Intermittent Wireless Connection

[jpl861]

Hi,

We are having issues with wireless in one of our office floors. We occupy 4 floors and only the last floor is having issues. We are using Cisco 5508 for the controller. For the access points, we are using AIR-CAP3602I-A-K9  and AIR-LAP1252AG-A-K9, SW version 7.2.111.3. For security of the SSID, we are using WPA+WPA2, 802.1X for Authentication Key Management. We are not having any issues on all 3 floors except the last one. Someone did a screen capture wherein he is connected to wireless with full bars but cannot ping the default-gateway. The wireless controller is in our collocation facility and we are connected to it via Metro Ethernet. All the APs used at the problematic floor are 3602 and no 1252. They said, in order for them to resolve the connectivity problem, they would need to turn off and on their WIFI NIC. I initially suspect that this is a laptop issue but different platforms were affected such as Apple, Dell, IBM laptops.

Can someone help where should I look first and how we can possibly check where the issue is? Note that I don't have any experience with Cisco WLCs so I may sound ignorant. 🙂

Anyway, just to add, they also have bunch of Linksys wireless routers on that floor being used for lab environment. Not sure if that could be a reason for traffic interruption but there are other tenants in this building using wireless as well.

Thanks in advance.

[Leo Laohoo]

For security of the SSID, we are using WPA+WPA2

Use either WPA OR WPA2.  Don't use both because some clients don't like it and they have trouble authenticating.

[jpl861]

L2 Security: WPA+WPA2

WPA Policy: Check

WPA Encryption: TKIP

WPA2 Policy: Check

WPA2 Encryption: AES

802.1X Enabled

Those are the only security settings. Not sure where to look next. 

[Leo Laohoo]

Don't use both WPA and WPA2, John.  

Take a pick, either WPA or WPA2.  Start with that.

[jpl861]

Thanks man! I'll check with my manager if they're willing to do that. There are hundreds of wireless users here in our office and they are mostly on the 3 non-problematic floors and the security settings are the same for all access points. So I'm not quite sure if they are willing to do that but I'll just ask.

Anything in mind aside from the security?

[Leo Laohoo]

Maybe the people affected on that floor have their APs in an AP Group.

I will start with that first, John and then troubleshoot along the way.  

Another thing is the IOS of the controller, 7.2 is not really something I'd like to brag to people about.  

Read THIS (or show this to your manager).