Configuring Location Settings
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Configuring Location Settings

Finding Feature Information

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Information About Configuring Location Settings

The switch determines the location of client devices by gathering Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) measurements from access points all around the client of interest. The switch can obtain location reports from up to 16 access points for clients, RFID tags, and rogue access points.

You can configure the path loss measurement (S60) request for normal clients or calibrating clients to improve location accuracy.

How to Configure Location Settings

Configuring Location Settings (CLI)

SUMMARY STEPS

    1.    configure terminal

    2.    location plm {calibrating [multiband | uniband] | client burst_interval

    3.    location rssi-half-life {calibrating-client | client | rogue-aps | tags } seconds

    4.    location expiry {calibrating-client | client | rogue-aps | tags } timeout

    5.    location algorithm {rssi-average | simple}

    6.    location admin-tag string

    7.    location civic-location identifier {identifier | host}

    8.    location custom-location identifier {identifier | host}

    9.    location geo-location identifier {identifier | host}

    10.    location prefer {cdp | lldp-med | static} weight priority_value

    11.    location rfid {status | timeout | vendor-name}

    12.    end


DETAILED STEPS
     Command or ActionPurpose
    Step 1 configure terminal


    Example: 
    Switch# configure terminal
     

    Enters global configuration mode.

     
    Step 2location plm {calibrating [multiband | uniband] | client burst_interval


    Example: 
    Switch(config)# location plm client 100
     

    Configures the path loss measurement (S60) request for calibrating clients or non-calibrating.

    The path loss measurement request improves the location accuracy. You can configure the burst_interval parameter for the normal, noncalibrating client from zero through 3600 seconds, and the default value is 60 seconds.

    You can configure the path loss measurement request for calibrating clients on the associated 802.11a or 802.11b/g radio or on the associated 802.11a/b/g radio.

    If a client does not send probes often or sends them only on a few channels, its location cannot be updated or cannot be updated accurately. The location plm command forces clients to send more packets on all channels. When a CCXv4 (or higher) client associates, the Switch sends it a path loss measurement request, which instructs the client to transmit on the bands and channels that the access points are on (typically, channels 1, 6, and 11 for 2.4-GHz-only access points) at a configurable interval (such as 60 seconds) indefinitely.

     
    Step 3location rssi-half-life {calibrating-client | client | rogue-aps | tags } seconds


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location rssi-half-life calibrating-client 60
     

    Configures the RSSI half life for the clients, calibrating clients, RFID tags, and rogue access points.

    You can enter the location rssi-half-life parameter value for the clients, calibrating clients, RFID tags, and rogue access points as 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, or 300 seconds, and the default value is 0 seconds.

    Some client devices transmit at reduced power immediately after changing channels, and RF is variable, so RSSI values might vary considerably from packet to packet. The location rssi-half-life command increases accuracy by averaging nonuniformly arriving data using a configurable forget period (or half life).

    Note   

    We recommend that you do not use or modify the location rssi-half-life command.

     
    Step 4location expiry {calibrating-client | client | rogue-aps | tags } timeout


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location expiry calibrating-client 50
     

    Configures the RSSI timeout value for the clients, calibrating clients, RFID tags, and rogue access points.

    You can enter the RSSI timeout value for the clients, RFID tags, and rogue access points from 5 through 3600 seconds, and the default value is 5 seconds.

    For the calibrating clients, you can enter the RSSI timeout value from 0 through 3600 seconds, and the default value is 5 seconds.

    Ensuring that recent, strong RSSIs are retained by the CPU is critical to location accuracy. The location expiry command enables you to specify the length of time after which old RSSI averages expire.

    Note   

    We recommend that you do not use or modify the location expiry command.

     
    Step 5location algorithm {rssi-average | simple}


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location algorithm rssi-average
     

    Configures the algorithm used to average RSSI and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values.

    You can enter the location algorithm rssi-average command to specify a more accurate algorithm but requires more CPU overhead or the location algorithm simple command to specify a faster algorithm that requires low CPU overhead but provides less accuracy.

    Note   

    We recommend that you do not use or modify the location algorithm command.

     
    Step 6location admin-tag string


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location admin-tag
     

    Sets administrative tag or site information for the location of client devices.

     
    Step 7location civic-location identifier {identifier | host}


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location civic-location identifier host
     

    Specifies civic location information.

    You can set the civic location identifier either as a string or host.

     
    Step 8location custom-location identifier {identifier | host}


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location custom-location identifier host
     

    Specifies custom location information.

    You can set the custom location identifier either as a string or host.

     
    Step 9location geo-location identifier {identifier | host}


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location geo-location identifier host
     

    Specifies geographical location information of the client devices.

    You can set the location identifier either as a string or host.

     
    Step 10location prefer {cdp | lldp-med | static} weight priority_value


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location prefer weight cdp 50
     

    Sets location information source priority.

    You can enter the priority weight from zero through 255.

     
    Step 11location rfid {status | timeout | vendor-name}


    Example:
    Switch(config)# location rfid timeout 100
     

    Configures RFID tag tracking options such as RFID tag status, RFID timeout value, and RFID tag vendor name.

    You can enter the RFID timeout value in a range from 60 and 7200 seconds.

     
    Step 12end


    Example:
    Switch(config)# end
     

    Returns to privileged EXEC mode. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl-Z to exit global configuration mode.

     

    Modifying the NMSP Notification Interval for Clients, RFID Tags, and Rogues (CLI)

    The Network Mobility Services Protocol (NMSP) manages communication between the mobility services engine and the controller for incoming and outgoing traffic. If your application requires more frequent location updates, you can modify the NMSP notification interval (to a value between 1 and 180 seconds) for clients, active RFID tags, and rogue access points and clients.


    Note

    The TCP port (16113) that the controller and mobility services engine communicate over must be open (not blocked) on any firewall that exists between the controller and the mobility services engine for NMSP to function.

    SUMMARY STEPS

      1.    configure terminal

      2.    nmsp notification interval {attachment seconds | location seconds | rssi [clients interval | rfid interval | rogues [ap | client ] interval]}

      3.    end


    DETAILED STEPS
       Command or ActionPurpose
      Step 1 configure terminal


      Example: 
      Switch# configure terminal
       

      Enters global configuration mode.

       
      Step 2nmsp notification interval {attachment seconds | location seconds | rssi [clients interval | rfid interval | rogues [ap | client ] interval]}


      Example: 
      Switch(config)# nmsp notification interval rssi rfid 50
       

      Sets the NMSP notification interval value for clients, RFID tags, and rogue clients and access points.

      You can enter the NMSP notification interval value for RSSI measurement from 1 through 180 seconds.

       
      Step 3end


      Example:
      Switch(config)# end
       

      Returns to privileged EXEC mode. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl-Z to exit global configuration mode.

       

      Modifying the NMSP Notification threshold for Clients, RFID Tags, and Rogues (CLI)

      SUMMARY STEPS

        1.    configure terminal

        2.    location notify-threshold {clients | rogues ap | tags } threshold

        3.    end


      DETAILED STEPS
         Command or ActionPurpose
        Step 1 configure terminal


        Example: 
        Switch# configure terminal
         

        Enters global configuration mode.

         
        Step 2 location notify-threshold {clients | rogues ap | tags } threshold


        Example: 
        Switch(config)# location notify-threshold clients 5
         

        Configures the NMSP notification threshold for clients, RFID tags, and rogue clients and access points.

        You can enter the RSSI threshold value from zero through 10 db.

         
        Step 3end


        Example:
        Switch(config)# end
         

        Returns to privileged EXEC mode. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl-Z to exit global configuration mode.

         

        Monitoring Location Settings and NMSP Settings

        Monitoring Location Settings (CLI)

        This section describes the new commands for location settings.

        The following commands can be used to monitor location settings on the switch.
        Table 1 Monitoring Location Settings Commands

        Command

        Purpose

        show location summary

        Displays the current location configuration values.

        show location statistics rfid

        Displays the location-based RFID statistics.

        show location detail client_mac_addr

        Displays the RSSI table for a particular client.

        Monitoring NMSP Settings (CLI)

        This section describes the new commands for NMSP settings.

        The following commands can be used to monitor NMSP settings on the switch.

        Table 2 Monitoring NMSP Settings Commands

        Command

        Purpose

        show nmsp attachment suppress interfaces

        Displays the attachment suppress interfaces.

        show nmsp capability

        Displays the NMSP capabilities.

        show nmsp notification interval

        Displays the NMSP notification intervals.

        show nmsp statistics connection

        Displays the connection-specific NMSP counters.

        show nmsp statistics summary

        Displays the common NMSP counters.

        show nmsp status

        Displays the status of active NMSP connections.

        show nmsp subscription detail

        Displays all of the mobility services to which the switch is subscribed.

        show nmsp subscription detail ip_addr

        Displays details only for the mobility services subscribed to by a specific IP address.

        show nmsp subscription summary

        Displays details for all of the mobility services to which the switch is subscribed.

        Examples: Location Settings Configuration

        This example shows how to configure the path loss measurement (S60) request for calibrating client on the associated 802.11a or 802.11b/g radio:
        Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# location plm calibrating uniband 
Switch(config)# end
Switch# show location summary
        This example shows how to configure the RSSI half life for a rouge access point:
        Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# location rssi-half-life rogue-aps 20
Switch(config)# end
Switch# show location summary

        Examples: NMSP Settings Configuration

        This example shows how to configure the NMSP notification interval for RFID tags:
        Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# nmsp notification interval rssi rfid 50
Switch(config)# end
Switch# show nmsp notification interval
        This example shows how to configure the NMSP notification threshold for clients:
        Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# nmsp notify-threshold 5
Switch(config)# end
Switch# show nmsp statistics summary

        Additional References for Location Settings

        Related Documents

        Related Topic Document Title
        System management commands

        System Management Command Reference, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Cisco WLC 5700 Series)

        Standards and RFCs

        Standard/RFC Title
        None

        —

        MIBs

        MIB MIBs Link
        All supported MIBs for this release.

        To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco IOS releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

        http:/​/​www.cisco.com/​go/​mibs

        Technical Assistance

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        Feature History and Information For Performing Location Settings Configuration

        Release Feature Information
        Cisco IOS XE 3.2SE This feature was introduced.