Wireless LAN Mobility System Wireless LAN Switch Manager User’s Guide WX4400 WX1200 WXR100 WX2200 http://www.3Com.com/ Part No. 10015403 Rev.
3Com Corporation 350 Campus Drive Marlborough, MA USA 01752-3064 Copyright © 2006, 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as translation, transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from 3Com Corporation.
CONTENTS ABOUT THIS GUIDE Conventions 9 Documentation 10 Documentation Comments 1 11 GETTING STARTED Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Client Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Services Software Requirements 14 Preparing for Installation 15 User Privileges 15 Serial Number and License Key 15 HP OpenView Network Node Manager Resource Allocation 16 Installing 3WXM 17 Installing 3WXM on Windows Systems Installing 3WXM on Linux Systems 18 Start 3WXM Services 20 Connect 3WXM Clients to 3WXM Services Configure 3WXM S
2 PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Which Services To Provide? 30 Network Plan 31 RF Coverage Area 31 RF Auto-Tuning 32 RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling 32 RF Planning 33 Which Planning Method Should I Use? 33 Configuration 35 Wireless Configuration 36 AAA Security Configuration 38 System and Administration Configuration 40 Equipment Installation 42 Deployment 43 Management and Monitoring 43 Network Status 44 RF Monitoring 44 Client Monitoring 45 Rogue Detection 46 Event Logging 46 Verific
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 83 Task Table 83 Step Summary 85 Create a Radio Profile for Voice 86 Create a Service Profile for Voice 86 What’s Next? 95 4 USING RF AUTO-TUNING What Is RF Auto-Tuning? 97 Place Your Equipment 98 Configure Initial WX Switch Connectivity 98 Upload the WX Switch Configuration into a 3WXM Network Plan Create a Service Profile 99 Create a Radio Profile and Map the Service Profile to It 100 Create Your MAPs 101 Apply a Radio Profile to Each Radio 104 What’s Next? 104
Model RF Obstacles 133 Import a Site Survey 134 Plan RF Coverage 135 Add Wiring Closets 135 Create Coverage Areas 136 Compute and Place MAPs 144 Assign Channel Settings 146 Calculate Optimal Power 148 Display Coverage 150 Generate a Work Order 151 Install the Equipment 153 What’s Next? 153 7 MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK Deploy Your Configuration 155 Perform Basic Administrative Tasks 157 Configuring WX Management Services 157 Distributing System Images 159 Using the Image Repository 159 Distributi
Computing and Placing New MAPs Replanning Your Network 191 What’s Next? 192 A 191 OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3COM PRODUCTS Register Your Product to Gain Service Benefits 193 Solve Problems Online 193 Purchase Extended Warranty and Professional Services Access Software Downloads 194 Contact Us 194 Telephone Technical Support and Repair 195 INDEX 194
ABOUT THIS GUIDE This manual shows you how to plan, configure, deploy, and manage a Mobility System wireless LAN (WLAN) using the 3Com Wireless LAN Switch Manager (3WXM) tool suite. Read this manual if you are a network administrator or a person responsible for managing a WLAN. If release notes are shipped with your product and the information there differs from the information in this guide, follow the instructions in the release notes.
ABOUT THIS GUIDE This manual uses the following text and syntax conventions: Table 2 Text Conventions Convention Description Menu Name > Command Indicates a menu item that you select. For example, File > New indicates that you select New from the File menu. Monospace text Sets off command syntax or sample commands and system responses. Bold text Highlights commands that you enter or items you select.
Documentation Comments 11 Wireless LAN Switch Manager Reference Manual This manual shows you how to plan, configure, deploy, and manage a Mobility System wireless LAN (WLAN) using the 3Com Wireless LAN Switch Manager (3WXM). Wireless LAN Switch Manager User’s Guide (this document) This guide shows you how to plan, configure, deploy, and manage a Mobility System wireless LAN (WLAN) using the 3Com Wireless LAN Switch Manager (3WXM).
ABOUT THIS GUIDE Example: Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Configuration Guide Part number 730-9502-0071, Revision B Page 25 Please note that we can only respond to comments and questions about 3Com product documentation at this e-mail address. Questions related to Technical Support or sales should be directed in the first instance to your network supplier.
1 GETTING STARTED This chapter contains information about recommended system requirements you should meet for optimum 3WXM performance, installing 3WXM client and 3WXM Services software, and an introduction to using the 3WXM interface. Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Client Table 3 shows the minimum and recommended requirements to run the 3WXM client on Windows and Linux platforms.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Services Table 4 shows the minimum and recommended requirements to run the 3WXM Services on Windows and Linux platforms. Table 4 Hardware Requirements for Running 3WXM Services on Windows and Linux Software Requirements Minimum Recommended Processor Intel Pentium 4, 2.4 GHz or equivalent Intel Pentium 4, 3.
Preparing for Installation Preparing for Installation 15 A licensed copy of 3WXM comes with a base license key. Before you install 3WXM, make sure you have the appropriate administrative privileges on the system. After you have installed 3WXM, you will need to register your license and the serial number with 3Com in order to obtain an activation key. The base key along with its activation key enables you to manage up to 10 wireless LAN switches.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Resource Allocation Table 5 contains general recommended guidelines for hardware requirements and memory allocation based on the number of radios and WX switches your server will support. A larger number of WX switches implies more connections and data processing, and consequently, more CPU is required. A larger number of radios implies more data (including client sessions) which requires more RAM and storage.
Installing 3WXM Installing 3WXM Installing 3WXM on Windows Systems 17 To install the 3Com Wireless Switch Manager, follow the instructions below for your operating system. To install 3WXM on a Windows system: The 3WXM install program installs either just the 3WXM client, or both the 3WXM client and Services. There is no option to install the 3WXM Services only. 1 Insert the 3WXM CD in the CD-ROM drive. If Autorun is enabled, wait briefly for the install program to start.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED 4 Click the View button. The 3Com Wireless LAN Switch Manager (3WXM) information screen appears. 5 Click the Install button. The installation begins. During the installation, the 3Com Wireless Switch Manager installation wizard minimizes. 6 When the installation is complete, maximize the 3Com Wireless Switch Manager installation wizard screen, and then press the Contents button. 7 Press the Exit button to close the wizard, or navigate to the other items on the CD.
Installing 3WXM 19 5 Open a shell window. 6 Use the cd command to go to the directory in which you saved the installation binary. 7 In the shell window, type sh ./install.bin. The Introduction page of the 3WXM installation wizard appears. 8 Click Next to display the Choose Installation Type page of the installation wizard, and go to “Using the Installation Wizard”. The installer does not make any path changes during installation.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Start 3WXM Services 3WXM Services are automatically started when you install them on a Windows system. To start the 3WXM Services on a Unix or Linux System: To start 3WXM Services manually, type a command such as the following: solaris# rm-services start To stop 3WXM Services manually, type a command such as the following: solaris# rm-services stop These examples assume that 3WXM Services is installed in the default location.
Connect 3WXM Clients to 3WXM Services Configure 3WXM Services 21 You can change the properties of 3WXM Services. If a firewall is enabled on the host where you install 3WXM Services, 3WXM Services will not be able to communicate with 3WXM client or with WX switches unless the firewall is configured to allow through traffic for the SSL and SNMP ports (443 and 162 by default). To configure 3WXM Services: 1 Select Tools > 3WXM Services Setup dialog box from the 3WXM main tool bar.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Select the arrow buttons to change the SNMP Trap Receiver Port, which is the port on which SNMP traps are received. Also select the trap type (SNMPv1 or SNMPv3) you want 3WXM Services to receive from WX switches. On each switch in the network plan, you must enable notifications and configure 3WXM Services as a notification target (trap receiver). 3WXM Services does not start listening for SNMP notifications from switches until you save the network plan.
3WXM Interface 3WXM Access Control 23 You can create a user account with administrator, provision, or monitor privileges. See Table 6 for basic privilege definitions.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Display the Main Window When you start 3WXM client and log onto 3WXM Services, a network plan is displayed by the 3WXM client. (See Figure 2 on page 25.) Organizer panel displays a network tree representing your WLAN’s devices and configurations on those devices. You can use it to navigate to Policy configurations, Equipment within your network, and network Sites.
3WXM Interface 25 Figure 2 Main 3WXM Window with Open Network Plan Organizer panel Content panel Toolbar Alerts panel Using the Toolbar and Menu Bar Lock icon The main 3WXM window has a toolbar that provides quick access to features. You can use the Back and Forward buttons to cycle through your display selections. The menu bar (located above the toolbar) provides access to administrative options such as plan management and access to online help.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Setting Preferences You can set network and user interface preferences, as well as preferences for save interval and autosave, certificate handling, RF monitoring, and logging. 1 Select Tools > Preferences from the 3WXM main tool bar. The Preferences wizard is displayed. 2 Select any of the tabs, make modifications in the fields, and select Reset All to reset preferences. Easy Configuration Using Wizards Wizards help walk administrators through configuration steps.
3WXM Interface 27 You also can select a radio, in which case the floor plan where the radio is located is displayed, with status for all MAPs on that floor. Getting Help Click Help from the Main menu bar to access different types of help: 1 Select Help > Help to display HTML help about configuring and using 3WXM. 2 Select Help > Licensing to view product licensing information. 3 Select Help > Report Problem to report a problem to 3Com Technical Support.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED
2 PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM This chapter contains information about planning and managing your wireless network with 3WXM. Planning your wireless network is highly recommended because it not only helps you configure and deploy it, but also aids in scaling and monitoring your network. 3Com provides you with flexible tools to assist with network planning. You plan your wireless network to support the services you want to offer your employees, guests, or customers.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Which Services To Provide? What is a service?: A service is a concept (not a selectable item in the 3WXM interface) that represents a set of options you configure and deploy on your wireless network. You configure services to support the different levels of network access you need to provide. For example, a service configured to support employee access will have different options configured to provide greater access to the network.
Network Plan Network Plan 31 What is a network plan?: A network plan is the workspace in 3WXM you use to design a wireless network. Why is this important?: You can better manage and visualize your network topology by creating a detailed and accurate network plan. You can start by creating a device-oriented (WX switches and MAPs) view of your network without any geographic information about your site—no floor dimensions, building material information, or RF obstacle information.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling, as with the RF Auto-Tuning technique, lets you set the auto tuning feature to adjust power and channel settings to provide RF signals to the coverage area for your users. Enhance the auto tuning feature by providing modelling information about your geographic location.
RF Coverage Area RF Planning 33 To do RF Planning, you provide detailed information about your site and buildings by importing AutoCAD DXF™, AutoCAD DWG, JPEG, or GIF floor plan files of the buildings into 3WXM. As you import the floor plans, you can modify them to add or remove RF obstacles. You define RF obstacles by specifying the attenuation factor in decibels for the obstacle. In addition, 3WXM includes a library of attenuators for building obstacles.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Use the RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling technique if you want to better monitor your wireless network in terms of buildings, floors, or coverage areas. You may only be able to locate inaccurate or incomplete building and floor plans (perhaps only a JPEG file), but with even a bit more geographic modelling of your site, you boost your ability to manage and visualize your network.
Configuration 35 Table 7 Planning Techniques to Use Concern If yes, use If No, use Do I want to better monitor my wireless network in terms of buildings, floors, or coverage areas? RF Planning or RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling RF Auto-Tuning If RF Planning does not fit your requirements now, you can always use the RF Planning technique in the future when you have the need, the time, and the necessary floor plans available.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM This section contains information about: Wireless Configuration “Wireless Configuration” on page 36 “AAA Security Configuration” on page 38 “System and Administration Configuration” on page 40 Wireless configuration focuses on the configuration tasks (radio configuration and AAA configuration) you do to deliver the virtual wireless services you want to provide on your network.
Configuration 37 You must configure a radio profile to set attributes that you can apply to multiple radios. Rather than configuring each radio individually, you create a radio profile and apply it to multiple radios that you select. You can also create a radio profile as part of a policy and apply it to MAP access points on different WX switches. The radio profile can contain RF Auto-Tuning settings and IEEE 802.11 settings that control how the data is received and transmitted.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM If the services are being used to advertise multiple wireless service providers (WISP), such as T-MobileTM, Wayport ®, and Boingo WirelessTM, then these services would probably be completely open. However, they would likely be assigned to their own dedicated subnet containing their proxy server/billing gateway. AAA Security Configuration An administrator can control the way in which users access the network.
Configuration 39 Figure 6 Authentication Flowchart for Network Users Client associates with 3Com radio or requests access from wired authentication port Client requests encrypted SSID? Yes 802.1X rule that matches SSID? Client responds to 802.1X? Yes No No Yes Authent. Allow succeeds? Yes Client No No Refuse Client Authent.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Authorization Authorization is the method for providing users with specific rights to the network by associating attribute-value (AV) pairs to the user. AAA authorization works by assembling a set of attributes that describe what the user is authorized to perform.
Configuration 41 You can create the following types of WX switches: WX4400—Provides four dual-interface gigabit Ethernet ports. Each port has a 1000BASE-TX copper interface and a Gigabit interface converter (GBIC) slot for insertion of a 1000BASE-SX or 1000BASE-LX fiber-optic interface. WX1200—Provides eight 10/100 Ethernet ports, six of which support PoE. WXR100—Provides two 10/100 Ethernet ports, one of which supports PoE.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM For detailed information about configuring basic WX switch properties, see the Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Quick Start Guide. Configure WX Switch Connection Information You need to supply connection information for the WX switch on both the WX switch and in 3WXM when you make the WX a managed device.
Deployment 43 b If you are indirectly connecting the WX to the switch, plug the other cable end(s) to an available network port on the wiring closet switch. If the switch does not supply PoE, then ensure that a mid-span PoE device is inserted in-line with the connection. Deployment What is deployment?: Sending the WX configuration information in the 3WXM network plan to your WX switch. Purpose of this section: To describe how changes are made to 3WXM and deployed to your network.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Network Status 3WXM provides summary status on devices in the network at the Mobility Domain, switch or MAP level. View the summary status as the initial step in monitoring. Summary status displays the operational status of WX switches, MAPs, and their radios (whether they are up or down). In addition, 3WXM collects network statistics for devices, including system-level events and statistics for the wired network.
Management and Monitoring 45 RF neighborhood Transmitters (heard by this radio) Listeners (who heard this radio) Neighbors BSSID to SSID mapping Channel RSSI Statistics collected for the RF environment provides data on a per-channel basis. You can view noise levels, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and PHY errors, packet retransmissions and percent utilization. Data collected for the RF neighborhood displays the neighboring radios.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Rogue Detection A rogue AP is an access point that is not authorized to operate in or near your network. You can use RF countermeasures to deny service to or from a targeted rogue AP, and render them ineffective. Once a rogue AP is detected and reported, the closest 3Com MAP is assigned to perform RF countermeasures. By spoofing various 802.
Management and Monitoring Verification 47 Both configuration verification and network verification rules are checked for any inconsistencies or problems. Verification rules include “instant fix” resolutions. Instant fix resolutions are errors that can be automatically fixed, or alternatively providing a hot link to the object containing the error. You can selectively disable any rule. Disabling a rule is useful if you wish to ignore a warning and do not want to see it displayed anymore.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM Table 8 3WXM Reports (continued) RF Plan Optimization Report Description Client Errors Provides data on client-related health in the network over time; for example, if there is a large number of association failures in some area of the network. Watch List Clients Contains detailed information for the clients on the Watch List. Network Usage Provides information about network resource usage and client activity.
RF Plan Optimization 49 Based on RF measurement data you gather in 3WXM to optimize the RF model of a floor, you can make configuration changes in the software to improve signal strength and coverage for groups or individuals, modify MAP locations, or add additional equipment to your wireless network if statistics indicate your network has outgrown the support provided by its current deployment of WX switches and MAPs. You also can import RF measurement data based on a site survey done outside of 3WXM.
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM
3 What are Services? CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES A service is a concept (not a selectable item in the 3WXM interface) that represents a set of options you configure and deploy on your wireless network. Services are configured to provide various levels of wireless network access to users, such as secure employee access, guest access, multi-hosted access, or Voice over Wireless IP (VoWIP) access.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Configure Employee Access Services Services for Employee access are typically configured to provide secure, encrypted access to the wireless network. The following sections provide information about how to configure Employee access: “Task Table” on page 52 “Step Summary” on page 54 “Example: Configure Employee Access” on page 55 Table 9 on page 52 contains the tasks you need to perform to configure Employee access services.
Configure Employee Access Services 53 Table 9 Creating a Service for Employee Access (continued) Task Path Primary Parameters to Configure “Configure RADIUS Servers” on page 58 1 Tool bar option: select Configuration. From the Create RADIUS Server wizard: 2 Organizer panel: expand the WX switch. Name: enter server name IP Address: enter server IP address 4 Click RADIUS. Key: enter key 5 Select RADIUS Server in the Task List.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Table 9 Creating a Service for Employee Access (continued) Task Path “Create a 1 Tool bar option: select Service Profile Configuration. for 802.1X 2 Organizer panel: expand Access” on the WX switch. page 61 3 Expand Wireless.
Configure Employee Access Services 55 Configure each user record with either the VLAN-Name attribute or the RADIUS Tunnel-Private-Group-ID. Configure 802.1X authentication rules. 3 Configure the RADIUS server in 3WXM: From the Create RADIUS wizard, enter sg1 as the Name of the server, the server’s IP address, and the Key. Allow the wizard to create the server group and place the server in it for you. Click Finish. 4 Create a service profile for 802.1X service. From the 802.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES In general, these same steps are required to configure other services, too. You can refer back to this section, using the summary list or the task table, with configuration options for “Configure Guest Access Services” on page 69 or “Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service” on page 83. Create a Radio Profile You configure a radio profile to set attributes that you can apply to multiple radios.
Configure Employee Access Services 57 5 Enter the name of the radio profile, then click Next at the bottom of the wizard. 6 If MAPs are already configured, select the radios to map to the radio profile, then click Move. 3WXM removes the radios from the radio profile they are in and places them in the new profile. If you have not configured the MAPs in 3WXM yet, no radios are listed. You can map the radios to the radio profile later. 7 Click Finish to save the changes and close the wizard.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Configure RADIUS Servers Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) is a client-server security protocol that provides authentication, authorization, and accounting for network users and devices. A RADIUS server stores user profiles, which include usernames, passwords, and other user attributes.
Configure Employee Access Services 59 5 Type the name, IP address, and key, then click Next. 3WXM suggests the name of a server group to place the server in. The server group is required because AAA rules refer to server groups, not to individual servers. 6 Click Finish to save the server and create the server group. The new server and group appear in the Content panel.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Configure Attributes on the RADIUS Server To authenticate users, you will need to configure users either in the local database or on RADIUS servers. To configure services for Employee access, the following items should be configured on the RADIUS server. To configure the RADIUS server 1 Configure RADIUS server to perform 802.1X using the recommended EAP method PEAP + MSCHAPV2. 2 Setup each WX switch as a RADIUS client.
Configure Employee Access Services 61 Table 10 3Com VSAs (continued) Attribute Type Rcv in Sent in Sent in Access Access Acct Resp? Reqst? Reqst? End-Date 26, 43, 7 Yes No No Start-Date 26, 43, 7 Yes No No URL 26, 43, 8 Yes No No Description Date and time after which the user is no longer allowed to be on the network. Use the following format: YY/MM/DD-HH:MM Date and time at which the user becomes eligible to access the network.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 5 Click Next. 6 Change the service profile name to Secure-802.1X-Employees, and use Employees as the SSID, as shown in the figure on the next page. 7 Click Next. Select WPA and deselect Dynamic WEP.
Configure Employee Access Services 63 8 Click Next. TKIP is already selected. 9 Click Next. Leave External RADIUS Server selected as the EAP Type. 10 Select the RADIUS server group in the Available RADIUS Server Groups list and click Add. 11 Click Next. Type vlan-mkt in the VLAN Name box. 12 Click Next. Select RadioProfile1 in the Available Radio Profiles list and click Add. Select default in the Current Radio Profiles list and click Remove.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 13 Click Finish. The new service profile appears in the Content panel. View the Service Profile’s Access Rules Every service profile requires access rules. The access rules specify the usernames or MAC addresses that are allowed to access the SSID. The service profile wizards automatically create access rules that match on all usernames (or that match on all MAC addresses, for VoWIP services).
Configure Employee Access Services 65 To view an 802.1X service profile’s access rules 1 Select the service profile in the Wireless Service Profiles table (located in the Content panel). A Setup group appears in the Task List panel. 2 In the Task List panel, select 802.1X Access. The Configure 802.1X Access wizard appears. The wizard displays the encryption settings, access rules, and AAA settings for the service profile and allows you to change them.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES The 802.1X Service Profile wizards uses the ** userglob in the access rule. You can use this rule, modify it, or delete it and create a new one. You also can create additional rules. For syntax information, see the “Wireless Service Parameters” section in the “Configuring Wireless Parameters” chapter of the Wireless LAN Switch Manager Reference Manual.
Configure Employee Access Services 67 4 In the Task List panel, select VLAN. The Create VLAN wizard is displayed. 5 Enter vlan-mkt as the VLAN name and use the VLAN ID suggested by the wizard. 6 Click Next. Select the ports you want to use in the VLAN and click Add or Move. The Add button adds the ports to the new VLAN without removing them from any other VLANs. The Move button removes the ports from all other VLANs, and places them in the new VLAN. The ports appear in the Current Members list.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES What’s Next? After you create Employee services, you can create additional services. For information about configuring additional services, refer to: “Configure Guest Access Services” on page 69 “Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service” on page 83 After you have created additional services, you can create your RF environment, and deploy your configuration and enable monitoring.
Configure Guest Access Services Configure Guest Access Services 69 Guest access is access for visitors at your location and is typically clear (no encryption). This section contains the following information about how to configure Guest access services: “Task Table” on page 69 “Step Summary” on page 71 “Optional: Configure Mobility Profiles” on page 81 Table 11 contains the tasks you must perform to configure Guest access services.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Table 11 Creating a Service for Guest Access Task Path “Create a User 1 Tool bar option: select Group and Configuration. Guest Users” 2 Organizer panel: expand on page 72 the WX switch. 3 Expand AAA. Primary Parameters to Configure From the Create Named User wizard: Username: enter name Password: enter password Authorization attributes: configure the end-date, to specify when the account expires 4 Click Local User Database.
Configure Guest Access Services Step Summary 71 The following list summarizes the fields selected or configuration items entered configure Guest access. 1 Create a radio profile. From the Radio Profile wizard, enter RadioProfile1 as the Name of the radio profile. Click Finish. 2 Configure users in the local database: From the Create Named User wizard, enter guest1 as username and guest1pass as the password. Configure the end-date authorization attribute to specify when the account expires.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Choose the Ports or Distributed MAPs to which you’ll restrict guest users to certain geographic areas of your network. Click Finish. For detailed information about the steps, see the cross-references in the “Task Table” on page 69. New configuration items that were not part of the example “Configure Employee Access Services” on page 52 are included in the following sections.
Configure Guest Access Services 73 Leave the VLAN name unassigned. For Web Portal access, you specify the VLAN name when you configure the guest service profile. (See step 8 on page 77.) 6 Click Next. The wizard lists the authorization attributes you can configure for the user. A very useful authorization attribute for guest users is the end-date, which specifies the date and time when the user’s network access expires.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES To create a user group and add users to it 1 In the Task List panel, select User Group. 2 Type a name for the group in the name box and click Next. The wizard lists the authorization attributes you can configure for the group. For this example, leave the attributes unconfigured. If attributes are configured for a user and also for the group the user is in, the attributes assigned to the individual user take precedence for that user. 3 Click Next.
Configure Guest Access Services 4 Click Finish. The new group appears in the Content panel. Create a Service Profile for Guest Access with Web Login To create a Web-Portal service profile 1 Select Configuration on the toolbar. 2 In the Organizer panel, expand the WX switch. 3 Expand Wireless, then select Wireless Services. 4 In the Task List panel, select Web-Portal Service Profile. The Web-Portal Service Profile wizard is displayed.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 5 Click Next. 6 Change the service profile name to Web-Portal-Guests, and use the name Guests for the SSID.
Configure Guest Access Services 77 7 Select the SSID Type: Clear —Data is not encrypted Encrypted—Data is encrypted For this example, Clear is selected. 8 Click Next. Type or select the name of the VLAN you want to place your guests users in. For this example, use guest-vlan. Typing the VLAN name here does not actually configure the VLAN. To configure a VLAN, see “Set Up VLANs on WX Switches” on page 66. 9 Click Next.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 10 Click Next. Select the location of the user information and click Add: LOCAL—The switch’s local database RADIUS server group—group of external RADIUS servers (For a server group to be available in the wizard, the group must already be configured. See “Configure RADIUS Servers” on page 58.) For this example, LOCAL is selected.
Configure Guest Access Services 11 Click Next. The wizard shows the user names configured in the local database. The users created in “To create users” on page 72 are listed.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Also listed is a user named web-portal-ssid, where ssid is the Web-Portal SSID name. This user is automatically created. The switch uses the web-portal-ssid username for users while they are in the portal and are being authenticated. After a user is authenticated, the username of the session changes to the user’s login name. If you need to add users, you can do so from within the wizard by clicking Create. 12 Click Next.
Configure Guest Access Services 81 View the Service Profile’s Access Rules To view a Web-Portal service profile’s access rules 1 Select the service profile in the Wireless Service Profiles table (located in the Content panel). A Setup group appears in the Task List panel. 2 In the Task List panel, select Web Portal Access. The Configure 802.1X Access wizard appears. The wizard displays the encryption settings, access rules, and AAA settings for the service profile and allows you to change them.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 4 In the Task List panel, select Mobility Profile. The Create Mobility Profiles wizard appears. 5 In the Profile Name box, type the name of the Mobility Profile. The name can be up to 16 alphanumeric characters, and it cannot contain tabs. The Mobility Profile Name has to be defined as an authorization attribute in the defined users or user groups in the local database.
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 83 For information about deploying your configuration and enabling monitoring your network, refer to: Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service “Managing and Monitoring Your Network” on page 155. Voice over Wireless IP (VoWIP) is a new technology, merging VoIP (Voice over IP) with 802.11 wireless LANs to create a wireless telephone system.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Table 12 Creating a Service for VoWIP Access Task Path Primary Parameters to Configure “Create a Radio Profile” on page 56 1 Tool bar option: select Configuration. From the Create Radio Profile wizard: 2 Organizer panel: expand the WX switch. 3 Expand Wireless. Radio profile name: enter a name For SpectraLink, from the Radio Profile Properties dialog: 802.11 attributes: change DTIM to 3 4 Click Radio Profiles.
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service Step Summary 85 The following list summarizes the fields selected or configuration items entered in the example that follows to configure VoWIP access: 1 Create a radio profile. From the Radio Profile wizard, enter RadioProfileVoic as the Name of the radio profile. Click Finish. Select the radio profile and click Properties. Select the 802.11 Attributes and change the DTIM Period to 3. Click OK. 2 Create a Voice service profile.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Create a Radio Profile for Voice This procedure is similar to the procedure in “Create a Radio Profile” on page 56, but has additional steps to change the delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) interval to 3. To create a radio profile for voice service 1 Select Configuration on the toolbar. 2 In the Organizer panel, expand the WX switch. 3 Expand Wireless, then select Radio Profiles. 4 In the Task List panel, select Radio Profile.
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 87 The SpectraLink, Avaya, and Vocera options configure service for proprietary VoWIP solutions from these vendors. If you are configuring VoWIP for devices that use the Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) standard, or a proprietary solution other than one of the listed vendors’, use the Other option. Create a Service Profile for WMM VoWIP Devices 1 Select Configuration on the toolbar. 2 In the Organizer panel, expand the WX switch.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 9 Click Next. Select WPA and deselect Static WEP.
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 10 Click Next. Leave TKIP enabled and click Next. 11 Click Next. Type a passphrase from 8 to 63 characters long in the Pre-shared Key box and click Generate.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 12 Click Next. Type or select the name of the VLAN you want to place voice users in. For this example, use voice-vlan. Typing the VLAN name here does not actually configure the VLAN. To configure a VLAN, see “Set Up VLANs on WX Switches” on page 66. 13 Click Next. Select Enable WMM. 14 Click Next. Select RadioProfileVoic in the Radio Profiles list. 15 Click Finish. Create a Service Profile for SVP VoWIP Devices 1 Select Configuration on the toolbar.
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 91 7 Leave SpectraLink selected in the Vendor drop-down list. 8 Click Next. Select Open Access and deselect MAC Access. 9 Click Next. Select WPA and deselect Static WEP. 10 Click Next. Leave TKIP enabled and click Next. 11 Click Next. Type a passphrase from 8 to 63 characters long in the Pre-shared Key box and click Generate. 12 Click Next. Type or select the name of the VLAN you want to place SVP users in. For this example, use voice-vlan.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES Create a Service Profile for Avaya VoWIP Devices 1 Select Configuration on the toolbar. 2 In the Organizer panel, expand the WX switch. 3 Expand Wireless, then select Wireless Services. 4 In the Task List panel, select Voice Service Profile. The Voice Service Profile wizard is displayed. 5 Click Next. 6 Change the service profile name to Voice-Avaya, and use the name Avaya for the SSID. 7 Select Avaya in the Vendor drop-down list. 8 Click Next.
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 93 15 Click Next. Select RadioProfileVoic in the Radio Profiles list. 16 Click Finish. Create a Service Profile for Vocera VoWIP Devices 1 Select Configuration on the toolbar. 2 In the Organizer panel, expand the WX switch. 3 Expand Wireless, then select Wireless Services. 4 In the Task List panel, select Voice Service Profile. The Voice Service Profile wizard is displayed. 5 Click Next.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES 11 Click Next. Type or select the name of the VLAN you want to place SVP users in. For this example, use voice-vlan. Typing the VLAN name here does not actually configure the VLAN. To configure a VLAN, see “Set Up VLANs on WX Switches” on page 66. 12 Click Create to add MAC users to the switch’s local database. a In the User MAC Address box, type the MAC address for the user device, using colons (:) as delimiters. You must specify all 6 bytes of the MAC address.
What’s Next? 95 6 Click Next. Select the ports you want to use in the VLAN and click Add or Move. The Add button adds the ports to the new VLAN without removing them from any other VLANs. The Move button removes the ports from all other VLANs, and places them in the new VLAN. The ports appear in the Current Members list. To tag ports in the VLAN, select Tag and edit the tag value. (Tagging is required if you click Add, because the ports are then members of multiple VLANs.) 7 Click Next.
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES For information about deploying your configuration and enabling monitoring your network, refer to: “Managing and Monitoring Your Network” on page 155.
4 What Is RF Auto-Tuning? USING RF AUTO-TUNING RF Auto-Tuning is a technique you can use to configure your RF (radio) network. RF Auto-Tuning is a quick method that requires minimal configuration and no RF planning or site surveys, and instead, relies on the AutoTune feature to set MAP channels and power settings. This is a great way to quickly install a WX switch and MAPs, and observe how the network operates. The RF Auto-Tuning technique is best suited to networks containing fewer MAPs.
CHAPTER 4: USING RF AUTO-TUNING Place Your Equipment You will need to unpack and physically install your WX switches and MAPs. For information about installing your equipment, see “Equipment Installation” on page 42. Configure Initial WX Switch Connectivity After installing a WX switch, you must prepare it for configuration and management by 3WXM, by configuring IP connectivity between the WX and 3WXM. Use the Web Quick Start (if available), or enter the quickstart command at the CLI prompt.
Create a Service Profile 99 3WXM uses its verification rules to check the switch’s configuration. If an item in the configuration generates an error or warning, 3WXM displays the error or warning message. 7 Review the verification messages to determine whether you will need to make changes to the switch’s configuration after uploading it into 3WXM. 8 Click Next. 9 Click Finish. 10 If 3WXM displayed error or warning messages, select the Verification tool bar option.
CHAPTER 4: USING RF AUTO-TUNING A wizard for configuring the service profile appears. 6 Read the first page of the wizard and click Next. 7 Edit the service profile and type an SSID name. 8 Edit additional settings as applicable to the type of service profile you are creating.
Create Your MAPs Create Your MAPs 101 Depending on how your MAPs are connected to a WX switch, you need to create a direct connect MAP or a distributed MAP in your network plan in 3WXM. A direct connect MAP is connected to the wired network through a direct 10/100 Ethernet connection to a WX switch. A distributed MAP is connected to the WX switch indirectly through other Layer 2 or Layer 3 wired networking devices.
CHAPTER 4: USING RF AUTO-TUNING 8 Click Next. 9 Configure the radios: a To enable the radio, select Enabled. b In the Radio Profile list, select the profile to which the radio belongs. c In the Channel Number list, select the channel number for the radio. If RF Auto-Tuning for channel configuration is enabled, setting this value has no effect. The channel number is controlled by RF Auto-Tuning. d In the Transmit Power box, specify the transmit power for the radio.
Create Your MAPs 103 5 In the Fingerprint box, type the 16-digit hexadecimal number of the MAP’s encryption fingerprint. Use either of the following formats: 11:22:33:44:55:66:77:88:99:aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff:00 1122:3344:5566:7788:99aa:bbcc:ddee:ff00 A MAP’s fingerprint is the hash value of the MAP’s public encryption key. The fingerprint is displayed on a label on the back of the MAP, and is labeled RSA key.
CHAPTER 4: USING RF AUTO-TUNING Apply a Radio Profile to Each Radio When you create a MAP, a new radio (or radios, depending upon the type of MAP created) are added into 3WXM. The radios use the default radio profile in 3WXM unless you create a new radio profile and apply it to each radio on the MAP. For more information about creating a radio profile, see “Create a Radio Profile and Map the Service Profile to It” on page 100.
5 What Is RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling? USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING RF Auto-Tuning with modelling is a technique you can use to configure and implement your network that builds on the RF Auto-Tuning method. You will, as the name implies, still use RF Auto-Tuning (auto tuning) to adjust power and channel settings to provide RF signals to the coverage area for your users. You’ll then enhance the auto tuning feature by providing modelling information about your geographic location.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING Add Site Information By adding minimal information about your buildings and floors at your site, you support improved monitoring for your network. You can manually add building and floor information or you can import a floor. For information about importing a floor plan, see “Import a Floor Plan” on page 128. To add site information 1 Select the RF Planning tool bar option. 2 In the Organizer panel, click the name of the network plan.
Add Site Information 107 5 In the Starting Floor Level box, specify the floor number of the first floor in the building. To start with a subterranean floor, you can specify 0 or a negative floor number. 6 In the Skip Floor Levels box, specify floor numbers you want to skip. Skipping floors is useful when you want to model only certain floors in a building. To enter a list of floors, use commas to separate the floor numbers (example: 1,3,7). To enter a range, use a hyphen (example: 8-12).
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING Insert RF Obstacles Add major RF obstacles that will affect the placement of your MAPs, such as solid walls, barriers, or elevator shafts. To add RF obstacles 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click Tools. 3 In the RF Obstacle area under Layout, click one of the icons that most closely matches the RF obstacle you wish to place.
Insert RF Obstacles 109 A default attenuation factor is displayed for the object type, or, you can select an attenuation factor that you believe more closely matches the RF obstacle. 6 Click Finish. The RF obstacle is added to your floor layout.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING Create Your RF Coverage Area Create a Wiring Closet To create your RF coverage area, you create a wiring closet (mandatory if you have direct MAPs in your plan), designate an area for RF coverage, and add your distributed MAPs or direct MAPs to the coverage area. Distributed MAPs are indirectly attached through intermediate Layer 2 or Layer 3 devices. Direct MAPs are directly attached to dedicated WX switch ports.
Create Your RF Coverage Area Create Your RF Coverage Area 111 To create your RF coverage area 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click Tools. 3 In the Create area under Coverage Area, click one of the icons and draw the RF coverage area you want to add to the floor by clicking and dragging the mouse. The Create Coverage Area wizard appears. 4 Select one or more technologies you want to use in the coverage area and click Next.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING 5 In the Name box for each technology, type a name for the coverage area (1 to 60 characters long, with no tabs). 6 In the Rate [Mb/s] list for each technology, select the average desired association rate for typical clients in this coverage area. 7 For 802.11g, to prevent the association of 802.11b clients to any radio in this coverage area, select Exclude 802.11b clients. To allow 802.
Create Your RF Coverage Area 113 9 To change the ceiling height, specify the new height in the Height of the Ceiling box. 10 To change the height where MAPs are mounted, specify the new mounting height in the MAP Placement Height box. 11 Click Next. The Default Device Settings page appears.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING 12 To change the default WX switch model, select the model from the WX Model list. 13 To change the default MAP model, select the model from the Default AP Model list. 14 To change the MAP connection type, select the type from the AP Connection Type list: Direct—MAPs are directly attached to dedicated WX switch ports. Distributed—MAPs can be indirectly attached through intermediate Layer 2 or Layer 3 devices.
Create Your RF Coverage Area 115 17 To change the MAP connection type for the redundant connection, select Direct or Distributed from the MAP Connection Type list. 18 To change the number of redundant connections for the distributed connection type, type the number in the Redundancy Level box. For direct connections, the redundancy level is always 1. 19 Click Next. The Capacity Planning for Data page appears.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING 23 In the Station Oversubscription Ratio list, select the ratio for the average transmit behavior of the stations. The station oversubscription ratio is the ratio of active clients compared to total clients. For example, the ratio 5:1 indicates that, statistically, 20 percent of the clients are active at any given time. 24 Click Next. The Capacity Planning for Voice page appears.
Create Your RF Coverage Area 117 27 In the Active Handsets per AP list, specify the number of voice over IP phones that you want each MAP to handle. 28 In the Expected Handset Count list, specify the number of voice over IP phones you expect to be in the coverage area. 29 In the Handset Oversubscription Ratio list, select the ratio for the average transmit behavior of the voice over IP phones. The handset oversubscription ratio is the ratio of active handsets compared to total handsets.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING The profiles available depend on the Mobility Domain you selected in step 31. The profile you select applies to all radios associated with the coverage area. If you type the name of a radio profile that does not already exist, 3WXM creates it. 33 In the Wiring Closet list, select the wiring closet that contains the WX switch or switches to be connected to the shared MAPs. If the MAPs will be directly connected to WX switches, a wiring closet is required.
Create Your RF Coverage Area 119 5 Click the Associations tab to display area associations information for the coverage area. 6 In the Available Access Points box, select one or more available MAPs to use in the coverage area, then click Add to move the MAPs to the Current Access Points box. 7 Click OK to close the dialog box. 8 In the Organizer panel, click on Objects to Place. A list of the MAPs you created is displayed in the panel.
CHAPTER 5: USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING 9 Click on the MAP icon, then click on the location where you installed the MAP. The MAP icon moves from the Objects To Place panel to its location on the floor.
6 What is RF Planning? USING RF PLANNING RF Planning is a technique you can use to import detailed information about your site into 3WXM, add RF obstacle information and third-party APs, and configure your RF coverage area at a finer level than is possible using the RF Auto-Tuning with modelling technique. By defining sites, buildings, and floors, you provide 3WXM with the necessary information to modularly manage large networks based on geographical or organizational boundaries.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING Prepare the Floor Drawings If your floor drawings are contained in JPEG or GIF files, this step does not apply. Go directly to “Define Site Information” on page 123. If you plan to import AutoCAD DXF™ or AutoCAD DWG files into 3WXM, you should perform some “clean up” work before importing the files. Doing this work before you import the files into 3WXM creates a more compact file, requiring less storage space.
Define Site Information 123 After you import the file into 3WXM, you have the opportunity to remove any unnecessary objects overlooked during your initial preparation of the floor drawings. To do this, you can use the Clean Layout feature and other editing tools in the Building wizard. For more information about how to prepare the AutoCAD files for 3WXM, refer to the Wireless LAN Switch Manager Reference Manual.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 2 In the 3WXM Services Connection dialog box, enter the IP address of a host running 3WXM Services, optionally enter a user name and password, and click Next. If the 3WXM Service is installed on the same machine as the one you are using to run 3WXM, enter 127.0.0.1 as the IP address. This is a standard IP loopback address. 3 After a connection is established to the specified 3WXM Services host, select File > New Network Plan. The Create Network Plan wizard appears.
Define Site Information 125 To add site information 1 Select the RF Planning tool bar option. 2 In the Organizer panel, click the name of the network plan. 3 Select Create Site in the Task List panel. The Create Site wizard, a series of dialog boxes, prompts you for information about the new site. 4 In the Site Name box, type a name for the site (1 to 80 alphanumeric characters, with no spaces or tabs), and click Next.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING To create a building 1 In the Organizer panel, click the site name. 2 Select Create Building in the Task List panel. The Create Building wizard prompts you for information about the new building. 3 In the Building Name box, type the name of the building (1 to 30 alphanumeric characters, with no spaces or tabs), and click Next. 4 In the Number Of Floors box, specify how many floors the building has.
Define Site Information 127 To add a floor to the building 1 In the Organizer panel, click the building name. 2 Select Create Floor in the Task List panel. The Create Floor wizard prompts you for information about the new floor. 3 In the Floor Name box, type the name of the floor (1 to 60 alphanumeric characters, with no spaces or tabs), and click Next. 4 To change the default attenuation for radios, type the number of dB in the 802.11a (dB) box or 802.11b/g (dB) box.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING Import a Floor Plan Import existing floor plans into 3WXM. The file can be in one of the AutoCAD DXF, AutoCAD DWG, JPEG, or GIF formats. 3Com recommends that you modify the AutoCAD files from AutoCAD to remove unnecessary objects and layers; then save them in .dxf format. For more information about how to modify AutoCAD files, see “Prepare the Floor Drawings” on page 122.
Define Site Information Set the Scale 129 Set the scale on your floor plan to better define the distance between objects in your network. To set the scale 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 Click on the toolbar. a Draw a line on the floor plan over an object whose length you know; for example, a 3-foot door. b Enter the actual length of the object in the pop-up box. c Click OK. You may want to zoom in the object to be used to define the scale to make this task easier.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING Clean Layout Clean up your floor drawings further if unnecessary objects still remain after you your initial floor drawing cleanup. Note the following when cleaning up a drawing: Drawing cleanup does not apply to GIF or JPEG drawings. Drawing cleanup does not change objects that are grouped. If two objects that would normally be cleaned (such as two parallel lines close together) exist on different layers, then neither object is removed.
Define Site Information 3 Click Next. Cleanup progress is displayed at the bottom of the wizard. 4 You can display a Before Cleanup and After Cleanup view when cleanup is complete.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 5 When you are satisfied with the results, click Finish.
Model RF Obstacles Model RF Obstacles 133 When planning a 3Com network, you need to consider how the building layout and physical objects affect signal loss. Walls, windows, and doors absorb RF signals, and different building materials have different attenuation factors. You can model an RF obstacle on your floor plan and assign the obstacle type and attenuation factor, or you can assign an obstacle type and attenuation factor to objects in a DWG or DXF drawing.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 3 Select Create RF Obstacles from the menu that is displayed. The Create RF Obstacle dialog box appears. 4 Define the RF obstacle. 5 Click Finish. The layer’s objects are now obstacles in your floor plan. Import a Site Survey You can import RF measurement data by means of a site survey done outside of 3WXM. Using the Site Survey Order report from 3WXM, a map is created of your site that can be used in an Ekahau site survey.
Plan RF Coverage Plan RF Coverage 135 How you plan the RF coverage for your network depends on whether you are planning for the widest coverage or are planning for capacity. There are other contributing factors. One group of users may be mobile and require high throughput performance (a higher bandwidth), while another group of users are more stationary and require less throughput. Select the RF Coverage tab in the Create Building wizard to define your coverage area.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 5 In the Name box, type the name of the wiring closet (1 to 60 characters, with no tabs). 6 Click a WX switch in the Available Devices box, then click the Add button to move it to the Current Devices box. 7 Click Finish to save the changes. The wiring closet is displayed on your floor plan. Create Coverage Areas The RF coverage area is the geographical area in your network you define RF coverage.
Plan RF Coverage 137 When you draw a coverage area, it aligns to the grid to provide a whole number for width and height of the shape. To create a coverage area 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click Tools. 3 In the Create area under Coverage Area, click one of the icons and draw the RF coverage area you want to add to the floor by clicking and dragging the mouse. The Create Coverage Area wizard appears.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 5 In the Name box for each technology, type a name for the coverage area (1 to 60 characters long, with no tabs). 6 In the Rate [Mb/s] list for each technology, select the average desired association rate for typical clients in this coverage area. 7 For 802.11g, to prevent the association of 802.11b clients to any radio in this coverage area, select Exclude 802.11b clients. To allow 802.11b clients to associate to radios in the coverage area, clear Exclude 802.11b clients.
Plan RF Coverage 139 9 To change the ceiling height, specify the new height in the Height of the Ceiling box. 10 To change the height where MAPs are mounted, specify the new mounting height in the MAP Placement Height box. 11 Click Next. The Default Device Settings page appears.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 12 To change the default WX switch model, select the model from the WX Model list. 13 To change the default MAP model, select the model from the Default AP Model list. 14 To change the MAP connection type, select the type from the AP Connection Type list: Direct—MAPs are directly attached to dedicated WX switch ports. Distributed—MAPs can be indirectly attached through intermediate Layer 2 or Layer 3 devices.
Plan RF Coverage 141 17 To change the MAP connection type for the redundant connection, select Direct or Distributed from the MAP Connection Type list. 18 To change the number of redundant connections for the distributed connection type, type the number in the Redundancy Level box. 19 For direct connections, the redundancy level is always 1. 20 Click Next. The Capacity Planning for Data page appears.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 24 In the Station Oversubscription Ratio list, select the ratio for the average transmit behavior of the stations. The station oversubscription ratio is the ratio of active clients compared to total clients. For example, the ratio 5:1 indicates that, statistically, 20 percent of the clients are active at any given time. 25 Click Next. The Capacity Planning for Voice page appears.
Plan RF Coverage 143 28 In the Active Handsets per AP list, specify the number of voice over IP phones that you want each MAP to handle. 29 In the Expected Handset Count list, specify the number of voice over IP phones you expect to be in the coverage area. 30 In the Handset Oversubscription Ratio list, select the ratio for the average transmit behavior of the voice over IP phones. The handset oversubscription ratio is the ratio of active handsets compared to total handsets.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 34 In the Wiring Closet list, select the wiring closet that contains the WX switch or switches to be connected to the shared MAPs. If the MAPs will be directly connected to WX switches, a wiring closet is required. If all the MAPs in the coverage area will be indirectly connected to WX switches through the network, a wiring closet is not required. 35 In the Redundant Wiring Closet list, select the wiring closet that will provide redundant connection to the MAPs.
Plan RF Coverage 145 To determine the number and placement of MAPs 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click RF Planning. 3 Under RF Planning, click Compute and Place. The Compute and Place wizard appears. 4 To remove a coverage area from MAP placement and computation, clear the area’s Compute Layout box.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 7 Review the number of MAPs required for each coverage area, and the overriding criterion used (coverage or capacity). 8 Click Finish to apply the changes. Icons for the suggested MAP locations appear on the floor plan. Assign Channel Settings After identifying the MAPs required for a coverage area, you need to assign channels to the MAPs. Appropriate assignment of channels across the floor minimizes co-channel interference.
Plan RF Coverage 147 To assign channels 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click RF Planning. 3 Under RF Planning, click Assign Channels. The Channel Assignment wizard appears, showing the current channel assignment constraints. 4 To change the starting floor for channel assignment, select the floor from the Begin On Floor List. By default, 3WXM starts at the top floor and works down.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 9 Review the results. The 802.11a channel assignments are listed on the 802.11a Radio(s) tab. The 802.11b/g channel assignments are listed on the 802.11b/g Radio(s) tab. 10 Click Finish to accept the channel assignments. The new channel assignments are reflected in the Coverage Areas panel. Calculate Optimal Power The Compute and Place procedure is performed using the maximum allowed power for the selected channel set in the defined regulatory domain.
Plan RF Coverage 149 To calculate optimal power 1 In the Task List panel, click RF Planning. 2 Under RF Planning, click Compute Optimal Power. The Compute Power For wizard appears, showing a list of the areas you defined and the corresponding technology. 3 To optimize the AP count, select Optimize AP Count. This option checks for coverage overlaps and removes an MAP if neighboring MAPs provide enough coverage to make the MAP unnecessary.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING Display Coverage Looking at the RF coverage allows you to see if the entire area is adequately covered by the MAPs. You can move the MAPs and see how the coverage changes. To display the RF coverage for an area 1 Beside Show RF Coverage Using, select how you want to display the coverage: Baseline Association Rate—Coverage is shown based on the MAP radio baseline association rate.
Generate a Work Order 151 If the coverage area provided by a MAP on the floor above or below is one meter or less, 3WXM displays a message. This coverage area is not displayed on the floor plan. Generate a Work Order You can generate a work order as part of your wireless network planning. The work order provides all of the necessary information for the physical installation of the 3Com Mobility System.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING 4 Specify the work order options. 5 In the Language list, select English or German. The language you select is the language used when you next access this page. 6 To select the directory to which the work order report is saved, click Choose. The Select dialog box appears. 7 Click Generate. The work order is saved in the directory you specified in the format WO_scope_name_date.
Install the Equipment Install the Equipment 153 After you print the work order from 3WXM, you can distribute it to your installers. The work order shows where to install the 3Com equipment. If you have specified third-party APs in the network plan, those will be considered in the work order, too. For more information about installing the equipment, see “Equipment Installation” on page 42. What’s Next? A 3WXM network plan can support both RF Auto-Tuning and RF Planning techniques at the same time.
CHAPTER 6: USING RF PLANNING
7 MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK This chapter provides information to help you deploy the services you configured for your wireless network, enable communication between a 3WXM client and 3WXM Services, and enable and configure monitoring.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK 3 Select one or more WX switches. To select multiple switches, press Shift (for contiguous switches) or Control (for noncontiguous switches) while clicking. 4 In the Local Changes group in the Task List panel, click Deploy. The Deploy Configurations dialog box appears. The dialog lists the switches that have configuration changes. 5 Select the switches to which you want to deploy the changes.
Perform Basic Administrative Tasks 157 To verify your deployment 1 Leave the Devices tool bar option selected. 2 Look in the Deploy Status column for the switch(es) to which you deployed configuration information. The status should be Deploy Completed. You also can verify successful deployment by checking the operation log. To access the log: 1 Select the Devices tool bar option. 2 At the bottom of the Task List panel, select Device Operations. 3 In the Task List panel, select View Operation Log.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK SSH—By default, SSH is enabled. You can use SSH for encrypted access to the CLI. SNMP—By default, SNMP is disabled. You can configure SNMP community strings and User Security Model (USM) users, notification profiles, and notification targets. Logging—The system log provides event information for monitoring and troubleshooting.
Distributing System Images Distributing System Images Using the Image Repository 159 You can use 3WXM to upgrade or downgrade the system image (MSS software) on WX switches. System images include switch software and MAP software. Use the image repository to add or delete WX system images. The image file is checked and its version is verified when added to the image repository. Images are stored in the 3Com_installation_directory\images\dp directory.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK To immediately install an image on WX switches 1 Select the Devices tool bar option. 2 At the bottom of the Task List panel, select Device Operations. 3 In the Managed Devices list, select the WX switches onto which you want to install the image. To select more than one WX, click Shift while clicking to select contiguous items, or click Ctrl while clicking to select noncontiguous items. 4 In the Task List panel, select Image Install.
Importing and Exporting Switch Configuration Files 161 If you need to roll back configuration changes, you can use a saved version to roll back the system software image and configuration files to a known state. Before you can save a version of a network plan, you need to deploy and save the network plan. Versions of network plans are saved in the db/xml/versions directory in the 3WXM installation directory.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK If you import a switch configuration, you must enable 3WXM management of the switch before you can deploy the switch to the network. (To enable 3WXM management of a switch, select the switch in the Organizer panel, select Managed, then click Save.) To import a configuration 1 In the main 3WXM window, select File > Import. The Import Configurations dialog box appears.
Monitoring Examples 163 4 To overwrite previously exported configuration files, select Overwrite Existing Files. If you do not select this option, you cannot export a configuration file with the same name as an existing file in the output directory. You can rename the existing file or move the file to another directory. 5 To have 3WXM create a backup copy of a previous configuration file, select Copy Files Before Overwriting.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK 4 View statistics over a period of time. Placing the user on the watch list allows 3WXM to gather long-term statistics. Find the User You can find a user or multiple users based on the following criteria: Username MAC address IP address VLAN name To find the user 1 Click on the Monitor option in the main 3WXM tool bar. 2 Select the Client Monitor view. 3 Click on the Client Monitor view’s toolbar. The Find Clients dialog box appears.
Monitoring Examples 165 4 Enter the type of search you want to perform, and select the scope for the search. 5 Click Next. The search results appear. Place User on Watch List If viewing the user’s current activity does not conclusively indicate the source of the problem, you can place the user on a watch list. Statistics polled for a watch list are gathered over time—up to 30 days. In this way, a pattern of events or statistics may be revealed, indicating the cause of the problem.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK You can also add a user to the watch list by clicking the Client Sessions tab in the Client Monitor view, selecting the client, and clicking the icon on the toolbar. Locate the User You can display the user’s approximate location by doing the following: 1 Click on the Monitor option in the main 3WXM tool bar. 2 Select the Client Monitor view. 3 Click on the Client Sessions tab. 4 Select the user; then click on the toolbar.
Monitoring Examples 167 Display User Activity You can display the event types displayed for the user. Disassociation events can occur, and users dropped from the network. These events can indicate the reason why access is barred or performance slow for the user. For example, typical authorization failures occur if the local database or RADIUS server fails to recognize a user. To display user activity 1 Click on the Monitor option in the main 3WXM tool bar. 2 Select the Client Monitor view.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK Using this data, you can determine whether the user’s problem is interference due to low bandwidth (Unicast Bytes in). 3 Select the Trend: Session Stats tab to display Operational Rate, SNR, and RSSI statistics. Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) statistics can help you determine whether the interference is being created by too much noise on a channel.
Monitoring Examples 169 A high number of Transmit Timeouts for either the Current MAP or Lifetime of the user can indicate interference problems. 5 Select the Location History tab to view where the user has been roaming. These statistics indicate whether interference problems are occurring in specific areas of the WLAN.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK 4 Select the RF Environment tab. Statistics are displayed. High values for Noise can indicate a problem. Also, view the Utilization statistics. If utilization is very high, this could prevent new users from gaining access to the WLAN. To view trends 1 Click on the Monitor option in the main 3WXM tool bar. 2 Select the RF Trends view. 3 Expand the Equipment list in the Organizer panel, and select a radio. You can view trends for a WX switch or a MAP.
Monitoring Examples Monitor a Rogue 171 MAP radios automatically scan the RF spectrum for other devices transmitting in the same spectrum. The RF scans discover other 3Com radios, as well as third-party, non-3Com transmitters. MSS considers the non-3Com transmitters to be potential rogues, and places them on a rogue list. A rogue access point is an access point that is not authorized to operate in your network.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK To locate a rogue 1 Click on the Rogue Detection option in the main 3WXM tool bar. The current rogue list is displayed. 2 View statistics on a single rogue. Select a rogue from the Filtered List, then select the Activity Log tab. The number of listeners (other MAPs) that detected the rogue are displayed. The larger the number of listeners detecting the rogue, the easier it is for 3WXM to locate the rogue in the RF coverage area.
Monitoring Examples 173 Configuring Countermeasures You can enable MSS to use countermeasures against rogues. Countermeasures consist of packets that interfere with a client’s ability to use the rogue. Countermeasures are disabled by default. When you enable them, all devices of interest that are not in the known devices list become viable targets for countermeasures. Countermeasures are enabled on an individual radio profile basis.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK 4 Select Radio Profiles. 5 In the Task List panel, click on Create Radio Profile. The Create Radio Profile wizard appears. 6 In the Name box, type the name of the radio profile (1 to 16 characters, with no spaces or tabs), and click Next. The Radio Profile Members page appears.
Monitoring Examples 175 7 Select the MAP radios on which you want to enable countermeasures from the Available Members column, and click Move to move the radios to the Current Members column. 8 Click Next. The Radio Profile Service Selection page appears. 9 To map the radio profile to a service profile, select the service profile in the Available Service Profiles list and click Add. 10 Click Finish. The new radio profile appears in the Radio Profiles table in the Content panel.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK 12 To enable countermeasures against rogues detected by radios managed by this profile, select one of the following from the Countermeasures Mode pull-down list: None—Radios do not use countermeasures. This is the default. All—Radios use countermeasures against devices classified by MSS as rogues and against devices classified by MSS as interfering devices. A rogue is a device that is in the 3Com network but does not belong there.
Monitoring Examples 177 13 To disable active scanning for rogue devices, deselect Enable Active Scan. When active scan is enabled, radios send probe any requests (probe requests with a null SSID name), to solicit probe responses from other access points. Radios also passively scan by listening for beacons and probe responses. When active scan is disabled, radios perform passive scanning only. 14 Click Finish to save the changes and close the wizard.
CHAPTER 7: MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK
8 OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN Optimizing your network is a post-deployment technique. You can optimize your WLAN by importing RF measurement data to correct RF attenuation obstacle information in your network plan. You optimize your network plan because: You have a reported coverage problem in your network You want to verify your network RF coverage The RF measurement data you use to optimize your network plan can originate from: MAPs in your network.
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN The following sections describe how to import RF measurements from your network, or how to import RF measurements from an Ekahau site survey. Using RF Measurements from MAPs You can apply the RF measurements derived from the MAPs in your WLAN (which regularly monitors the RF environment) to your network plan. The RF measurements are taken from MAP radios. After you apply the RF measurements, the floor’s RF model (obstacles) will be optimized with this data.
Using RF Measurements from an Ekahau Site Survey Using RF Measurements from an Ekahau Site Survey 181 RF measurements come from a site survey file generated by the Ekahau Site Survey tool. To perform a site survey: In 3WXM—View your RF coverage area. In 3WXM—Generate a site survey work order, specifying the area you want to survey. A JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) file is generated. Import the generated JPEG file into the Ekahau Site Survey tool. Set the scale of the drawing.
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN Generating an Ekahau Site Survey Work Order The site survey order contains the locations and MAC addresses of the MAPs for use when conducting a site survey, and also provides a JPEG image of the floor. To generate a site survey order 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click RF Planning. 3 Under Site Survey, click Report. The Site Survey Order Generation dialog is displayed.
Using RF Measurements from an Ekahau Site Survey 183 4 Select the scope for which you want generate a site survey order. You can specify the Network Plan, an individual site, an individual building, or an individual floor. 5 Select the language: English or German 6 To change the output directory for the report, click on the button next to output directory, navigate to the new directory, and click Select. 7 Click Generate. 8 When the report is generated, click View.
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN 10 Browse to the output directory and locate the JPEG file. Copy this file and import it into your Ekahau Site Survey tool. Proceed with your site survey.
Using RF Measurements from an Ekahau Site Survey Importing RF Measurements from the Ekahau Site Survey 185 After you complete the site survey, you import the csv file containing the RF measurements from the Ekahau Site Survey tool into your network plan. After you import your RF measurements, you optimize to correct attenuation for obstacles on the floor. To import RF measurements 1 Display the floor plan in the Content panel. 2 In the Task List panel, click RF Planning.
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN 8 Click Next. The import progress is displayed. When the import is done, check the Total valid RF measurements found line in the progress messages. If the number is greater than 0, 3WXM successfully imported measurements. If the number is 0, no measurements were imported. Try the import again. If you are using a site survey file, verify that the map name is correct.
Optimizing the RF Coverage Model 187 After you import your RF measurements, you correct the attenuation factors for the floor. Go to “Optimizing the RF Coverage Model” next for information about this topic. Optimizing the RF Coverage Model An attenuation library is a set of attenuation values for the RF obstacles on a floor.
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN The Total number of RF measurements that did not intersect any object line lists the number of measurements that did not experience attenuation due to an RF obstacle in the path between them. If the measurements came from a site survey file, they are measurements between the deployed MAPs and the Ekahau Site Survey tool performing the survey. If the measurements came from MAP radios in the network, they are measurements between MAP radios.
Locating and Fixing Coverage Holes Locating and Fixing Coverage Holes Displaying the RF Coverage Area 189 After you import RF measurements and rebuild the attenuation library, you can look for coverage holes by displaying coverage. To locate coverage holes: Display the optimized RF coverage area to view the results of the corrected attenuation data. Lock down deployed MAPs in the coverage area (so that 3WXM will not move MAPs in your network plan during the compute and place process).
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN 6 On the toolbar, click the radio type (A, B, or G) for which you want to display coverage. Coverage for the selected scope(s) is displayed. This example shows 802.11a coverage, by transmit data rate, for the coverage area CoverA. Locking Down MAPs To prevent 3WXM from moving a MAP on your network plan that you do not want to be redistributed, lock the MAP down. To lock down a MAP 1 Display the RF coverage area.
Locating and Fixing Coverage Holes Fixing a Coverage Hole 191 After you import RF measurements, rebuild the attenuation library, and display coverage, you can observe any wireless coverage holes in the network. To fix a coverage hole, use either of the following methods: Lock the MAPs in place, and use the Compute and Place task to recompute the number of MAPs needed and their recommended placement. If this results in new MAPs being added, install the new MAPs.
CHAPTER 8: OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN 8 In the Organizer panel, click on Objects to Place. A list of the MAPs you created is displayed in the panel. 9 Click on the MAP icon, then click on the location where you installed the MAP. The MAP icon moves from the Objects To Place panel to its location on the floor. What’s Next? You can create a backup copy of your updated network plan, and distribute the 3WXM configuration to other WX switches.
A OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3COM PRODUCTS 3Com offers product registration, case management, and repair services through eSupport.3com.com. You must have a user name and password to access these services, which are described in this appendix. Register Your Product to Gain Service Benefits To take advantage of warranty and other service benefits, you must first register your product at: http://eSupport.3com.
APPENDIX A: OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3COM PRODUCTS Purchase Extended Warranty and Professional Services To enhance response times or extend your warranty benefits, you can purchase value-added services such as 24x7 telephone technical support, software upgrades, onsite assistance, or advanced hardware replacement. Experienced engineers are available to manage your installation with minimal disruption to your network.
Contact Us Telephone Technical Support and Repair 195 To obtain telephone support as part of your warranty and other service benefits, you must first register your product at: http://eSupport.3com.
APPENDIX A: OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3COM PRODUCTS Country Telephone Number Country Telephone Number Pakistan Call the U.S. direct by dialing 00 800 01001, then dialing 800 763 6780 Sri Lanka Call the U.S. direct by dialing 02 430 430, then dialing 800 763 6780 Vietnam Call the U.S. direct by dialing 1 201 0288, then dialing 800 763 6780 You can also obtain non-urgent support in this region at this email address apr_technical_support@3com.
Contact Us Country Telephone Number Country Telephone Number US and Canada — Telephone Technical Support and Repair All locations: 197 Network Jacks; Wired or Wireless Network Interface Cards: 1 847-262-0070 All other 3Com products: 1 800 876 3266
APPENDIX A: OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3COM PRODUCTS
INDEX Numbers 3Com Knowledgebase tool 193 3Com Professional Services 194 3Com resources, directory 195 3WXM software requirements 14 3WXM client 16 connecting to 3WXM monitoring service 20 hardware requirements 13 installing 17, 18 installing, resource allocation 16 installing, standalone mode 16 software requirements 14 3WXM GUI overview 23 3WXM monitoring service configuring 21 hardware requirements 14 installing 17, 18 installing, resource allocation 16 installing, shared mode 16 software requirements 1
INDEX event logging 46 exporting configurations 161 Express services contract 194 extended warranty options 194 F fixing coverage holes 191 G Guardian services contract 194 H hardware requirements for installation 13, 14 HP OpenView 15 HTTPS, enabling 158 I image files distributing 159 image repository adding image 159 deleting image 159 using 159 importing floor plans 128 importing configurations 161 installation integrating HP OpenView 15 software requirements 14 using the wizard 19 installing 1
INDEX monitoring, status 44 monitoring, verification 47 planning, methods to use 33 planning, RF Auto-Tuning 32 planning, RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling 32 planning, RF planning 33 O obtaining technical support 194 online problem solving 193 optimal power 148 optimizing displaying RF coverage areas 189 generating Ekahau Site Survey work order 182 importing RF measurements 185 locking down MAPs 190 overview of 48 replanning your network 191 RF coverage model 187 RF measurements, from Ekahau Site Survey 181
INDEX sending products to 3Com for repair 195 server hardware allocation 16 service benefits 193, 195 service profiles configuring 61 configuring, RF Auto-Tuning 99 purpose of 36 services configuring employee access example 55 configuring, guest access 69 configuring, VoWIP 83 configuring, wireless services 35 definition of concept 51 process 29 services, repair 194 shared mode 16 site surveys importing 134 sites adding 106 defining 123 software requirements for installation 14 software upgrades contr
INDEX work orders generating 151 WX software images 159 WX switches available models 41 configuring management services 157 configuring, basic properties 41 configuring, boot information 42 configuring, connection information 42 configuring, VLANs on 66 deploying configurations 155 installing, equipment 42 uploading configuration 98 203
INDEX
