Optimize WLAN (requires Level 10 permission)

You can get the highest throughputs and speeds for data and voice by running performance optimization. Performance optimization uses the maximum number of channels, but substantially reduces your coverage by limiting the network to the higher 802.11 transmit rates. Some older clients that cannot accept high base rates or react poorly to short preambles might still have difficulties.

Note You still must enable high-density mode for specific access points if you want to use that additional feature.

To optimize performance, click Performance. The configuration file is modified to enhance WLAN performance. The optimization process takes several minutes.

The following table lists the configuration parameters that are modified when you optimize performance.

If you do not want to use the three channels used when the autochannel command was run during optimization, do the following:

1. Create a text file named FixedChannelMap.txt.
2. Add the following information to the file:
   
   access-point-serial-number assigned-channel
   access-point-serial-number assigned-channel
   access-point-serial-number assigned-channel
3. Upload the file to the /opt/meru/images directory on the controller using the Meru CLI copy command.
4. Run the autochannel command by entering the following in global configuration mode at the Meru CLI prompt:

   controller(config)# autochannel channel-id-1 channel-id-2 ...

To optimize handoffs

To minimize the packet loss incurred by stations during handoffs, run handoff optimization. Run handoff optimization for any application and network where handoffs are concerns, such as in voice networks. Running handoff optimization might reduce your overall throughput by not using other channels, but could increase performance by eliminating handoff overhead and ping-ponging.

To optimize handoffs, click Handoff. The configuration file is modified to optimize the handoff process. The optimization process takes several minutes.

The following table lists the configuration parameters that are modified when you optimize handoffs.

To optimize coverage

To optimize your network to reach the largest number of stations at the furthest distances, run coverage optimization. Only run coverage optimization if coverage and range are your main concerns. Coverage optimization reduces network performance if you have clients operating below the peak transmit rate, as they do at greater distances from access points.

To optimize coverage, click Coverage. The configuration file is modified to enhance coverage. The optimization process takes several minutes.

The following table lists the configuration parameters that are modified when you optimize coverage.

To optimize service for nonconforming clients

To optimize your network to provide the best service for older clients that incompletely implement the 802.11 standard, run nonconfirming-client optimization. You might need to run this type of optimization if you have clients using certain types of 802.11 cards that react poorly to short preambles or customized base transmit rates. Running nonconforming-client optimization affects performance and increases overhead on the air if you use multiple ESS profiles in your system.

To optimize rogue access point mitigation

Run rogue access point mitigation optimization to optimize your network to detect and disrupt rogue access points above all else. Run this type of optimization if defeating rogues is your greatest concern, and you are willing to dedicate your airtime to this task over providing consistent service. Do not run this type of optimization if you only want to detect or slow down, rather than maximize the disruption of, rogues. Note: This is the only type of optimization that removes the guarantee of consistency in service. However, you might still provide acceptable service with this feature, depending on your network.

To run manual optimization

Running manual optimization gives you the greatest flexibility, by allowing you to configure the system manually, without choosing any type of automatic optimization. Any previous optimization parameters are reset to system default values after running manual optimization.