Configuring Band Steering

Pre-configuration Tasks

The band steering function enables an AP to steer STAs to the 5 GHz radio first, which reduces traffic load and interference on the 2.4 GHz radio and improves user experience.

Before configuring band steering, complete the following tasks:

Perform the task of WLAN Service Configuration Guide.
Use APs that support both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands and configure the same SSID and security policy on the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz radios.

Background

To allow a STA to preferentially associate with the 5 GHz radio and achieve a better access effect, configure larger power for the 5 GHz radio than the 2.4 GHz radio.

Single-radio devices do not support the band steering function.

In WDS and Mesh scenarios, scanning services are not supported. Functions dependent on neighboring scanning, such as load balancing, smart roaming, and band steering, cannot be used.

APs of different R software versions cannot establish CAPWAP links with each other. To ensure service experience of users in load balancing, smart roaming, and band steering, it is recommended that APs of the same version be used. If APs of different versions need to be deployed on the same network, do not deploy APs of different versions as neighbors to each other.

Procedure

Run system-view
The system view is displayed.
Run wlan
The WLAN view is displayed.
Run vap-profile name profile-name
A VAP profile is created and the VAP profile view is displayed.
Run undo band-steer disable
The band steering function is enabled.

By default, the band steering function is enabled.
Run quit
Return to the WLAN view.
(Optional) Configure band steering parameters.
1. Run the rrm-profile name profile-name command to create an RRM profile and enter the RRM profile view.
2. Run the band-steer balance start-threshold start-threshold command to set the start threshold for load balancing between radios.
  By default, the start threshold for the number of STAs that preferentially access the 5 GHz radio during band steering is 100.
3. Run the band-steer balance gap-threshold gap-threshold command to set the load difference threshold for load balancing between radios.
  By default, the percentage threshold for access STAs on the 5 GHz radio is 90%.
4. Run the band-steer snr-threshold snr-threshold command to configure a start SNR threshold for triggering 5G-prior access.
  The default start SNR threshold for triggering 5G-prior access is 20 dB.
5. Run the band-steer deny-threshold deny-threshold command to set the maximum number of times an AP rejects association requests of a STA for band steering.
  By default, the maximum number of rejections is 0.
6. Run the band-steer client-band-expire probe-counters command to set the aging condition for terminal band information.
  By default, band information of a terminal will be aged out under conditions that an AP has consecutively received Probe frames of the terminal more than 35 times from the same frequency band.
Run quit
Return to the WLAN view.
Bind the RRM profile to a radio profile.
Only the band steering parameters configured in the 2G radio profile take effect in the system.
1. Run the radio-2g-profile name profile-name or radio-5g-profile name profile-name command to enter the 2G or 5G radio profile view.
2. Run the rrm-profile profile-name command to bind the RRM profile to the 2G radio profile. Binding the RRM profile to the 5G radio profile does not take effect.
3. Run the quit command to return to the WLAN view.
Bind the radio profile and VAP profile to an AP group or a specific AP. See Binding a Radio Profile for the detailed procedure of binding a radio profile and Binding VAP Profiles for the detailed procedure of binding a VAP profile.

Verifying the Configuration

Run the display vap-profile name profile-name command to check the status of the band steering function.
Run the display rrm-profile name profile-name command to check settings of band steering parameters.
Run the display radio-2g-profile name profile-name command to check the RRM profile referenced by a 2G radio profile.
Run the display radio-5g-profile name profile-name command to check the RRM profile referenced by a 5G radio profile.