Solved: Getting started with WLC and Mesh

RenatoHTPC · ‎12-03-2020

Given the current "situation" in the world, most of us are now working from home. I needed a more reliable WiFi implementation in my house to support the 5 of use (wireless laptops, cells phones, IOT devices, video streaming etc). Frankly I got tired of the "Why does the wifi suck at our house?" compliments

So I have embarked into this new exercise. Note: This is my first exposure to Cisco equipment.

The house is a 2 level + basement totaling about 3K sq/ft.

Current equipment:

1x Cisco 3750X

1x Cisco 5508

5x AIR-CAP3702I

3x AIR-CAP3702E

1x IPFire firewall appliance that handles DHCP (192.168.1.0/24)

I have created 1 WLAN, single SSID for both 2.4 and 5Ghz. Security Policy [WPA2][Auth(PSK)]

Phase 1.

Installed 1x AIR-CAP3702E in a central area of the second floor, 1x AIR-CAP3702E in the basement and 1x AIR-CAP3702I in the garage. All of the APs were connected to the same SSID.

The ladies in my house (wife and daughters) were all complaining that the wifi was unreliable. More times than not, their cells phones would switch over to cell.

So, quoting Tim the tool man, I decided that I needed "more power"!

Phase 2.

I added 4 AIR-CAP3702I to the second floor (1 in each bedroom). One AIR-CAP3702E on the main floor (in line with the one on the second floor).

Still, the cell phones were connecting unreliabily to the Wifi. Note, I had set the channel width to "Best" and Power Level Assignment Method to auto.

Phase 3.

I came across an article saying that the answer to my problem was mesh.

I have since implemented mesh (1x RAP and 7 MAP) with a channel width of 80Mhz

Current Channel

(100,104,108,112)

and Tx Power Level Assignment set to Custom=1.

Range (RootAP to MeshAP) = 12000 feet

Backhaul Client Access = Enabled

Extended Backhaul Client Access = Enabled

RAP Downlink Backhaul = 5Ghz

It has since gotten better but I still have 1-2 devices that struggle to connect while on the main floor.

Let's start with a few basic questions.

1) Do I have too many APs deployed in the house?

2) Should I set the power level to a value other than 1?

3) Should I forget about the 80Mhz and perhaps go with 40Mhz?

4) What additional information can I provide?

I understand that the answer(s) may very well be "it depends" but I am not even sure where to get started.

Thanks in advance for your help

Renato

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎12-12-2020

Hi Renato,
Hope wireless your home is stable & better now. Here is the summary of the steps you have implemented for anyone to understand easily

1. Convert back to Local mode from Mesh mode

2. Only focused on 5GHz & disable most of the 2.4GHz radio (as too much interference from your own APs)

3. Set 40MHz channel width under DCA & RF Profile

4. TPC min-max 0-17dBm in 5GHz band

5. By looking at WiFi scanner (WinFi), noticed CH36-48 & CH149-161 having too many other SSIDs, two important APs channel set to static out of those band.

6. Did iperf test using your iPhone & ~150-200Mbps & concluded it was a great result.

If all good & acceptable solution, you can close off this thread by marking it as "answer"

HTH

Rasika

View solution in original post

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎12-03-2020

Looks like an interesting project. Having 8 AP in a single house is a bit too much...

Anyway, I cannot believe that phase 2, how it did not work well (that should be the best option, AP in local mode). Also why things got better when you convert to mesh.

I would not leave to DCA channel width to "best" , suggest stick with 40MHz, if you have enough channel to workwith. Otherwise stick with 20MHz. If you can access WLC CLI, pls paste the below output to have an idea.

show advanced 802.11a summary

show advanced 802.11b summary

My general suggestion

1. Get an idea of how many of your home devices are 2.4GHz only. If most of the devices supporting 5GHz, your SSID should be set to 5GHZ

2. AP power should not be high, typically set to 14dBm or 17dBm (TPC max value)

3. If SSID configured with dual-band, then reduce 2.4GHz TPC max at least 8dB less compare to 5GHz

4. Using WiFi scanner (WinFi for Windows or WiFiAnalyzer for mac) have a look at channel distribution and see any co-channel interferences

HTH

Rasika

*** Pls rate all useful responses ***

RenatoHTPC · ‎12-03-2020

Rasika

thank you for the quick reply.

Here is the information you requested:

(Cisco Controller) >show advanced 802.11a summary

Member RRM Information
AP Name                    MAC Address       Slot Admin    Oper        Channel            TxPower
-------------------------- ----------------- ---- -------- ----------- ------------------ -------------
Green-2ndFloorLT           ec:bd:1d:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-Garage               78:ba:f9:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-Bdrm3                50:87:89:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-MBdrm                d8:b1:90:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-Bdrm1                50:87:89:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-Bdrm2                fc:5b:39:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-Basement             10:05:ca:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)
Green-1stFloor             a0:ec:f9:xx:yy:zz  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104,108,112)   1/6 (17 dBm)

* global assignment

(Cisco Controller) >show advanced 802.11b summary

Member RRM Information
AP Name                    MAC Address       Slot Admin    Oper        Channel            TxPower
-------------------------- ----------------- ---- -------- ----------- ------------------ -------------
Green-2ndFloorLT           ec:bd:1d:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          6*                 *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-Garage               78:ba:f9:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          11*                *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-Bdrm3                50:87:89:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          1*                 *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-MBdrm                d8:b1:90:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          11*                *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-Bdrm1                50:87:89:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          6*                 *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-Bdrm2                fc:5b:39:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          6*                 *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-Basement             10:05:ca:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          1*                 *1/8 (23 dBm)
Green-1stFloor             a0:ec:f9:xx:yy:zz  0   ENABLED  UP          11*                *1/8 (23 dBm

Thanks again

Renato

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎12-03-2020

All 2.4GHz radios are maxed powered (23dBm) which is not good and most likely all your client prefer that band in given conditions. Below output tell in which band your client associate.

show client summary

With mesh, you can see all your APs operate on the same channel, and the capacity point of view limited to a single 80MHz. which is not good

Would you like to try local mode AP (similar to phase 2 of your work)?

Rasika

RenatoHTPC · ‎12-03-2020

Rasika

I had another idea.......

The 2.4Ghz is used primarely by 1-2 ip cams and about a dozen or so IOT devices which use microcontrollers only supporting 802.11 b/g/n.

What if I were to dedicate one of the 8 APs (say the one on the second floor, middle of the floor) to the 2.4Ghz and the balance of the APs to only support ac?

Would this be a better use of the APs?

Renato

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎12-03-2020

Hi Renato,

Do you want all these to be connected to the same SSID ?

My suggestion is to create two SSID, one with 2.4GHz or dual-band (let's say IoT) and one with 5GHz only (Home-WiFi). You can selectively advertise SSID using AP groups, in that way IoT SSID can broadcast on selective APs.

5GHz, you can assign those APs into 8 different channels, so you get 8AP capacity. In 2.4GHz, you can only assing CH1,6 & 11. So you can assign those 3 channels to 3APs and others you can either power off 2.4GHz band (if those AP hear each other) or you can put the same channel as long as they do not hear each other on stronger RSSI.

HTH

Rasika

*** Pls rate all useful responses ***

RenatoHTPC · ‎12-04-2020

Rasika

Thanks again for your help. I will be trying out your suggestions over the weekend.

Will share the results.

Thanks again

Renato

RenatoHTPC · ‎12-06-2020

Rasika

I have followed your suggestions.

1) Reverted back to AP set to "local mode"

2) Entered the following settings:

Wireless -> 802.11a/n/ac -> RRM -> TPC
Power Level Assignment Method = Automatic
Maximum Power Level Assignment (-10 to 30 dBm) = 17
Minimum Power Level Assignment (-10 to 30 dBm) = -10

Wireless -> 802.11a/n/ac -> RRM -> DCA
Channel Assignment Method = Automatic
Channel Width = 40Mhz
Extended UNII-2 channels = Enabled


Wireless -> 802.11b/g/n -> RRM -> TPC
Power Level Assignment Method = Automatic
Maximum Power Level Assignment (-10 to 30 dBm) = 9
Minimum Power Level Assignment (-10 to 30 dBm) = -10

Here is the output of the 3 commands you asked for before:

(Cisco Controller) >show advanced 802.11a summary

Member RRM Information
AP Name                          MAC Address       Slot Admin    Oper        Channel            TxPower
-------------------------------- ----------------- ---- -------- ----------- ------------------ -------------
PA-AP-Basement                   10:05:ca:88:75:00  1   ENABLED  UP          (64,60)*           *4/6 ( 8 dBm)
PA-AP-Bdrm1                      50:87:89:c0:68:f0  1   ENABLED  UP          (136,132)*         *5/6 ( 5 dBm)
PA-AP-2ndFloor                   ec:bd:1d:31:12:30  1   ENABLED  UP          (52,56)*           *5/6 ( 5 dBm)
PA-AP-1stFloor                   a0:ec:f9:71:ac:50  1   ENABLED  UP          (44,48)*           *4/5 ( 6 dBm)
PA-AP-MBdrm                      d8:b1:90:2e:ad:80  1   ENABLED  UP          (100,104)*         *5/6 ( 5 dBm)
PA-AP-Bdrm2                      fc:5b:39:c9:ac:80  1   ENABLED  UP          (112,108)*         *5/6 ( 5 dBm)
PA-AP-Garage                     78:ba:f9:93:22:10  1   ENABLED  UP          (52,56)*           *4/6 ( 8 dBm)
PA-AP-Bdrm3                      50:87:89:a5:ad:70  1   ENABLED  UP          (36,40)*           *5/5 ( 3 dBm)

* global assignment

(Cisco Controller) >show advanced 802.11b summary

Member RRM Information
AP Name                          MAC Address       Slot Admin    Oper        Channel            TxPower
-------------------------------- ----------------- ---- -------- ----------- ------------------ -------------
PA-AP-Basement                   10:05:ca:88:75:00  0   ENABLED  UP          1*                 *7/8 ( 5 dBm)
PA-AP-Bdrm1                      50:87:89:c0:68:f0  0   ENABLED  UP          1*                 *8/8 ( 2 dBm)
PA-AP-2ndFloor                   ec:bd:1d:31:12:30  0   ENABLED  UP          6*                 *8/8 ( 2 dBm)
PA-AP-1stFloor                   a0:ec:f9:71:ac:50  0   ENABLED  UP          11*                *8/8 ( 2 dBm)
PA-AP-MBdrm                      d8:b1:90:2e:ad:80  0   ENABLED  UP          11*                *8/8 ( 2 dBm)
PA-AP-Bdrm2                      fc:5b:39:c9:ac:80  0   ENABLED  UP          6*                 *8/8 ( 2 dBm)
PA-AP-Garage                     78:ba:f9:93:22:10  0   ENABLED  UP          11*                *7/8 ( 5 dBm)
PA-AP-Bdrm3                      50:87:89:a5:ad:70  0   ENABLED  UP          1*                 *8/8 ( 2 dBm)

* global assignment




(Cisco Controller) >show client summary

Number of Clients................................ 20

Number of PMIPV6 Clients......................... 0

Number of EoGRE Clients.......................... 0

                                                                GLAN/
                                                                RLAN/
MAC Address       AP Name                        Slot Status        WLAN  Auth Protocol         Port Wired Tunnel  Role
----------------- ------------------------------ ---- ------------- ----- ---- ---------------- ---- ----- ------- ----------------
08:05:81:e6:6b:91 PA-AP-2ndFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
0c:8c:24:8f:3d:0e PA-AP-2ndFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
14:95:ce:0b:26:e8 PA-AP-Bdrm3                     0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
14:95:ce:2a:2c:3d PA-AP-Bdrm3                     0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
1c:bf:ce:d9:bb:2f PA-AP-1stFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
24:62:ab:bf:91:28 PA-AP-2ndFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local


Would you like to display more entries? (y/n) y

2e:b7:f7:07:69:90 PA-AP-Bdrm2                     1   Associated     1    Yes   802.11ac(5 GHz)  1    No    No      Local
42:7e:c2:fa:4f:d6 PA-AP-Bdrm2                     0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
62:e7:56:45:12:be PA-AP-Bdrm3                     0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
6c:6a:77:e3:d1:e0 PA-AP-1stFloor                  1   Associated     1    Yes   802.11ac(5 GHz)  1    No    No      Local
84:f3:eb:3b:81:64 PA-AP-1stFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11g          1    No    No      Local
8c:aa:b5:0d:b0:66 PA-AP-1stFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11g          1    No    No      Local
90:8d:6c:71:91:19 PA-AP-1stFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
ac:ae:19:d7:9f:19 PA-AP-2ndFloor                  0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
b8:7b:c5:8b:47:fe PA-AP-Bdrm2                     1   Associated     1    Yes   802.11ac(5 GHz)  1    No    No      Local
d4:ab:cd:f8:a8:de PA-AP-Bdrm2                     0   Associated     1    Yes   802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local
d8:bb:2c:28:20:37 PA-AP-2ndFloor                  1   Associated     1    Yes   802.11ac(5 GHz)  1    No    No      Local
f0:18:98:63:54:f5 PA-AP-Bdrm2                     1   Associated     1    Yes   802.11ac(5 GHz)  1    No    No      Local
f0:a3:5a:95:75:69 PA-AP-Bdrm1                     1   Associated     1    Yes   802.11ac(5 GHz)  1    No    No      Local
f2:2d:05:c4:58:f2 PA-AP-1stFloor                  0   Associated     1    No    802.11n(2.4 GHz) 1    No    No      Local

Next, I ran perf on my iPhone (while connected to the wifi) and got the follwing results:

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-30.01  sec  7.99 MBytes  2.23 Mbits/sec   77             sender
[  8]   0.00-30.01  sec  7.11 MBytes  1.99 Mbits/sec  100             sender
[ 10]   0.00-30.01  sec  8.06 MBytes  2.25 Mbits/sec   94             sender
[ 12]   0.00-30.01  sec  7.85 MBytes  2.19 Mbits/sec   72             sender
[ 14]   0.00-30.01  sec  7.50 MBytes  2.10 Mbits/sec   91             sender
[SUM]   0.00-30.01  sec  38.5 MBytes  10.8 Mbits/sec  434             sender

Note: The test was run from a location the mainfloor (about 20 feet from the PA-AP-1stFloor and right below the PA-AP-Bdrm3.

Renato

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎12-07-2020

Hi Renato,

Thank you for all the output, that gives us a good indication of where things at.

Did you think about creating two SSID, one for your 2.4GHz devices and one for general use of home internet (prefer 5GHz only)?

When you do that perf test, which band your iPhone connect? 2.4GHz or 5GHz (suspect 2.4GHz)

Did iPerf run against an internal server or with a public internet host? what is your home internet link speed and what should we expect in that test?

Pls post the "show sysinfo" output to see code version you running too.

If you have windows 10, pls try WinFi software and show us how many SSIDs you see in 5GHz & 2.4GHz. I noticed 5GHz power level also very low, what kind of switch powering these APs ? you got POE+ on that switch ?

https://www.helge-keck.com/download.html

Sorry for the many questions being asked... hope we can improve it further..

Rasika

patoberli · ‎12-08-2020

One more important thing about the reliability, what software version is running on your controller? Some older versions did have various issues with android 10 and iOS devices.

RenatoHTPC · ‎12-08-2020

Here is a partial output of the "show sysinfo" command

show sysinfo

Manufacturer's Name.............................. Cisco Systems Inc.
Product Name..................................... Cisco Controller
Product Version.................................. 8.5.161.0
Bootloader Version............................... 1.0.20
Field Recovery Image Version..................... 7.6.101.1
Firmware Version................................. FPGA 1.7, Env 1.8, USB console 2.2
OUI File Last Update Time........................ Sun Nov  1 22:19:31 2020

Build Type....................................... DATA + WPS

Thank you

Renato

patoberli · ‎12-08-2020

Ok, that is the latest (and the last) officially released version for the 5508. There are some newer versions, but only available with a TAC.

Here some details about what is fixed: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/wireless-lan-controller-software/200046-tac-recommended-aireos.html#anc10

I don't think an upgrade is needed though, as your release is typically very stable.

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎12-12-2020

Hi Renato,
Hope wireless your home is stable & better now. Here is the summary of the steps you have implemented for anyone to understand easily

1. Convert back to Local mode from Mesh mode

2. Only focused on 5GHz & disable most of the 2.4GHz radio (as too much interference from your own APs)

3. Set 40MHz channel width under DCA & RF Profile

4. TPC min-max 0-17dBm in 5GHz band

5. By looking at WiFi scanner (WinFi), noticed CH36-48 & CH149-161 having too many other SSIDs, two important APs channel set to static out of those band.

6. Did iperf test using your iPhone & ~150-200Mbps & concluded it was a great result.

If all good & acceptable solution, you can close off this thread by marking it as "answer"

HTH

Rasika