Owners manual
Aruba Instant 6.4.0.2-4.1 | User Guide Adaptive Radio Management | 233
Chapter 16
Adaptive Radio Management
This chapter provides the following information:
l ARM Overview on page 233
l Configuring ARM Features on an IAP on page 234
l Configuring Radio Settings for an IAP on page 239
ARM Overview
Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) is a radio frequency management technology that optimizes WLAN
performance even in the networks with highest traffic by dynamically and intelligently choosing the best 802.11
channel and transmitting power for each IAP in its current RF environment. ARM works with all standard clients,
across all operating systems, while remaining in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standards. It does not require any
proprietary client software to achieve its performance goals. ARM ensures low-latency roaming, consistently high
performance, and maximum client compatibility in a multi-channel environment. By ensuring the fair distribution of
available Wi-Fi bandwidth to mobile devices, ARM ensures that data, voice, and video applications have sufficient
network resources at all times. ARM allows mixed 802.11a, b, g, n, and ac client types to inter operate at the highest
performance levels.
Channel or Power Assignment
The channel or power assignment feature automatically assigns channel and power settings for all the IAPs in the
network according to changes in the RF environment. This feature automates many setup tasks during network
installation and the ongoing operations when RF conditions change.
Voice Aware Scanning
The Voice Aware scanning feature prevents an IAP supporting an active voice call from scanning for other channels
in the RF spectrum and allows an IAP to resume scanning when there are no active voice calls. This significantly
improves the voice quality when a call is in progress and simultaneously delivers the automated RF management
functions. By default, this feature is enabled.
Load Aware Scanning
The Load Aware Scanning feature dynamically adjusts scanning behavior to maintain uninterrupted data transfer on
resource intensive systems when the network traffic exceeds a predefined threshold. The IAPs resume complete
monitoring scans when the traffic drops to the normal levels. By default, this feature is enabled.
Monitoring the Network with ARM
When ARM is enabled, anIAP dynamically scans all 802.11 channels within its 802.11 regulatory domain at regular
intervals and sends reports to a Virtual Controller on network (WLAN) coverage, interference, and intrusion
detection.
ARM Metrics
ARM computes coverage and interference metrics for each valid channel and chooses the best performing channel
and transmit power settings for each IAP RF environment. Each IAP gathers other metrics on its ARM-assigned
channel to provide a snapshot of the current RF health state.