Warehouse wireless issues using WLC 5520 2.4ghz \ 11b on 2802e Access Points with MC92N0-G scanners with Anroid OS

[deanwoolley]

Since we migrated our entire infrastructure in our Warehouse environment we have had performance \ connectivity issues

Migrated from local 5508 WLC to offsite 5520

Migrated from 1242 APs to 2802e APs with Omni directional antennas (AIR-ANT2544V4M-R=)

Migrated from Psion Pro 3 scanner to MC92N0-G Android OS

We have had a wireless site survey completed and the layout is now correct but we still have issues.

We have had 3 cisco TAC cases raised and we still have issues.

We moved all to 5ghz range and this performed worse than on 2.4ghz.

We have lowered data rates \ disabled lower data rates etc as per Cisco recommendation and still have issues.

Power levels have also been ammended.

From testing with the Warehouse and monitoring connectivity it would appear to be issues when roaming between APs. Any assistance \ recommendations would be greatly appreciated. If you need any further information let me know. Below is the current data rates configuration as per the last TAC case opened.

[deanwoolley]

Currently part of a flex connect group for the whole location will be moving all Warehouse APs to its own Flex Connect group.

[ajc]

What you mean by this:

"Currently part of a flex connect group for the whole location will be moving all Warehouse APs to its own Flex Connect group"

Based on my understanding for an smooth roaming you need:

CCKM/OKC Fast Roaming

• FlexConnect Groups are required for CCKM/OKC fast roaming to work with FlexConnect access points. Fast roaming is achieved by caching a derivative of the master key from a full EAP authentication so that a simple and secure key exchange can occur when a wireless client roams to a different access point. This feature prevents the need to perform a full RADIUS EAP authentication as the client roams from one access point to another.

[ajc]

Another detail to be reviewed, connected mode means all the AP's are successfully registered and up to the WLC. This has nothing to do with local switching.

Radio Resource Management

While in connected mode, all radio resource management (RRM) functionality is fundamentally available. However, because typical FlexConnect deployments comprise a smaller number of APs, RRM functionality might not be operational at a branch location. For example, in order for transmit power control (TPC) to work, there must be a minimum of four FlexConnect APs in proximity to each other. Without TPC, other features such as coverage hole protection will be unavailable.

[kingbily96]

 Did you test prior to making the change to verify and or discover issues?

[Scott Fella]

That is a lot of changes for me. Did you test prior to making the change to verify and or discover issues? 1242 to 2802 are very different and hopefully it wasn’t a one to one swap but a survey and new ap locations. When you move from locally having wlcs to centrally, are you doing flexconect local switching or central switching? What code are you running on the wld? Are other devices like laptops working fine? How many ads?

[deanwoolley]

Thank you for replying Scott

Survey was completed  and 10 x 1242s were removed and in its place 9 x 2802e as per the survey were installed the majority of the access points were relocated to improve coverage.

Flex connect Local switching is enabled

We tested with a laptop and were unable to replicate the fault

WLC software is currently 8.5.120.0

[Scott Fella]

8.5.140.0 is the latest and that is where you should look at moving to. However, if you can replicate this with a laptop or smartphone for example, then you might need to engage the manufacturer of the scanner as it can be related to their driver or possibly a setting that needs to be on or off. I would of thought that you would have more aps than that when comparing to the original design of the 1242’s. I have done many surveys for customers during the 1242 to newer models and the aps counts were always much more because you take into consideration the data rates, density and roaming.

[deanwoolley]

Any known bugs in 8.5.120.0 is the recommendation to 140.0 best practice ?

[patoberli]

Lot's of known bugs and also best practice.
See here for the release notes which contain the known fixed bugs:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/5500-series-wireless-controllers/products-release-notes-list.html

[bojarskic]

How does your channel utilization look?  You can find that on the new homepage under network summary > access points.  Or via the CLI one at a time.

There may be a need to adjust the number of APs with 2.4 enabled or adjust the power output on those radios.

[deanwoolley]

Only using channels 1,6 and 11 all others disabled. Power output is set to auto will include an attachment

[Scott Fella]

There is more than just that. You are only relying on 2.4ghz?  You mean the new scanners do not support 5GHz. In today’s environment, you should rely on using 5GHz over 2.4ghz and tour survey should of reflected that. Your setting of auto is also not good but again, that depends on whom did the survey and install. 

Back ti to my other reply, if your other devices have no issues, you need to work with the device manufacturer to troubleshoot more.

There are things that the vendor whom did the survey should of performed, but it’s late for that.Show the power levels on the 2.4ghz and the 5GHz since everything is set to auto. 

[deanwoolley]

When it was first implemented their was a mixture of old scanners and new scanners hence the 2.4ghz being involved. As a test they moved to 5ghz and only used the new scanners and the feedback was not any better. Now we are only using the new scanners.

We have engaged the manufacturer of the scanner and are waiting a response.

Attaching power levels as requested. Thank you for the heads up on there normally being more APs after the transition from 1242 to 2802e.

[ajc]

Something is not right with the power level for 802.11b/g/n, your AP's are running mainly 6,7 or 8.