Profile Overrides - Advanced Client Load Balancing

About this task

Advanced device settings sets or overrides a profile‘s MiNT and/or NAS configurations.

MINT secures controller profile communications at the transport layer. Using MINT, a device can be configured to only communicate with other authorized (MINT enabled) devices. access point managed devices can communicate with each other exclusively over a MINT security domain. Keys can also be generated externally using any application (like openssl). These keys must be present on the managed device managing the domain for key signing to be integrated with the UI. A MAP device that needs to communicate with another first negotiates a security context with that device. The security context contains the transient keys used for encryption and authentication. A secure network requires users to know about certificates and PKI. However, administrators do not need to define security parameters for access points to be adopted (secure WISPe being an exception, but that isn‘t a commonly used feature). Also, users can replace any device on the network or move devices around and they continue to work. Default security parameters for MiNT are such that these scenarios continue to function as expected, with minimal user intervention required only when a new network is deployed.

The profile database on the RADIUS server consists of user profiles for each connected NAS (Network Access Server) port. Each profile is matched to a username representing a physical port. When users are authorized, it queries the user profile database using a username representative of the physical NAS port making the connection.

To set or override the client load balancing configuration at the device level:

Procedure

Go to Configuration → Devices → Device Overrides.

The Device Overrides screen displays. This screen lists devices within the managed network.
Select an access point.

The selected access point's configuration menu displays.
Expand Profile Overrides → Advanced.

The Client Load Balancing screen displays by default.

Porifle Overrides - Advanced - Client Load Balancing Configuration Screen
Use the Group ID field to define a group ID of up to 32 characters.
Use the SBC strategy drop-down menu to determine how band steering is conducted.

Options include Prefer 5GHz, Prefer 2.4 GHz and distribute-by-ratio. The default value is Prefer 5GHz.

Set the following Neighbor Selection Strategies:


Using Probes from common clients	Select this option to select neighbors (peer devices) using probes from common clients. This option is enabled by default.
Using Notifications from roamed clients	Select this option to select neighbors (peer devices) using roam notifications from roamed clients. This option is enabled by default.
Using smart-rf neighbor detection	Select this option to select neighbors (peer devices) using the Smart RF neighbor detection algorithm. This option is enabled by default.

Enable Balance Band Loads by Ratio, in the Band Load Balancing field, to distribute an access point's client traffic load across both the 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands.

Configure the following Channel Load Balancing settings:


Balance 2.4 GHz Channel Loads	Select this option to balance the access point‘s 2.4GHz radio load across the channels supported in the country of deployment. This can prevent congestion on the 2.4GHz radio if a channel is overutilized.
Balance 5 GHz Channel Loads	Select this option to balance the access point‘s 5GHz radio load across the channels supported in the country of deployment. This can prevent congestion on the 5GHz radio if a channel is overutilized.

Enable Balance AP Loads, in the AP Load Balancing field, to distribute client traffic evenly among neighbor access points.

AP loads are balanced by assigning a ratio to both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. Balancing radio load by band ratio allows an administrator to assign a greater weight to radio traffic on either the 2.4 or 5 GHz band.

Set the following Advanced parameters:


Max. 2.4 GHz Difference Considered Equal	Set a value (between 0 - 100) considered an adequate discrepancy when comparing 2.4 GHz load between APs load and load on this access point. The default setting is 1%. Thus, using a default setting of 1% means 1% is considered inconsequential when comparing load balances between access points.
Min. Value to Trigger 2.4 Ghz Channel Balancing	Define a threshold (between 1 - 100) the access point uses (when exceeded) to initiate access point load balancing in the 2.4GHz radio band. Set this value higher when wishing to keep radio traffic within the current access point. The default is 70%.
Weightage given to Client Count	Assign a weight (between 0 - 100) the access point uses to prioritize 2.4 and 5 GHz radio client count in the overall 2.4 and 5GHZ radio load calculation. Increase this value if this access point is intended to support numerous clients and their throughput is interpreted as secondary to maintaining client association. The default setting is 90%.
Weightage given to Throughput	Assign a weight (between 0 - 100) the access point uses to prioritize 2.4 and 5 GHz radio throughput in the overall access point load calculation. Increase this value if throughput and radio performance are considered mission critical within the access point managed network. The default setting is 10%.
Max. 5 GHz Difference Considered Equal	Set a value (between 0 - 100) considered an adequate discrepancy when comparing 5 GHz load between APs load and load on this access point. The default setting is 1%. Thus, using a default setting of 1% means 1% is considered inconsequential when comparing load balances between access points.
Min. Value to Trigger 5 Ghz Channel Balancing	Define a threshold (between 1 - 100) the access point uses (when exceeded) to initiate access point load balancing in the 5GHz radio band. Set this value higher when wishing to keep radio traffic within the current access point. The default is 70%
Weightage given to Client Count	Assign a weight (between 0 - 100) the access point uses to prioritize 2.4 and 5 GHz radio client count in the overall 2.4 and 5GHZ radio load calculation. Increase this value if this access point is intended to support numerous clients and their throughput is interpreted as secondary to maintaining client association. The default setting is 90%.
Weightage given to Throughput	Assign a weight (between 0 - 100) the access point uses to prioritize 2.4 and 5 GHz radio throughput in the overall access point load calculation. Assign this value higher if throughput and radio performance are considered mission critical within the access point managed network. The default setting is 10%.

Define the following AP Load Balancing settings:


Min. Value to Trigger Load Balancing	Set the access point radio threshold value (from 0 - 100%) used to initiate load balancing across other access point radios. When this radio load exceeds the defined threshold, load balancing is initiated. The default is 70%.
Max. AP Load Difference Considered Equal	Set a value (between 0 - 100) considered an adequate discrepancy when comparing access point radio load balances. The default setting is 1%. Thus, using a default setting of 1% means 1% is considered inconsequential when comparing access point radio load balances.
Weightage given to Client Count	Assign a weight (between 0 - 100) the access point uses to prioritize 2.4 and 5 GHz radio client count in the overall 2.4 and 5GHZ radio load calculation. Increase this value if this access point is intended to support numerous clients and their throughput is interpreted as secondary to maintaining client association. The default setting is 90%.
Weightage given to Throughout	Assign a weight (between 0 - 100) the access point uses to prioritize throughput in the access point load calculation. Increase this value if throughput and radio performance are considered mission critical within the access point managed network. The default setting is 10%.

Set the following Band Control values:


Max. Band Load Difference Considered Equal	Set a value (between 0 - 100) considered an adequate discrepancy when comparing 2.4 and 5GHz radio band load balances on this access point. The default setting is 10%. Thus, using a default setting of 1% means 1% is considered inconsequential when comparing 2.4 and 5 GHz load balances on this access point.
Band Ratio (2.4 GHz)	Set a loading ratio (between 0 - 10) the access point 2.4 GHz radio uses in respect to radio traffic load on the 2.4 GHz band. This allows an administrator to weight client traffic load if wishing to prioritize client traffic load on the 2.4 GHz radio band. The higher this value is set, the greater the weight assigned to radio traffic load on the 2.4 GHz radio band. The default setting is 1.
Band Ratio (5 GHz)	Set a loading ratio (between 0 - 10) the access point 5 GHz radio uses in respect to radio traffic load on the 5 GHz band. This allows an administrator to weight client traffic load if wishing to prioritize client traffic load on the 5 GHz radio band. The higher this value is set, the greater the weight assigned to radio traffic load on the 5 GHz radio band. The default setting is 1.
5 GHz load at which both bands enabled	Set a load percentage (between 0 - 100) that enables the other band (2.4 GHz) to share load with the current band.
2.4 GHz load at which both bands enabled	Set a load percentage (between 0 - 100) that enables the other band (5 GHz) to share load with the current band.

Define the following Neighbor Selection settings:


Minimal signal strength for common clients	Set the minimum signal strength require to learn about neighbors from clients that are common with the neighbor access point.
Minimum number of clients seen	Set the minimum number of common clients seen before the neighbor is learned.
Max confirmed neighbors	Set the maximum number of learned neighbors stored at this device.
Minimum signal strength for smart-rf neighbors	Set the minimum signal strength of neighbor devices that are learned through Smart RF before being recognized as neighbors.

Click OK to save the changes made to the profile‘s advanced client load balance configuration

Click Reset to revert to the last saved configuration.