Configuring Smart Roaming

Smart roaming resolves the problem of sticky clients that remain associated to access points that are far away and outbound clients that attempt to connect to a Wi-Fi network without having a stable connection. This feature disassociates clients based on the RSSI of the client data packets and data rate. The client is disassociated if the RSSI alarm condition is met and the current data rate of the client is lower than the optimized roaming data rate threshold. You can disable the data rate option so that only RSSI is used for disassociating clients.

Smart roaming also prevents client association when the client's RSSI is low. This feature checks the RSSI of the incoming client against the RSSI threshold. This check prevents the clients from connecting to a Wi-Fi network unless the client has a viable connection. In many scenarios, even though clients can hear beacons and connect to a Wi-Fi network, the signal might not be strong enough to support a stable connection.

To configure smart roaming for 802.11a and 802.11b bands:

Note: You cannot configure the optimized roaming interval until you disable the 802.11a/b network.

1. On the Configure > Wireless Advanced > Smart Roam > 802.11a and 802.11b pages, select the Optimized Roaming Mode check box.
2. In the Optimized Roaming Interval field, enter a value for the interval at which an access point reports the client coverage statistics to the device. You can configure the optimized roaming interval and data rate threshold values only after you enable optimized roaming.

The client coverage statistics include data packet RSSIs, Coverage Hole Detection and Mitigation (CHDM) pre-alarm failures, retransmission requests, and current data rates. The range is from 5 to 90 seconds. The default value is 90 seconds.

Note: If you configure a low value for the reporting interval, the network can get overloaded with coverage report messages.

3. In the Optimized Roaming Data Rate Threshold field, enter a value for the threshold data rate of the client. The following data rates are available:

• 802.11a—6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54.
• 802.11b—1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54.

Optimized roaming disassociates clients based on the RSSI of the client data packet and data rate. The client is disassociated if the current data rate of the client is lower than the Optimized Roaming Data Rate Threshold.

4. Click Apply.

 

 

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