Operation rates in AF profile at c9800

[Leftz]

Hi The below screenshot is from c9800 wlc. Any can explain the Operation Rate and why Mandatory in 6, 12 and 24 Mbps?

Thank you

[marce1000]

 - The mandatory rates are needed for clients to be able to connect , review this thread :

                   https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless/data-rates/m-p/4089566

 M.

[Arshad Safrulla]

Data rates define at what rates data can be transmitted between the access point and the client. It is decided based on lot of RF parameters. The rate negotiated by AP and client doesn't necessarily mean that the application layer throughput will be equal to what ever the data rate, it will be always lower 30% or more. what ever you set as mandatory, clients connecting to the wlan must support it, what ever you set as supported means that clients connecting the wlan are allowed to use this data rate but not necessarily needs to use this data rate to connect.

I think these are the default values, this parameter may differ based on the RF environment, use case, client devices, density etc. So before deciding what is mandatory and supported you need to have a RF survey conducted to asses the RF environment, connecting client devices assessed and profiled and usage of other protocols over wireless also needs to be considered. (VOIP or multicast also will have an impact)

[Leftz]

Thanks Arshadsaf. The above screenshot shows default mandatory date rate are 6, 12 and 24 Mbps. I cannot see why it lists 8 speeds under Operation Rates. What is purpose to list the 8 speeds there? 6, 12 and 24 have specific meaning?

[Arshad Safrulla]

Again these are default parameters comes built-in with the controller, this doesn't mean that you should use it. Even Cisco Best practice guides recommend you to disable lower data rates.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/guide-c07-743627.html#:~:text=AP%20information%20pages.-,Low%20data%20rates,-You%20must%20carefully

You can customize it as per your client base and RF requirements. My recommendation is to have all rates below the mandatory rate disabled, again the correct mandatory rate should be verified during wireless site survey and adjusted if needed.