Cisco Connected Mobile Experiences (CMX) CVD

Best Practices Checklist

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September 4, 2014

This chapter discusses the best practices check list while deploying a CMX solution.

1. Familiarize yourself with RF basics.

2. Familiarize yourself with 802.11 fundamentals and location fundamentals.

3. Check for regulatory domain restrictions in the area.

4. Conduct pre-site survey:

• Assess building type and materials used
• Anticipate difficult zones:

– Areas where full coverage and full performance is needed.

– Areas where location is important and needed.

– Areas where RF free zones exist.

• Business needs of the WLAN
• How will the network look in two years.
• Plan for future client explosion
• Scale of the planning
• Expected audience of the network
• Constraints on deployment
• DFS and radar avoidance requirement
• Aesthetic design requirements
• Predictive surveys for simple budgeting
• Plan for cabling, power drops, and power requirements
• Obtain location maps for RF surveys later
• Thorough versus sample area survey
• 802.11n/ac readiness and expectations
• Outdoor readiness
• Location where access points can be deployed
• Capture existing 802.11
• Plan for persistent non-movable interferers
• Antenna evaluation
• High density consideration

5. Conduct predictive site survey.

• Use Prime Infrastructure RF Planner tool to design a RF plan
• Use Ekahau Site Survey planner to design a RF plan in absence of Cisco Prime Infrastructure
• Location tracking = AP per 2500 sqft
• Enter signal strength to be -67 dBm
• SNR should to be >= 20 dBm
• Data rate to be 12 mbps
• Ping round trip should be <= 500ms
• Packet loss should be <= 10%
• Remember, minimum number of APs for location tracking is three.

6. AP placement guidelines

• APs should be < 70 feet apart.
• Use directional antennas where necessary.
• Plan for coverage with location calculation in mind.
• Use staggered layout for placing APs, not a straight line.
• Plan to avoid interferers and installation of APs over interfering sources.
• Ensure perimeter coverage.
• Use a single type of AP across the installation.

7. AP Capacity planning

• Plan with client density and client type in mind.
• Plan for minimum application performance needed.
• Plan for future growth of client types.
• Consider high density design if a location demands it.

8. Antennas

• Select the ideal antenna for installation depending on building and aesthetic requirements
• Be aware of power requirements with antennas.

9. Post-RF deployment

• Turn on RRM and let the network settle before go live.
• Turn on Clean Air on capable access points.
• Conduct post-site survey regularly to keep a watch on RF.