High Client Density

[ryan.benner]

Is there a design guide or a set of best practice recommendations for a unified wireless network that needs to support an extremely dense client popluation?  For example, how would you design for a conference hall with 1000 wireless users?

[George Stefanick]

Hi Ryan,

You are limited on your options. First 802.11g is not friendly only because you have 3 channels to select (1,6,11) from and it will be more of a challenge not to introduce channel interference. You will be better off on 802.11a where you have 20 plus channels.

1) Low power / directional antennas on 802.11a where you have 20+ channels

2) Pico cell

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk722/tk809/technologies_q_and_a_item09186a00805e9a96.shtml#qa25

What type of deployment is this ?

I hope this at least wets the lips and gets you started ...

Please be so kind to rate post that are helpful...

[ryan.benner]

Hi George,

Thanks for the response.  Most of the clients will be 802.11n with a handfull of 802.11g (generally ipad/android/tablet devices).  I looked at the Pico cell documentation and it looks good except that it isn't supported by a standard supplicant and I won't be able to put a 3rd party supplicant on these devices.  Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[George Stefanick]

HI Again,

If you know your client mix will be 802.11n on the 5Ghz side then your next best option is to design with low power direction antennas. By this i mean, think of a flashlight in the ceiling pointing down into your coverage area. If you truly have this many clients, what will be their content ? General surfing, video, voice ?