Objective

Bandwidth utilization allows you to place a threshold on the average successful data transfer through a communication path. Some of the techniques used to improve this are bandwidth shaping, management, capping, and allocation.

For incoming and outgoing traffic, you can set a different bandwidth. Setting bandwidth improves speed and performance of the wireless networks as clients associate and disassociate with the access point. It is efficient not to completely utilize the available bandwidth so that when the amount of data consumed by existing users increases, there is a way to handle it. When the bandwidth utilization reaches the threshold, devices will not associate with any new clients.

Bandwidth utilization settings on a Wireless Access Point (WAP) enable the access point to maintain the speed and performance of the wireless network as clients associate with it. It also helps in setting up a load balancing limit when multiple access points are used.

This article will guide you on how to configure bandwidth utilization on your wireless access point.

Applicable Devices | Firmware Version

- WAP150 | 1.0.1.2 (Download latest)

- WAP361 | 1.0.1.2 (Download latest)

- WAP131 | 1.0.1.4 (Download latest)

- WAP351 | 1.0.1.4 (Download latest)

- WAP121 | 1.0.6.2 (Download latest)

- WAP321 | 1.0.6.2 (Download latest)

- WAP371 | 1.2.0.2 (Download latest)

- WAP551 | 1.2.0.2 (Download latest)

- WAP561 | 1.2.0.2 (Download latest)

Configure Bandwidth Utilization

Important: Changing these configurations may cause a brief interruption in the wireless service of this device.

Step 1. Log in to the web-based utility and choose Wireless > Bandwidth Utilization.

Note: The available options on the Wireless menu may vary according to your WAP. In this example, WAP361 is used.

Step 2. Check the Enable check box to enable the bandwidth utilization settings.

Note: The Bandwidth Utilization feature is enabled by default.

Step 3. Enter the desired percentage of bandwidth in the Maximum Utilization Threshold field. If the traffic through the device ever exceeds this threshold, the device refuses to accept new client associations. The range for this field is from 0 to 100.

Note: If the value is set to 0 Percent, the WAP accepts all the new client associations regardless of the utilization rate.

Step 4. Click Save.

Step 5. (Optional) Once you are prompted that your wireless settings are about to be updated and you may be disconnected, click OK.

You should now have successfully configured bandwidth utilization of your wireless access point.