 111 Catalyst 9120 has Flexible Radio Assignment (FRA) 5 GHz is still more efficient than 2.4 GHz and Dual 5 GHz lowers channel utilization

Why does dual 5GHz matter with Wi-Fi 6 - A dual 5 GHz AP offers more cell coverage and flexibility options

Take-away

Using dual 5 GHz Means Equal Client Airtime Faster data-rates & Less channel utilization

Single 5 GHz Channel Dual 5 GHz Channels Single channel 36 utilization at 60% Using Micro/Macro (Dual 5 GHz) (clients far away take longer airtime) Channel 36 @ 20% channel utilization Channel 108 @ 24% channel utilization. Note: Internal antenna 9120 does Micro/Macro omni-directional cells External antenna 9120 supports Macro/Macro or any combination as well as directional cell support. #CLUS © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Maximizing the Spectrum • Client Induced Interference (Cont’d) . Client-induced interference: especially damaging on 2.4GHz but also impacts 5GHz via ACI (Adjacent Channel Interference) . Probe requests sent on all channels – Many frames on overlapping channels, driving noise floor to be higher/worse . Getting these devices on your network can help – Probe frequency diminishes significantly on an associated device

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 113 Maximizing the Spectrum • Ease-of-Use & Client Induced Interference . Ask yourself - how difficult is it to get on your WiFi network? . Ease-of-use directly impacts airtime efficiency . Low take rate = lots of probe request noise (1mb, max power, all channels) – Results in Client Induced Interference . A device on the network is far less damaging than a device off the network! . Device classification guide: – http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/cont roller/technotes/8-0/device_classification_guide.html

On AP CLI: Telnet/SSH to AP and use “Show Controller ” for immediate client RSSI readings of ALL clients associated to the specified radio

KCR-6AO-OFC-394#show controller d1 RxPkts KBytes Dup Dec Mic Txc TxPkts KBytes Retry RSSI SNR 1ce6.2bb5.e294 158 23 0 0 0 0 122 30 43 63 34

#CLUS BRKEWN-2013 © 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 115 How AP’s Hear Clients (1800/2800/3800+) For a table of all clients on an AP, at AP CLI: Telnet/SSH to AP and use “show dot11 clients” for immediate client RSSI readings of ALL clients associated to the specified radio

ap#show dot11 clients AP Mode - Local Client MAC Slot ID WLAN ID AID WLAN Name RSSI Maxrate WGB FC:F8:AE:60:98:34 1 3 1 AbrahamLinksys -47 MCS82SS No 00:24:D7:7E:48:D8 1 3 2 AbrahamLinksys -54 M23 No 78:F8:82:EF:2E:A0 1 3 3 AbrahamLinksys -37 MCS82SS No 84:38:35:42:E1:F0 1 3 4 AbrahamLinksys -71 MCS82SS No