Load balancing can evenly distribute AP traffic loads to ensure sufficient bandwidth for each STA. When a STA joins the network, the AC adds the APs that report the STA to a load balancing group, and then uses a load balancing algorithm to determine whether to allow access from the STA.
Dynamic load balancing applies to high-density wireless environments, such as stadiums and stations.
Static load balancing supports a limited number of group members, and all members must be manually added to the group and work on the same frequency band. Dynamic load balancing overcomes these limitations and better ensures bandwidth for each STA.
For details about common WLAN configuration notes, see General Precautions for WLAN. For more deployment and configuration suggestions, see Wireless Network Deployment and Configuration Suggestions.
AP load balancing is not recommended.
After AP load balancing is configured, APs in the load balancing group forward received Probe packets to the AC. The AC then determines the APs from which STAs can access the WLAN. Too many Probe packets may degrade AC performance. Therefore, it is recommended that the AP load balancing function be disabled, unless otherwise required.
From V200R011C10, WLAN configurations are automatically delivered, without the need of running the commit all command.
In this example, the security policy is WPA2-PSK-AES. To ensure network security, choose an appropriate security policy according to your network configurations.
In tunnel forwarding mode, the management VLAN and service VLAN cannot be the same. If you set the forwarding mode to direct forwarding, you are not advised to configure the management VLAN and service VLAN to be the same.
In direct forwarding mode, configure port isolation on the interface directly connected to APs. If port isolation is not configured, many broadcast packets will be transmitted in the VLANs or WLAN users on different APs can directly communicate at Layer 2.
As shown in Figure 1, the AC connects to the upper-layer network and manages the APs through the access and aggregation switches.
When a large number of STAs access the Internet through the same AP, the AP is heavily loaded, degrading user experience. The enterprise requires that data traffic be balanced on AP radios to prevent one AP radio from being heavily loaded.
Item |
Data |
---|---|
DHCP server |
The AC functions as a DHCP server to assign IP addresses to APs and STAs. |
IP address pool for the APs |
10.23.100.2-10.23.100.254/24 |
IP address pool for STAs |
10.23.101.2-10.23.101.254/24 |
IP address of the AC's source interface |
VLANIF 100: 10.23.100.1/24 |
AP group |
|
Regulatory domain profile |
|
SSID profile |
|
Security profile |
|
VAP profile |
|
5G radio profile |
|
2G radio profile |
|
RRM profile |
|
During AP deployment, you can manually specify the working channels of the APs according to network planning or configure the radio calibration function to enable the APs to automatically select the optimal channels. This example configures the radio calibration function.
# Add GE0/0/1, GE0/0/2, and GE0/0/3 on SwitchA to VLAN 100 (management VLAN).
<HUAWEI> system-view [HUAWEI] sysname SwitchA [SwitchA] vlan batch 100 [SwitchA] interface gigabitethernet 0/0/1 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] port link-type trunk [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] port trunk pvid vlan 100 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] stp edged-port enable [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] port-isolate enable [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/1] quit [SwitchA] interface gigabitethernet 0/0/2 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/2] port link-type trunk [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/2] port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/2] undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/2] quit [SwitchA] interface gigabitethernet 0/0/3 [SwitchA-gigabitethernet0/0/3] port link-type trunk [SwitchA-gigabitethernet0/0/3] port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/3] undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/3] stp edged-port enable [SwitchA-GigabitEthernet0/0/3] port-isolate enable [SwitchA-gigabitethernet0/0/3] quit
# Add GE1/0/1 that connects the AC to SwitchA to VLAN 100.
[HUAWEI] sysname AC [AC] vlan batch 100 [AC] interface gigabitethernet 1/0/1 [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/1] port link-type trunk [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/1] port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/1] undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/1] quit
# Configure VLANIF 101 (service VLAN) and VLANIF 102.
[AC] vlan batch 101 102 [AC] interface vlanif 101 [AC-Vlanif101] ip address 10.23.101.1 24 [AC-Vlanif101] quit [AC] interface vlanif 102 [AC-Vlanif102] ip address 10.23.102.2 24 [AC-Vlanif102] quit
# Configure a default route on the AC.
[AC] ip route-static 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.23.102.1 //Configure a default route destined for Router.
# Add GE1/0/2 that connects the AC to the Router to VLAN 102.
[AC] interface gigabitethernet 1/0/2 [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/2] port link-type trunk [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/2] port trunk allow-pass vlan 102 [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/2] undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 [AC-GigabitEthernet1/0/2] quit
# Configure the AC to assign an IP address to the AP from an interface IP address pool.
[AC] dhcp enable
[AC] interface vlanif 100
[AC-Vlanif100] ip address 10.23.100.1 24
[AC-Vlanif100] dhcp select interface //Configure an interface-based address pool.
[AC-Vlanif100] quit
# Configure the AC as the DHCP relay agent and enable user entry detection on the AC.
[AC] interface vlanif 101 [AC-Vlanif101] dhcp select relay //Configure the DHCP relay function. [AC-Vlanif101] dhcp relay server-ip 10.23.102.1 //Set the DHCP server address for DHCP relay to 10.23.102.1, which resides on Router. [AC-Vlanif101] quit
# Configure the Router as a DHCP server to assign IP addresses to STAs.
<Huawei> system-view [Huawei] sysname Router [Router] dhcp enable [Router] ip pool sta //Configure the address pool to assign IP addresses to STAs. [Router-ip-pool-sta] gateway-list 10.23.101.1 [Router-ip-pool-sta] network 10.23.101.0 mask 24 [Router-ip-pool-sta] quit [Router] vlan batch 102 [Router] interface vlanif 102 [Router-Vlanif102] ip address 10.23.102.1 24 [Router-Vlanif102] dhcp select global //Configure a global address pool. [Router-Vlanif102] quit [Router] interface gigabitethernet 2/0/0 [Router-GigabitEthernet2/0/0] port link-type trunk [Router-GigabitEthernet2/0/0] port trunk allow-pass vlan 102 [Router-GigabitEthernet2/0/0] undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 [Router-GigabitEthernet2/0/0] quit [Router] ip route-static 10.23.101.0 24 10.23.102.2 //Configure a route on the Router destined for the network segment 10.23.101.0/24.
# Create an AP group.
[AC] wlan [AC-wlan-view] ap-group name ap-group1 [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] quit
# Create a regulatory domain profile, configure the AC country code in the profile, and apply the profile to the AP group.
[AC-wlan-view] regulatory-domain-profile name domain1 [AC-wlan-regulate-domain-domain1] country-code cn [AC-wlan-regulate-domain-domain1] quit [AC-wlan-view] ap-group name ap-group1 [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] regulatory-domain-profile domain1 Warning: Modifying the country code will clear channel, power and antenna gain configurations of the radio and reset the AP. Continue?[Y/N]:y [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] quit [AC-wlan-view] quit
# Configure the AC's source interface.
[AC] capwap source interface vlanif 100
The default AP authentication mode is MAC address authentication. If the default settings are retained, you do not need to run the ap auth-mode mac-auth command.
Each AP used in this example has two radios: radio 0 (2.4 GHz radio) and radio 1 (5 GHz radio).
[AC] wlan [AC-wlan-view] ap auth-mode mac-auth [AC-wlan-view] ap-id 0 ap-mac 60de-4476-e360 [AC-wlan-ap-0] ap-name area_1 [AC-wlan-ap-0] ap-group ap-group1 Warning: This operation may cause AP reset. If the country code changes, it will clear channel, power and antenna gain configuration s of the radio, Whether to continue? [Y/N]:y [AC-wlan-ap-0] quit [AC-wlan-view] ap-id 1 ap-mac dcd2-fc04-b500 [AC-wlan-ap-1] ap-name area_2 [AC-wlan-ap-1] ap-group ap-group1 Warning: This operation may cause AP reset. If the country code changes, it will clear channel, power and antenna gain configuration s of the radio, Whether to continue? [Y/N]:y [AC-wlan-ap-1] quit
# Power on the AP and run the display ap all command to check the AP state. If the State field is displayed as nor, the AP has gone online.
[AC-wlan-view] display ap all Total AP information: nor : normal [2] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ID MAC Name Group IP Type State STA Uptime --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0 60de-4476-e360 area_1 ap-group1 10.23.101.253 AP5030DN nor 0 5M:2S 1 dcd2-fc04-b500 area_2 ap-group1 10.23.101.254 AP5030DN nor 0 5M:4S --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total: 2
In this example, the security policy is set to WPA2+PSK+AES and password to a1234567. In actual situations, the security policy must be configured according to service requirements.
[AC-wlan-view] security-profile name wlan-security
[AC-wlan-sec-prof-wlan-security] security wpa2 psk pass-phrase a1234567 aes //Configure security policy WPA2+PSK+AES.
[AC-wlan-sec-prof-wlan-security] quit
# Create SSID profile wlan-ssid and set the SSID name to wlan-net.
[AC-wlan-view] ssid-profile name wlan-ssid
[AC-wlan-ssid-prof-wlan-ssid] ssid wlan-net //Set the SSID to wlan-net.
[AC-wlan-ssid-prof-wlan-ssid] quit
# Create VAP profile wlan-vap, set the data forwarding mode and service VLAN, and apply the security profile and SSID profile to the VAP profile.
[AC-wlan-view] vap-profile name wlan-vap [AC-wlan-vap-prof-wlan-vap] forward-mode tunnel //Set the service forwarding mode to tunnel. [AC-wlan-vap-prof-wlan-vap] service-vlan vlan-id 101 //Set the VLAN ID to 101. By default, the VLAN ID is 1. [AC-wlan-vap-prof-wlan-vap] security-profile wlan-security [AC-wlan-vap-prof-wlan-vap] ssid-profile wlan-ssid [AC-wlan-vap-prof-wlan-vap] quit
# Bind VAP profile wlan-vap to the AP group and apply the profile to radio 0 and radio 1 of the AP.
[AC-wlan-view] ap-group name ap-group1 [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] vap-profile wlan-vap wlan 1 radio 0 [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] vap-profile wlan-vap wlan 1 radio 1 [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] quit
# Create the RRM profile loadbalance-dynamic and enable dynamic load balancing in the RRM profile loadbalance-dynamic and set the start threshold for dynamic load balancing to 15 and load difference threshold to 25%.
[AC-wlan-view] rrm-profile name loadbalance-dynamic [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic enable [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic start-threshold 15 [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic gap-threshold 25 [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] quit
From V200R011C00 to V200R019C00, the device supports dynamic load balancing based on channel usage. Configure dynamic load balancing based on the number of users as follows:
[AC-wlan-view] rrm-profile name loadbalance-dynamic [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic enable //In V200R013C00 and later versions, the format is changed to undo sta-load-balance dynamic disable. [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance mode sta-number //Configure dynamic load balancing based on the number of users. [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic sta-number start-threshold 15 [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic sta-number gap-threshold 25 //The command changes to sta-load-balance dynamic sta-number gap-threshold percentage 25 in V200R011C10 and later versions. [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] quit
In V200R019C10 and later versions, the device does not support dynamic load balancing based on channel usage. Configure dynamic load balancing based on the number of users as follows:
[AC-wlan-view] rrm-profile name loadbalance-dynamic [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] undo sta-load-balance dynamic disable [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic sta-number start-threshold 15 [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] sta-load-balance dynamic sta-number gap-threshold percentage 25 [AC-wlan-rrm-prof-loadbalance-dynamic] quit
# Create the 2G radio profile radio2g and bind the RRM profile loadbalance-dynamic to the 2G radio profile.
[AC-wlan-view] radio-2g-profile name radio2g [AC-wlan-radio-2g-prof-radio2g] rrm-profile loadbalance-dynamic [AC-wlan-radio-2g-prof-radio2g] quit
# Create the 5G radio profile radio5g and bind the RRM profile loadbalance-dynamic to the 5G radio profile.
[AC-wlan-view] radio-5g-profile name radio5g [AC-wlan-radio-5g-prof-radio5g] rrm-profile loadbalance-dynamic [AC-wlan-radio-5g-prof-radio5g] quit
# Bind the 5G radio profile radio5g and 2G radio profile radio2g to the AP group ap-group1.
[AC-wlan-view] ap-group name ap-group1 [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] radio-5g-profile radio5g [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] radio-2g-profile radio2g [AC-wlan-ap-group-ap-group1] quit
[AC-wlan-view] commit all Warning: Committing configuration may cause service interruption, continue?[Y/N]:y
Connect STAs to the WLAN with SSID wlan-net and enter the password a1234567. Run the display station ssid wlan-net command on the AC. The command output shows that the STAs are connected to the WLAN wlan-net.
[AC-wlan-view] display station ssid wlan-net Rf/WLAN: Radio ID/WLAN ID Rx/Tx: link receive rate/link transmit rate(Mbps) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STA MAC AP ID Ap name Rf/WLAN Band Type Rx/Tx RSSI VLAN IP address ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- e019-1dc7-1e08 0 area_1 0/1 2.4G 11n 65/38 -29 101 10.23.101.253 b878-2eb4-2689 1 area_2 0/1 2.4G 11n 78/43 -33 101 10.23.101.254 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total: 2 2.4G: 2 5G: 0
Run the display rrm-profile name loadbalance-dynamic command on the AC to check the dynamic load balancing configuration.
[AC-wlan-view] display rrm-profile name loadbalance-dynamic ------------------------------------------------------------ ... Station load balance : enable Station load balance start threshold : 15 Station load balance gap threshold(%) : 25 ... ------------------------------------------------------------
(Applicable to versions V200R009 to V200R012) Run the display station load-balance sta-mac e019-1dc7-1e08 command on the AC to check AP radios participating in dynamic load balancing.
[AC-wlan-view] display station load-balance sta-mac e019-1dc7-1e08 Station load balance status: balance ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AP name Radio ID ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ area_1 1 area_1 0 area_2 1 area_2 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total: 4
(Applicable to V200R013 and later versions) Run the display station neighbor sta-mac e019-1dc7-1e08 command on the AC to check AP radios participating in dynamic load balancing.
[AC-wlan-view] display station neighbor sta-mac e019-1dc7-1e08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Device MAC Device ID Device Name Radio ID Probe info(RSSI/HH:MM:SS) 11k info[RCPI/RSNI/HH:MM:SS] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1047-80ab-c9a0 5 AP5 1 -48/16:28:24 205/45/16:28:24 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total neighbors: 1, total records: 1
SwitchA configuration file
# sysname SwitchA # vlan batch 100 # interface gigabitethernet0/0/1 port link-type trunk port trunk pvid vlan 100 undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 stp edged-port enable port-isolate enable group 1 # interface gigabitethernet0/0/2 port link-type trunk undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 # interface gigabitethernet0/0/3 port link-type trunk port trunk pvid vlan 100 undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 stp edged-port enable port-isolate enable group 1 # return
Router configuration file
# sysname Router # vlan batch 102 # dhcp enable # ip pool sta gateway-list 10.23.101.1 network 10.23.101.0 mask 255.255.255.0 # interface Vlanif102 ip address 10.23.102.1 255.255.255.0 dhcp select global # interface GigabitEthernet2/0/0 port link-type trunk undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 port trunk allow-pass vlan 102 # ip route-static 10.23.101.0 255.255.255.0 10.23.102.2 # return
AC configuration file
# sysname AC # vlan batch 100 to 102 # dhcp enable # interface Vlanif100 ip address 10.23.100.1 255.255.255.0 dhcp select interface # interface Vlanif101 ip address 10.23.101.1 255.255.255.0 dhcp select relay dhcp relay server-ip 10.23.102.1 # interface Vlanif102 ip address 10.23.102.2 255.255.255.0 # interface GigabitEthernet1/0/1 port link-type trunk undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 port trunk allow-pass vlan 100 # interface GigabitEthernet1/0/2 port link-type trunk undo port trunk allow-pass vlan 1 port trunk allow-pass vlan 102 # ip route-static 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.23.102.1 # capwap source interface vlanif100 # wlan security-profile name wlan-security security wpa2 psk pass-phrase %^%#m"tz0f>~7.[`^6RWdzwCy16hJj/Mc!,}s`X*B]}A%^%# aes ssid-profile name wlan-ssid ssid wlan-net vap-profile name wlan-vap forward-mode tunnel service-vlan vlan-id 101 ssid-profile wlan-ssid security-profile wlan-security regulatory-domain-profile name domain1 rrm-profile name loadbalance-dynamic sta-load-balance dynamic enable sta-load-balance dynamic start-threshold 15 sta-load-balance dynamic gap-threshold 25 radio-2g-profile name radio2g rrm-profile loadbalance-dynamic radio-5g-profile name radio5g rrm-profile loadbalance-dynamic ap-group name ap-group1 regulatory-domain-profile domain1 radio 0 radio-2g-profile radio2g radio-5g-profile radio5g vap-profile wlan-vap wlan 1 radio 1 radio-5g-profile radio5g vap-profile wlan-vap wlan 1 ap-id 0 type-id 19 ap-mac 60de-4476-e360 ap-sn 210235554710CB000042 ap-name area_1 ap-group ap-group1 ap-id 1 type-id 21 ap-mac dcd2-fc04-b500 ap-sn 210235554710CB000078 ap-name area_2 ap-group ap-group1 # return