Even with controllers (we currently have 9 WiSMs, each of which contains two controllers), the AMP product is very useful for coordinating the controllers. We tried the Cisco WCS product (and still have it), but found the AMP much easier to drive. It will manage both controllers and APs. The APs can be a mix of standalone units and controller-based units. And, the controller-based APs can be divided into groups with similar characteristics (eg, SSID and authentication type). Reporting through the AMP is very good too. You can quite easily look at a user and tell what APs he has been on, how long he was there, what his average signal strength and quality was, what SSID he used, etc. You also get very good usage reports for usage on an AP, by any time reference you want, eg, last couple of hours, last day, last week, JAN-MAR, etc.
Simply using controllers does not relieve you of the need to manage them and report on them, as well as on the APs and the users. -jcw ------------------------------------- John Watters UA: OIT 205-348-3992 -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fruits, Brian Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 9:51 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Channel Selection on APs We use Meru as well and the single channel virtual cell works extremely well. It is especially nice when you need to drop an additional AP in the middle of an existing WiFi cloud. Since the other APs don't need to re-channel or adjust their power, you don't have to worry about creating new dead spots. Of course, if you aren't comfortable with single channel or virtual cell you can still configure some or all of the APs in the more traditional isolated multi-channel manner. The controller does have commands to auto-channel, but I rarely need to use them. I also agree with John York that if you have more than a handful of APs a controller model makes life much simpler. If you are happy with you existing infrastructure but it doesn't support a controller, you may consider looking into AirWave's Management solution. It's a nice product that allows you to have 3rd party [autonomous] APs that are centrally managed. Brian Fruits ITS-Network Services UNC Charlotte -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Scholz, Greg Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 10:05 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Channel Selection on APs In Meru you pick the channel but it uses a single channel across the entire SSID when in virtual cell mode, not per AP. (this is part of the "special sauce" that they got beat up for a while ago by other vendors implying they were breaking the standard) So we don't have to worry about overlapping channels or power settings. -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Connell Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 10:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Channel Selection on APs Aruba handles the RF (channel & pwr levels) dynamically...one less worry... Ken Connell Intermediate Network Engineer Computer & Communication Services Ryerson University 350 Victoria St RM AB50 Toronto, Ont M5B 2K3 416-979-5000 x6709 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Jr., D. Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008 9:52 am Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Channel Selection on APs To: [email protected] > In the past, we have always setup wireless access points to use > channels 3, 6, and 11, since these channels are the non-overlapping > channels. We have tried to be careful in spacing out APs and picking > one of these three channels where it seems appropriate to prevent > interference from one another. > > A question was posed by someone in my staff about using the "least > congested channel" setting instead of going through all the trouble of > determining and setting the channel. > > So, the questions are... > > 1. What are you other institutions doing about channel selection on > your Access Points? > 2. If you are using 3, 6, and 11, what is your strategy for use and > what problems and/or successes have you seen? > 3. If you are not using 3, 6, and 11, why not? What are you doing? > And what problems and/or successes have you seen? > > > Any input is appreciated. > > Thanks, > > D. Michael Martin, Jr. > Network Administrator > University of Montevallo > > ********** > Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
