[WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread Rogelio
Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting 
up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people 
in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I 
think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have 
told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those 
numbers.

Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The 
only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press 
areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant 
number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would 
just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the 
power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan 
with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g. 
Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so 
that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are 
able to associate to that access point.

Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access 
points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

--about 250 MAC associations
--about 50 client associations
--about 25 hardcore user sessions

Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell 
me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)




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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread Jerry Richardson
Multiple aps with limited range such that each ap covers a limited section of 
the facility.

Sent from my Windows MobileĀ® phone.

-Original Message-
From: Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:35 AM
To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
Subject: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting 
up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people 
in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I 
think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have 
told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those 
numbers.

Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The 
only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press 
areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant 
number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would 
just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the 
power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan 
with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g. 
Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so 
that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are 
able to associate to that access point.

Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access 
points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

--about 250 MAC associations
--about 50 client associations
--about 25 hardcore user sessions

Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell 
me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)




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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread John Scrivner
This company provides the only logical solution for high density, high
availability 802.11X indoor enterprise connectivity that I know of outside
of Cisco.

 http://www.arubanetworks.com/

You cannot do what you are asking unless you have some centralized AP
controller capable of adjusting the RF power levels, frequency, etc. for
every AP in real time. The Aruba platform also offers things definitely
needed in an environment like this such as rogue AP detection. All
conference centers, enterprises, campuses, etc. should have rogue AP
detection as a matter of best practices.
Scriv


On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:32 AM, Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com wrote:

 Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting
 up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
 in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
 think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
 told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those
 numbers.

 Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
 only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
 areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
 number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

 Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
 just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
 power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
 with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
 Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
 that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
 able to associate to that access point.

 Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
 points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

 --about 250 MAC associations
 --about 50 client associations
 --about 25 hardcore user sessions

 Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
 me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)




 
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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread Marlon K. Schafer
You build a system with multiple layers.  Very high end backhaul (ptp 
wireless, fiber etc.).  Then higher end gear like redline for a middle mile 
system.  Lastly, you use good ap's (MT or StarOS) for distribution.

I'd use a radius authentication mechanism for this.  You can then use any 
off the shelf isp management system to authenticate users.  If you use MT 
units for your distribution you'll easily be able to handle CALEA requests 
etc.

We'd also need to know a bit about the geography of the area.  One of the 
hardest things to do will be to create distribution points that have 
acceptable coverage but don't interfere with each other.

One more thing.  Are they planning to cover inside of every structure in the 
coverage zones?  If so, run.  Run like hell.  So far I know of NO successful 
deployments like this.  It just won't work with today's technology 
limitations.

You might also want to conceder hiring some consulting help with this. 
Several of us here have tried to help people pull off projects like this in 
the past.  Most people make the same mistakes over and over again.  If 
anyone can make this work, a few here can.  Most professional consultants 
won't stand a chance.  And working with the likes of Cisco, Lucent etc. 
pretty well guarantees failure.

laters,
marlon

- Original Message - 
From: Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com
To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:32 AM
Subject: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas


 Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting
 up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
 in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
 think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
 told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those
 numbers.

 Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
 only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
 areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
 number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

 Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
 just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
 power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
 with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
 Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
 that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
 able to associate to that access point.

 Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
 points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

 --about 250 MAC associations
 --about 50 client associations
 --about 25 hardcore user sessions

 Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
 me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)



 
 WISPA Wants You! Join today!
 http://signup.wispa.org/
 

 WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org

 Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
 http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread Marlon K. Schafer
Oops.  I missed the conference center part of this.  I was thinking town 
level.

It'll still be a large challenge.  I'd be sure to run an abg network. 
Hopefully some can use the a to take a load off of the b/g.

laters,
marlon

- Original Message - 
From: Marlon K. Schafer o...@odessaoffice.com
To: scubac...@gmail.com; WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 7:34 AM
Subject: Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas


 You build a system with multiple layers.  Very high end backhaul (ptp
 wireless, fiber etc.).  Then higher end gear like redline for a middle 
 mile
 system.  Lastly, you use good ap's (MT or StarOS) for distribution.

 I'd use a radius authentication mechanism for this.  You can then use any
 off the shelf isp management system to authenticate users.  If you use MT
 units for your distribution you'll easily be able to handle CALEA requests
 etc.

 We'd also need to know a bit about the geography of the area.  One of the
 hardest things to do will be to create distribution points that have
 acceptable coverage but don't interfere with each other.

 One more thing.  Are they planning to cover inside of every structure in 
 the
 coverage zones?  If so, run.  Run like hell.  So far I know of NO 
 successful
 deployments like this.  It just won't work with today's technology
 limitations.

 You might also want to conceder hiring some consulting help with this.
 Several of us here have tried to help people pull off projects like this 
 in
 the past.  Most people make the same mistakes over and over again.  If
 anyone can make this work, a few here can.  Most professional 
 consultants
 won't stand a chance.  And working with the likes of Cisco, Lucent etc.
 pretty well guarantees failure.

 laters,
 marlon

 - Original Message - 
 From: Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com
 To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
 Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:32 AM
 Subject: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas


 Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting
 up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
 in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
 think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
 told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those
 numbers.

 Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
 only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
 areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
 number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

 Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
 just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
 power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
 with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
 Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
 that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
 able to associate to that access point.

 Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
 points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

 --about 250 MAC associations
 --about 50 client associations
 --about 25 hardcore user sessions

 Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
 me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)



 
 WISPA Wants You! Join today!
 http://signup.wispa.org/
 

 WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org

 Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
 http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread John Scrivner
 And working with the likes of Cisco, Lucent etc.
 pretty well guarantees failure.

 laters,
 marlon


Marlon, I am afraid I have to disagree with you on this one. There are many
massive deployments (hundreds of APs in one campus) around the world using
both Aruba and Cisco as their 802.11 infrastructure. Neither of these are a
best fit for most WISP type deployments but they most definitely are the
best for very large campus type environments. I would estimate that over 75%
of very large campus environements are successfully deploying secure,
reliable and scalable 802.11 using Aruba and Cisco. I do not sell or own
equipment from either of these vendors so please know my perspective here is
based solely on what I have read from the accounts of many system
administrators involved in campus deployments. I have built smaller campus
deloyments using WISP based systems as you have descibed but if I had to a
large scale campus deployment there is no doubt for me that Aruba or Cisco
would be the platform of choice.
Scriv









 - Original Message -
 From: Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com
 To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
 Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:32 AM
 Subject: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas


  Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting
  up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
  in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
  think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
  told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those
  numbers.
 
  Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
  only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
  areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
  number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.
 
  Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
  just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
  power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
  with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
  Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
  that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
  able to associate to that access point.
 
  Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
  points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...
 
  --about 250 MAC associations
  --about 50 client associations
  --about 25 hardcore user sessions
 
  Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
  me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)
 
 
 
 
 
  WISPA Wants You! Join today!
  http://signup.wispa.org/
 
 
 
  WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org
 
  Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
  http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
 
  Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/




 
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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread Marlon K. Schafer
Yeah, again I missed the conference center part of it.  I was thinking muni 
network in town.

laters,
marlon

- Original Message - 
From: John Scrivner j...@scrivner.com
To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas


 And working with the likes of Cisco, Lucent etc.
 pretty well guarantees failure.

 laters,
 marlon


 Marlon, I am afraid I have to disagree with you on this one. There are 
 many
 massive deployments (hundreds of APs in one campus) around the world using
 both Aruba and Cisco as their 802.11 infrastructure. Neither of these are 
 a
 best fit for most WISP type deployments but they most definitely are the
 best for very large campus type environments. I would estimate that over 
 75%
 of very large campus environements are successfully deploying secure,
 reliable and scalable 802.11 using Aruba and Cisco. I do not sell or own
 equipment from either of these vendors so please know my perspective here 
 is
 based solely on what I have read from the accounts of many system
 administrators involved in campus deployments. I have built smaller campus
 deloyments using WISP based systems as you have descibed but if I had to a
 large scale campus deployment there is no doubt for me that Aruba or Cisco
 would be the platform of choice.
 Scriv









 - Original Message -
 From: Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com
 To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
 Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:32 AM
 Subject: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas


  Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about 
  setting
  up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
  in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
  think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
  told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at 
  those
  numbers.
 
  Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
  only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
  areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
  number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.
 
  Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
  just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
  power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
  with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
  Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
  that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
  able to associate to that access point.
 
  Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
  points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...
 
  --about 250 MAC associations
  --about 50 client associations
  --about 25 hardcore user sessions
 
  Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
  me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)
 
 
 
 
 
  WISPA Wants You! Join today!
  http://signup.wispa.org/
 
 
 
  WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org
 
  Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
  http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
 
  Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/




 
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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread George Rogato
Thats right Cisco Aruba and Meru are the wireless platforms universities 
are using for high density campus networks.

Here's Meru's url. They claim to be the largest 802.11n

Meru isn't just a technology leader. It's also a market leader, with 
more operational 802.11n networks worldwide than any other vendor.

http://www.merunetworks.com/technology/whymeru/w-scalability.php

I also have a link for a wireless list that is used by university admins 
that discuss their wireless networks.

I will hand it out off list to help keep their privacy and the integrity 
of their list.

George

John Scrivner wrote:
 This company provides the only logical solution for high density, high
 availability 802.11X indoor enterprise connectivity that I know of outside
 of Cisco.
 
  http://www.arubanetworks.com/
 
 You cannot do what you are asking unless you have some centralized AP
 controller capable of adjusting the RF power levels, frequency, etc. for
 every AP in real time. The Aruba platform also offers things definitely
 needed in an environment like this such as rogue AP detection. All
 conference centers, enterprises, campuses, etc. should have rogue AP
 detection as a matter of best practices.
 Scriv
 
 
 On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:32 AM, Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com wrote:
 
 Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting
 up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
 in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
 think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
 told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those
 numbers.

 Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
 only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
 areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
 number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

 Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
 just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
 power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
 with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
 Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
 that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
 able to associate to that access point.

 Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
 points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

 --about 250 MAC associations
 --about 50 client associations
 --about 25 hardcore user sessions

 Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
 me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)




 
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 http://signup.wispa.org/

 

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Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

2009-01-15 Thread Mike Hammett
I've heard some pretty bad things about Meru  A local university had 
them deploy some APs and about a year later, the implementation did not 
work.  I believe they told them to pack their things and get out.


-
Mike Hammett
Intelligent Computing Solutions
http://www.ics-il.com



--
From: George Rogato wi...@oregonfast.net
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 7:57 PM
To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org
Subject: Re: [WISPA] planning 802.11 Wi-Fi for extremely dense areas

 Thats right Cisco Aruba and Meru are the wireless platforms universities
 are using for high density campus networks.

 Here's Meru's url. They claim to be the largest 802.11n

 Meru isn't just a technology leader. It's also a market leader, with
 more operational 802.11n networks worldwide than any other vendor.

 http://www.merunetworks.com/technology/whymeru/w-scalability.php

 I also have a link for a wireless list that is used by university admins
 that discuss their wireless networks.

 I will hand it out off list to help keep their privacy and the integrity
 of their list.

 George

 John Scrivner wrote:
 This company provides the only logical solution for high density, high
 availability 802.11X indoor enterprise connectivity that I know of 
 outside
 of Cisco.

  http://www.arubanetworks.com/

 You cannot do what you are asking unless you have some centralized AP
 controller capable of adjusting the RF power levels, frequency, etc. for
 every AP in real time. The Aruba platform also offers things definitely
 needed in an environment like this such as rogue AP detection. All
 conference centers, enterprises, campuses, etc. should have rogue AP
 detection as a matter of best practices.
 Scriv


 On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:32 AM, Rogelio scubac...@gmail.com wrote:

 Within the last few weeks, I have gotten several inquiries about setting
 up 802.11 wireless access services for thousands (1000-5000) of people
 in a conference sort of area (assuming 100% subscription rate, which I
 think is sort of unreasonable, but that's another story), and I have
 told them that based on what I know, the 802.11 protocol breaks at those
 numbers.

 Is there any 802.11-based solution that can handle this density? The
 only way I have seen people get around it (like at the Superbowl press
 areas with tons and tons of people) is to try to offload a significant
 number of users on Ruckus devices using cat5.

 Does anyone have any suggestions here?  In these situations, I would
 just probably put in a ton of smaller access points and then turn the
 power WAY down and then plan some sort of non-overlapping channel plan
 with 802.11a and 802.11b/g. I have heard of other solutions (e.g.
 Proxim) having soft limits on numbers of associations one each AP so
 that they can, at least, guarantee good coverage with the few who are
 able to associate to that access point.

 Anyone have any other ways around this?  Based on what I know, access
 points (fat or thin, regardless of the model) crap out at around...

 --about 250 MAC associations
 --about 50 client associations
 --about 25 hardcore user sessions

 Any and all advice on the topic is welcome (even if it is to just tell
 me I'm stupid for even considering talking to these customers!)




 
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