ruckus

Optimize Ruckus Configuration - Part 2

Daniel Kuchenski

• 1 min read

A couple years ago I posted how to Optimize Ruckus Configuration, and since then I've been continually tweaking so that my dense, multi-story WiFi environment performs well with Windows, Mac OSX, and mobile devices. Here are my current optimizations:

Note: This is based on Ruckus ZoneDirector 10.0.1.0 build 44

System Wide:

  • Channel Optimization: Optimize for Performance. This enables all the 5GHz channels, which is especially useful in a dense environment.
  • Self-Healing: Automatically adjust 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz channels using Background scanning (I found ChannelFly too busy)
  • Background Scanning: Run a background scan every 3600 seconds. The default is too short, causing unnecessary channel changes.

AP Specific:

  • Radio B/G/N(2.4G): Only allows channels 1, 6, 11
  • Radio A/N/AC(5G) Indoor: Depending on the environment, I may allow all, or disable certain DFS channels or Apple TV peer-to-peer channel (149).
  • Channelization 2.4GHz: 20
  • Channelization 5.0GHz: 40 (80 just uses too many channels in a dense environment)
  • I also disable the 2.4GHz radio on approximately every other AP, since AP placement is built for 5GHz coverage. This helps with 2.4GHz channel contention.
  • Turn down TX power for 2.4GHz radios, and potentially 5GHz radios depending on placement.

WLAN Specific:

  • If wireless clients do not need to communicate directly with each other (less common with everything "cloud"), enable Wireless client isolation.
  • We want Band Balancing, so uncheck "Do not perform Band Balancing on this WLAN service"
  • Enable OFDM Only (Disable legacy 802.11b only clients)
  • BSS Min Rate: 24.00mbps (Encourages roaming to closer AP)
  • Enable 802.11k

With these changes, I have little complaints from users, and wireless "just works". Of course, Apple clients (particulary OSX) are the most difficult, but most of their problems can be solved by turning their WiFi off/on, or sometimes resetting PRAM.