Optimized Roaming

                                                   Optimized Roaming

In wireless networks, sometime we noticed that some of the clients stick to far away access points (from which signals range is weak) even if there is nearby AP which can provide the good RSSI value. This issue is known as Client Sticky problem.

The sticky client continues to be connected with low RSSI value from far-away AP, which will lead to slow speed, more retransmissions, high airtime interference AND all the clients connected to the same access point will experience the connectivity problem.

In order to tackle this issue, Cisco WLC comes up with the new feature known as Optimized Roaming to kick-off the Sticky client from the far-away AP.

When Optimized Roaming is enabled then data RSSI packets from the clients are actively monitored and disassociate the clients when the received RSSI is below the threshold set.

Through Optimized roaming:

1. Client receives best connectivity and maintains the quality of experience.

2. Improves overall performance of each access point cell by reducing Airtime interference.

Client will be able to join the same AP when its RSSI is increased by 6dBm; i.e., if earlier reported RSSI was -75dBm and now RSSI is -69dBm then the client can join the same AP.

We can enable the Optimized roaming on both the bands that is 2.4GHz as well as 5GHz.

Optimized Roaming Mode - Enable (to enable optimized roaming). By default if is disabled.

Optimized Roaming Interval - This is the time interval at which AP's report to wireless controller about the client statistics. Default is 90 sec.

Optimized Roaming Data Rate Threshold - This value sets the threshold to the clients connected on legacy data rates and uses most of the Airtime consumption. If leave disable then all Optimized roaming applied to all clients otherwise to clients connected to lower or equal to set data rate.

I hope this is been informative to you and I would like to thank you for viewing.

References:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-0/hdx_final/b_hdx_dg_final/high_density_experience_features_added_in_release_8_0.html

http://www.revolutionwifi.net/revolutionwifi/2014/08/optimized-roaming-rssi-low-check-rx-sop.html