Networks and Wireless LAN

1. Design

WLAN design refers to the ability to translate network requirements into a high-performing and reliable network for your organization. To meet or exceed the demands of business-critical applications, WLAN must be carefully designed rather than simply installed. Whether you are establishing a greenfield or brownfield network, the design phase is the first step in the lifecycle of your WLAN network.

We will gather the requirements for your design by working closely with the project stakeholders. This includes considering aspects such as the layout of the location, building materials, network equipment, the devices that will be connected to the network, the application, and sometimes even aesthetics. As some of this information may not always be readily available, we may need to make educated estimates based on the provided information.

Once the requirements have been agreed upon by the project stakeholders, we can proceed with the predictive design. This involves using modeling software to import your floor plan and define the environment. Within the software, we can simulate walls and other obstacles, input coverage/capacity requirements, and determine the optimal placement of your access points (APs).

However, it is important to remember the principle of "garbage in, garbage out." The quality of your design will be directly influenced by the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. That's why it is crucial for us to obtain as much relevant information as possible. With our extensive experience from numerous installations, we are well-equipped to design your WLAN network effectively.

If you know that you need to accommodate 100 HD video streaming laptops but do not mention this requirement, there is a high probability that your network will not be able to meet the demand.

2. Validate

WLAN design, like any design, is an iterative process, therefore once we've finished your predictive design, we must validate it. An AP on a Stick (APoS) survey is the most prevalent method of design validation. By staging APs at previously identified locations, you can check factors like AP placements, channel use, capacity, coverage, RF in the environment, and so on to ensure that your design performs as expected. You can also ensure that variables such as changes to wall materials or other unknown sources of interference are recognized to ensure your design fulfills your network requirements.

Validating your design is essential for a smooth network implementation. Before running the final cabling and installing the APs, stage the APs and any external antennas to expose any potential fine-tuning required for your plan. The validation step of the WLAN lifecycle is the "measure twice, cut once" phase that helps you avoid costly redesign, rewiring, and reinstallation after the APs have been deployed.  

The validation step of the WLAN lifecycle also includes post-deployment validation, which occurs after the network equipment has been properly installed and configured. Late-stage validation allows for an extra examination of the site to confirm that the design meets the essential requirements and provides the best level of performance for network users. 

3. Optimize

WLAN optimization is the continual monitoring and maintenance required for a high-performing, dependable wireless network. For many networks, the optimization phase lasts the longest because the network is constantly tweaked to account for changes in usage levels and the number of client devices, as well as changes in the physical environment such as fluctuating inventory levels in warehouses or changes in office space layouts.

WLAN optimizations might be proactive in order to account for known changes or reactive in response to user-reported difficulties. An RF survey of your network on a regular basis will provide the important data required to make smart WLAN modifications, and the process of executing regular health check surveys, analyzing issues, and implementing fixes will give you a high-performing network that will last. That is, until you receive a requirement modification that you can no longer support with your current design, at which point you simply outgrow it or relocate.

4. Troubleshoot

Often, you are unaware of a network problem or WLAN outage until help desk tickets begin to arrive. When troubleshooting your network, time is of the essence, and every second matters. Troubleshooting can be a stressful aspect of the WLAN lifecycle, but with the correct tools, we can apply a solution and return to the optimization phase.

A spectrum analyzer is essential for troubleshooting. It monitors and measures the strength (power/energy) of both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi traffic in your network. This allows you to identify potential interferers such as wireless cameras, cordless phones, and other wireless devices rapidly. Furthermore, a spectrum analyzer can display the measured traffic channel, allowing you to optimize your network channels for best performance while avoiding interference.

5. Design (Once again?)

Sometimes network requirements change, resulting in poor network performance, or corporate expansion exceeds the capacity of your network. This results in a new network architecture or upgrade. But there is good news! The steps are the same: collect your requirements, design, validate, and optimize your network!