Wireless Access

Hello,

We have just installed brand new Aruba AP 505,515 and 535 wireless terminals, which are driven by the VC.

We have noticed that we have roaming problems, do you have any tips or best practices to advise me?

It's quite annoying :(

Thank you very much.
Sincerely

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------

Are devices staying on an access point too long?  I would try reducing the maximum transmit power.

------------------------------
Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Aruba Networks.
------------------------------

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback. Yes, it stays fixed to a terminal when there is one closer.
For example: The customer has a weak signal while a terminal is right above him.

Let's imagine that the customer sees two AP, one with a 70% signal and another one at 90% (I'm using the signal here as an example, but we could use the RSSI), is there a way for the customer to go directly to the better terminal?

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 04:49 AM
From: Colin Joseph
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Are devices staying on an access point too long?  I would try reducing the maximum transmit power.

------------------------------
Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Aruba Networks.
------------------------------

The client device decides when it roams.  What can we do to make it roam faster?  We can reduce the maximum transmit power of the access point, or remove the lower rates on that SSID.

------------------------------
Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Aruba Networks.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 04:59 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback. Yes, it stays fixed to a terminal when there is one closer.
For example: The customer has a weak signal while a terminal is right above him.

Let's imagine that the customer sees two AP, one with a 70% signal and another one at 90% (I'm using the signal here as an example, but we could use the RSSI), is there a way for the customer to go directly to the better terminal?

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 04:49 AM
From: Colin Joseph
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Are devices staying on an access point too long?  I would try reducing the maximum transmit power.

------------------------------
Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Aruba Networks.

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own
------------------------------

As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own
------------------------------

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own

Drivers are where the magic happens.....

.... and they come in different shapes and forms (i.e. quality and features)

Just had an issue a few weeks back where W10 would randomly disconnect. Debugs, captures, the whole thing, spent hours on it and then one Wednesday morning the problem had disappeared. Go figure......

Always make sure you are running with the latest drivers and check if an issue appeared around the time of an upgrade.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 01:45 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own

Thank you again for your feedback.
Indeed, we are far from having the latest drivers...
I even have customers who can't see the SSIDs of Aruba APs :(

I'm going to try all your tips

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:30 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


Drivers are where the magic happens.....

.... and they come in different shapes and forms (i.e. quality and features)

Just had an issue a few weeks back where W10 would randomly disconnect. Debugs, captures, the whole thing, spent hours on it and then one Wednesday morning the problem had disappeared. Go figure......

Always make sure you are running with the latest drivers and check if an issue appeared around the time of an upgrade.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 01:45 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own

Original Message:
Sent: 12/23/2021 4:00:00 AM
From: klkl_n
Subject: RE: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Thank you again for your feedback.
Indeed, we are far from having the latest drivers...
I even have customers who can't see the SSIDs of Aruba APs :(

I'm going to try all your tips

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:30 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


Drivers are where the magic happens.....

.... and they come in different shapes and forms (i.e. quality and features)

Just had an issue a few weeks back where W10 would randomly disconnect. Debugs, captures, the whole thing, spent hours on it and then one Wednesday morning the problem had disappeared. Go figure......

Always make sure you are running with the latest drivers and check if an issue appeared around the time of an upgrade.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 01:45 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke

Thank you for your advice.
The concern is not necessarily urgent.

The original purpose of my message was to get feedback on the roaming issue and to apply best practices and tips

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 04:04 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

For urgent issues its a good idea to open a aruba Tac ticket aswel. They can assist you with a lot experience and knownledge and solve your issue faster.

Original Message:
Sent: 12/23/2021 4:00:00 AM
From: klkl_n
Subject: RE: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Thank you again for your feedback.
Indeed, we are far from having the latest drivers...
I even have customers who can't see the SSIDs of Aruba APs :(

I'm going to try all your tips

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:30 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


Drivers are where the magic happens.....

.... and they come in different shapes and forms (i.e. quality and features)

Just had an issue a few weeks back where W10 would randomly disconnect. Debugs, captures, the whole thing, spent hours on it and then one Wednesday morning the problem had disappeared. Go figure......

Always make sure you are running with the latest drivers and check if an issue appeared around the time of an upgrade.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 01:45 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own

There are known issues at least in older Intel drivers that result in that the clients don't see the SSID if the AP is 802.11ax / WiFi-6.

And indeed the driver triggers the roam, where some can be configured on 'roaming aggressiveness', and others don't have configuration but tend to stick to an AP as long as possible and only roam if the connection becomes so weak that there is no link anymore.

The document RF and Roaming Optimization for Aruba 802.11ac Networks is a good one to give a read if you want to understand roaming better.

------------------------------
Herman Robers
------------------------
If you have urgent issues, always contact your Aruba partner, distributor, or Aruba TAC Support. Check https://www.arubanetworks.com/support-services/contact-support/ for how to contact Aruba TAC. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Aruba Networks.

In case your problem is solved, please invest the time to post a follow-up with the information on how you solved it. Others can benefit from that.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:59 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Thank you again for your feedback.
Indeed, we are far from having the latest drivers...
I even have customers who can't see the SSIDs of Aruba APs :(

I'm going to try all your tips

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:30 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


Drivers are where the magic happens.....

.... and they come in different shapes and forms (i.e. quality and features)

Just had an issue a few weeks back where W10 would randomly disconnect. Debugs, captures, the whole thing, spent hours on it and then one Wednesday morning the problem had disappeared. Go figure......

Always make sure you are running with the latest drivers and check if an issue appeared around the time of an upgrade.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 01:45 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own

thank you very much for all the tips and help :)

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 06:39 AM
From: Herman Robers
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

There are known issues at least in older Intel drivers that result in that the clients don't see the SSID if the AP is 802.11ax / WiFi-6.

And indeed the driver triggers the roam, where some can be configured on 'roaming aggressiveness', and others don't have configuration but tend to stick to an AP as long as possible and only roam if the connection becomes so weak that there is no link anymore.

The document RF and Roaming Optimization for Aruba 802.11ac Networks is a good one to give a read if you want to understand roaming better.

------------------------------
Herman Robers
------------------------
If you have urgent issues, always contact your Aruba partner, distributor, or Aruba TAC Support. Check https://www.arubanetworks.com/support-services/contact-support/ for how to contact Aruba TAC. Any opinions expressed here are solely my own and not necessarily that of Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Aruba Networks.

In case your problem is solved, please invest the time to post a follow-up with the information on how you solved it. Others can benefit from that.
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:59 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Thank you again for your feedback.
Indeed, we are far from having the latest drivers...
I even have customers who can't see the SSIDs of Aruba APs :(

I'm going to try all your tips

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 03:30 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


Drivers are where the magic happens.....

.... and they come in different shapes and forms (i.e. quality and features)

Just had an issue a few weeks back where W10 would randomly disconnect. Debugs, captures, the whole thing, spent hours on it and then one Wednesday morning the problem had disappeared. Go figure......

Always make sure you are running with the latest drivers and check if an issue appeared around the time of an upgrade.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 23, 2021 01:45 AM
From: lapillo Kevin
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Hello,

Thank you very much for all your feedback.
First of all, I will test the power reduction.
Indeed, I think that in some places we are in over coverage.

I was not aware that it was the clients who were in control of the roaming, do you think that it is possible that it is the driver for example too obsolete of the PC that would cause problems?

Thank you very much for the links

------------------------------
lapillo Kevin


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 12:03 PM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

See also this information to: 

https://wlanprofessionals.com/decoding-the-green-diamond-understanding-client-behavior/

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100841/http://community.arubanetworks.com/t5/Americas-Airheads-Conference/Breakout-Wi-Fi-Behavior-of-Popular-Mobile-Devices/gpm-p/129135

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 11:20 AM
From: Jan-Willem Keinke
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?


As mentioned earlier, it is the client that decides to switch to a different AP. All the AP can do to get "rid" of a client or to "motivate" it to go somewhere else is to send at a lower power level or reset the connection (not very nice) and hope the client will use a different BSSID next.

If you are going to play with power and minimum rates, then be aware this will impact clients at the edges of your network (coverage) and clients unable to support higher rates (the old ones)

Apple support wrote an article explaining when they roam and how. For their products it's a signal below -70dBm. Any other vendor, product or even different driver versions may have different triggers programmed resulting in different behaviour.

------------------------------
Jan-Willem Keinke


Original Message:
Sent: Dec 22, 2021 10:00 AM
From: marcel koedijk
Subject: Roaming AP 505,515,535 tips ?

Best solution is to hire somebody who known wireless and is certified for it. There is a lot of talk about when its go about roaming.

As collin say, lower your tx-power of the access point to the same level of tx-power as your weakest mobile client, both access point and client need to talk with equal volume, mostly around 15dBM/32mW.

Right AP Placement is VERY important, specially for roaming, don't place in AP in hallways but in the rooms, in a honeycomb design and about 15meter apart from each other.

Plan for between -62dBM and -65dBM signal strength (depend on your application requirements). Choose a right cell overlap and secondary coverage. 

Disable the lower modulation bitrates, disable everything below 12Mbps to optimize roaming desicions of your client.

Enable 802.11rkv for optimize roaming, use 802.11r only when your clients support it (mostly always yes).

Note that signal strength or RSSI is not measured in % but in dBM (% say nothing).

In the end you should understand that roaming is always a client decision.

------------------------------
Marcel Koedijk | MVP Guru 2021 | ACEP | ACMP | ACCP | ACDP | Ekahau ECSE | Not an HPE Employee | Opinions are my own