Sticky Client

[hs08]

What the best solution for prevent sticky client?

• Lower the AP Power?
• Disable lower Datarates?
• Enabling the RSSI low check?
• etc?

[M02@rt37]

Hello @hs08 

Difficult to choose the best. Depend on various factors, including the specific characteristics of your wireless network, the types of devices in use and I think your organization's requirements.

Lowering the AP power can reduce the coverage area, encouraging clients to associate with closer APs. However, this needs to be balanced to avoid creating coverage gaps or interference issues.

Disabling lower data rates can encourage clients to move to closer APs since they may not be able to maintain a connection at higher data rates when farther away.

Band steering encourages dual-band clients to use the less congested 5 GHz band. This can be beneficial in situations where clients stick to the 2.4 GHz band, even when a stronger 5 GHz signal is available.

Setting an RSSI threshold for client association helps ensure that clients only connect to APs when the signal strength is above a certain level. If the signal drops below this level, the client will search for a better AP.

Implementing fast roaming technologies like 802.11k, 802.11r, and 802.11v can improve the roaming experience for clients, allowing them to move between APs more efficiently.

Some wireless controllers and systems support load balancing features. These features distribute clients across APs more evenly, preventing a single AP from becoming overloaded with clients.

It is a good practice to regularly monitor client behavior and roaming patterns. Identify areas with persistent sticky client issues and adjust configurations accordingly.

[JPavonM]

Today's corporate devices prevent sticky behaviours very well, but mobile devices don't do it so fine, due to the logic they implement to keep them connected at all cost.

Whith that been said, everything pointed by M02@rt37 is fine, but I will recommend you not to use dual-band for critical devices (corporate devices), nor the use of load-balancing or RX-SOP features as they are vendor specific and not standard so clients may suffer unwanted disconnections. Using such features could make devices disconnect without any control, and that would be more noticiable during conferences using near real-time apps like Zoom, Teams, Meet, ...

The first recommendation would be to validate your deployment is redundant and have proper primary and secondary signals (-65dBm and -68dBm or better, respectively). The second recommendation is to use devices that support 802.11k/v/r and enable it on the WLAN. The last thing I would recommend is to keep endpoint drivers/firmwares updated to latest ones recommended by a) manufacturer or b) vendor/os provider.

If after all of this you notice a sticky behaviour in corporate devices, then try tuning data rates and adjusting TX power, but do it while testing all changes to be approved.

[Leo Laohoo]

What is this "sticky client" and the role it plays in the organization. 

If the "sticky client" is a personal device, replace it with something more recent.

[Haydn Andrews]

Best way to avoid sticky client:

Start with a good wireless design, with correct cell sizes

RF Profile to ensure APs stay close to the designed power levels

Fast Roaming enabled

Data rates below 12mbps disabled

Wireless Devices drivers updated

If possible wireless device roaming profiles set 

5/6 GHz only - things like the iPhone if it goes to 2.4GHz it will not roam to a 5GHz channel unless the 2.4Ghz value goes outside its roaming limit of arround -70dBm

and unfortunatly sometimes you cant as its the device that determines when to roam.

[Scott Fella]

Disable lower Datarates is what can help as long as you have enough coverage after you set your min mandatory rate along with your min supported rate.  Also look at what band the device is using, typically 2.4GHz is where you see majority of the so called "Sticky".  That is because the power is also high and or the ap's are placed like in hallways and not in rooms.

[MHM Cisco World]

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/spaces/detect-and-locate/b-cisco-cle/m_sticky-notes.html

[Lakshan97]

try with optimize roaming whichcan be used as a first step in your existing network