Network Planning

Contents
7 Network Planning
7.1 Overview
7.2 Obtaining Software, Planning Tools, and Reference Documents
7.3 Learning Materials for WLAN Planning
7.4 Precautions
7.5 FAQs and Configuration Suggestions

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7 Network Planning
Overview
Obtaining Software, Planning Tools, and Reference Documents
Learning Materials for WLAN Planning
Precautions
FAQs and Configuration Suggestions
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7.1 Overview
Before starting service deployment for a WLAN project, use WLAN network planning
tools to plan for the network. Lack of proper network planning may cause the following
problems:
• Coverage holes exist in the WLAN network. STAs cannot receive radio signals in
the coverage holes and therefore cannot connect to the network.
• WLAN devices provide strong signal coverage but severely interfere with each other.
As a result, STAs can receive radio signals but fail to connect to the WLAN network
or encounter severe packet loss. This results in a poor user experience.
• The WLAN network is unstable, which severely affects network services.
To ensure normal operations of the WLAN network, you must follow instructions in
this section to plan for AP locations and configuration data of the entire network.
Huawei offers comprehensive network planning tools. You can use these tools to
conduct site survey and network planning by following the instruction videos. First
install a single AP to check whether the network performance is consistent with the
network plan you have made.
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7.2 Obtaining Software, Planning Tools,

and Reference Documents
WLAN product software, planning tools, and manuals are available at
http://support.huawei.com/enterprise.

describes functions of WLAN planning tools offered by Huawei, as well as

Table 1
where to obtain the tools and reference documents.

Table 1 WLAN planning tools

How to Obtain Tools

Tool Function
and Manuals

It is used to plan for a WLAN network and

provides the following functions:
• Manages network planning projects.
• Automatically deploys APs in specified
Log in to Huawei
locations. enterprise technical
WLAN
support website and
Planner • Shows field strengths and signal-to-noise ratios
search for WLAN
(SNRs) on various heat maps. Planner.
• Plans for cabling and switch locations.
• Plans for outdoor bridge locations.
• Exports planning reports.

It is a WLAN site survey tool installed on a tablet

terminal and provides the following functions:
• Manages network planning projects.
• Measures signal attenuation caused by
Log in to Huawei
WLAN obstacles. enterprise technical
Survey Pad support website and
• Detects interference sources.
search for wlan_survey.
• Marks AP locations.
• Exports network planning reports
• Works with the WLAN Planner.

It is used to verify the effect of network planning Log in to Huawei

and provides the following functions: enterprise technical
• Allows one-click WLAN testing.
support website and
WLAN search for WLAN
• Manages network acceptance projects.
Tester Tester. To obtain the
• Supports single-point testing and roaming hotspot acceptance tool,
testing. search for
• Exports test reports. WLAN_Tester2.0.
Table 1 WLAN planning tools

How to Obtain Tools

Tool Function
and Manuals

When deploying a wireless distribution system

(WDS), you can adjust positions of antennas
according to the received signal strength indicator
Log in to Huawei
(RSSI) values of the local AP (VAP to which your
Antenna enterprise technical
mobile phone is connected) and remote AP
alignment support website and
displayed on the app. The app shows the real-time
app search for
antenna alignment status. When the antennas are
antenna_alignment.
aligned, the antenna alignment progress bar turns
green. The antenna alignment app is easy to operate
and reduces antenna alignment time.

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7.3 Learning Materials for WLAN

Planning
Table 1 describes learning materials for WLAN planning.

Table 1 Learning materials for WLAN planning

Document Content

The following learning materials are available for enterprise users:

• WLAN Overview
• WLAN Planning and Optimization Overview
• Clarifying Customer Requirements
• Standards(Optional)
• Site Survey
• WLAN Data Planning
• WLAN Architecture Design
WLAN Training
• Indoor Distributed WLAN Planning
• Indoor WLAN Design Guide
• WLAN Outdoor Coverage
• WLAN Roaming Planning
• WLAN Network Planning in Typical Scenarios
• WLAN WDS Mesh Planning
• WLAN Network Design Overview
• WLAN Design for Small-and Medium-scale Enterprises
Table 1 Learning materials for WLAN planning

Document Content

• WLAN Design for Large-scale Enterprises

• Practical Planning Scheme
• Writing Guide on WLAN Planning and Design Scheme (Optional)
• WLAN Optimization Overview
• WLAN Interference Optimization
• WLAN Coverage Optimization
• Introduction to WLAN Tester
• WLAN Optimization in Different Industries(Optional)

The following materials are available for channel users:

• WLAN WDS&Mesh Network Planning Guide
Huawei Scenario-based
Network Planning Guide • WLAN Indoor Settled Network Planning Guide
• WLAN Indoor Distributed Network Planning Guide
• WLAN Outdoor Network Planning Guide

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7.4 Precautions
Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

Office area
(low AP3010DN/ AP4030DN/
- 20-30
concurrency AP5010DN AP4130DN
rate)

Office area 30-40

(high (Compared
Scenario Mobile AP6010DN AP4030TN AP6050DN
concurrency 1 Mbit/s with an
1 office rate) 802.11ac Wa
1 product, a
802.11ac Wa
AP7050DE/ 2 product
Conference supports
AP7110DN AP7030DE AP7050DN-
rooms concurrent
E
access of 10
more STAs
 Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

supporting
802.11ac Wa
2.)

20-30
(Compared
with an
802.11ac Wa
1 product, a
802.11ac Wa
Offices (low AP3010DN/ AP4030DN/ 2 product
concurrency -
AP5010DN AP4130DN supports
rate)
concurrent
access of 10
more STAs
supporting
802.11ac Wa
2.)

Offices (high
concurrency AP6010DN AP4030TN AP6050DN
rate)
30-40
AP7050DE/
AP4030TN/
Classrooms AP7110DN AP7050DN-
Scenario Education AP7030DE
E
2 campus

AP2010DN:
AP2010DN AP2030DN -
AP2030DN:

Student
dormitory

AD9430DN
AP6310SN:
(central AP)
AP6310SN - R230D/R240
R230D/R240D
30
(RU)
 Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

Medical
offices and
outpatient AP3010DN/ AP4030DN/
- 20-30
halls (low AP5010DN AP4130DN
concurrency
rate)

Medical 30-40
offices and (Compared
outpatient with an
AP6010DN AP4030TN AP6050DN
halls (high 802.11ac Wa
concurrency 1 product, a
rate) 802.11ac Wa
2 product
supports
concurrent
Wireless AP7050DE/
Scenario AP4030TN/ 1 Mbit/s-2 access of 10
medical Conference
3 AP7110DN AP7050DN- Mbit/s more STAs
service rooms AP7030DE
E supporting
802.11ac Wa
2.)

AP2010DN:
Wards AP2010DN AP2030DN -
AP2030DN:
 Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

AD9430DN
AP6310SN:
(central AP)
AP6310SN - R230D/R240
R230D/R240D
30
(RU)

AP2010DN:
AP2010DN AP2030DN -
AP2030DN:

Medium
Scenario 1 Mbit/s-2
and small Hotel rooms
4 Mbit/s
enterprises

AP6310SN:
AP7110DN:
AD9430DN AP5130DN:
(central AP) R230D/R240
AP6310SN - 30
R230D/R240D
(RU) AP4050DN-
30-40
(Compared
with an
 Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

802.11ac Wa
1 product, a
802.11ac Wa
2 product
supports
concurrent
access of 10
more STAs
supporting
802.11ac Wa
AP4050DN- 2.)
AP6310SN
E
Warehouses AP5130DN
AP7110DN -

Common AP6510DN/ AP8130DN/

Scenario Outdoor 1 Mbit/s-2
outdoor - 20-30
5 coverage AP6610DN AP8030DN Mbit/s
coverage

Scenario Broadband A maximum

6 access 32 AT815SN
can be
AP6510DN/ connected. T
1 Mbit/s-8
AT815SN - - number of
AP6610DN Mbit/s
AT815SNs
depends on th
available
bandwidth.

In P2MP mod
• In WDS
networkin
one root A
can conne
to a
maximum
Scenario Data Video AP6510DN/ AP8130DN/ 1 Mbit/s-8 of 6 leaf
-
7 backhaul surveillance AP6610DN AP8030DN Mbit/s APs.
• In Mesh
networkin
a maximu
of 32 mes
links is
allowed o
an AP.
 Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

One outdoor
AP can conne
to a maximum
Long- of 32
distance AP6510DN/ AT815SNs.
2 Mbit/s-8
backhaul - - The bandwid
AP6610DN Mbit/s
using the needs to
AT815SN considered
when
deploying the
AT815SNs.

High density
coverage for AP6510DN/ AP8130DN/ AP4050DN-
512 kbit/s 50
sports AP6610DN AP8030DN HD
stadiums

High-
Scenario
density
8
coverage

30-40
(Compared
with an
802.11ac Wa
1 product, a
High density 802.11ac Wa
coverage for 2 product
AP7110DN AP4030TN AP6050DN 1 Mbit/s
indoor supports
venues concurrent
access of 10
more STAs
supporting
802.11ac Wa
2.)
 Recommended AP Coverag

No. Scenario Subscenario 802.11ac Number of

802.11n 802.11ac Average
Wave2 Access STA
Series Series Bandwidth/STA
Series on Each AP

AP4050DN-
Underground E/
parking lot, AP4030TN/ AP6050DN/
Scenario Wireless
shopping AP6010DN - -
9 location AP5030DN AP7050DE/
mall, and
teaching area AP7050DN-
E

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7.5 FAQs and Configuration Suggestions

The following summaries the most common problems users may face during WLAN
deployment and provides recommendations on how to avoid these problems.
Features and configurations of WLAN products vary depending on software versions.
For details on how to configure a WLAN product, see the product documentation of the
specific version. Choose Support > Product Support > Enterprise Networking >
WLAN, and select the product and version to obtain the product documentation.

Table 1 Common problems in WLAN deployment and recommendations

No. Category Recommendation

Networking Set names for APs according to the network plan to facilitate network
1
design maintenance.

Networking Use different VLANs as the service VLAN and management VLAN of an
2
design AP to prevent WLAN services from being affected by other services.

AP online Configure a PVID or AP management VLAN on the switch interface

3
process directly connected to an AP. Otherwise, the AP cannot connect to the AC.
Table 1 Common problems in WLAN deployment and recommendations

No. Category Recommendation

If MAC address or SN authentication is used for APs, you need to add

AP online
4 offline AP information to the AC or manually confirm AP identities to
process
enable the APs to go online.

Manually specify appropriate channels for APs or enable automatic radio

Network calibration.
5 planning and
optimization In V200R006 and later versions, the automatic radio calibration is
enabled by default. The default radio calibration interval is 1440 minutes.

Network
Configure proper transmit power for APs. Too strong signals will cause
6 planning and
interference, whereas too weak signals will reduce the coverage area.
optimization

Some STAs cannot roam to APs with higher signal strength when the
RSSI values of their home APs drop. Forcible disconnect such STAs from
Network the home APs to enable them to associate with APs with better signal
7 planning and quality.
optimization In V200R006 and later versions, it is recommended that smart roaming be
configured to enable STAs to associate with APs with better signal
quality.

Version
8 Upgrade WLAN devices to latest versions to obtain better performance.
upgrade

When upgrading an AP, ensure that the file name and size of the software
Version package loaded to the AP are the same as those of the software package
9
upgrade saved on the file server. It is recommended that digital verification be
performed on the software package.

When configuring AC dual-link hot standby or VRRP, ensure consistency

Service
10 of the configuration on the active and standby ACs. Ensure that the
configuration
system time is consistent on the active and standby ACs.

When configuring the WDS service, properly set the parameters related to
coverage distance to ensure good link quality; configure leaf AP whitelist
Service
11 to control APs' connection to the network; configure AP interfaces to
configuration
allow service VLANs to enable communication between leaf and root
APs.

Service In V200R005 and earlier versions, to use 802.1x authentication, enable

12
configuration 802.1x authentication globally.

Service In V200R005 and earlier versions, configure a default domain and a

13
configuration forcible domain when 802.1x authentication is used.

Service When configuring Portal authentication, configure an authentication-free

14
configuration rule to allow access to the DNS server before authentication.
Table 1 Common problems in WLAN deployment and recommendations

No. Category Recommendation

Service When configuring Portal authentication, set the security policy to non-
15
configuration authentication and non-encryption.

Service When configuring Portal authentication, set the same authentication port
16
configuration on the Portal server and AC.

Service When configuring Portal authentication, ensure network connectivity

17
configuration between STAs and the authentication server.

Service The encryption key configured on the AC must be the same as that on the
18
configuration RADIUS or Portal server.

If the security policy is set to WPA/WPA2, use the Advanced Encryption

Service Standard (AES) algorithm. The Temporary Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP)
19
configuration algorithm is not recommended because it will slow down link setup
speeds of STAs.

If co-channel APs are invisible to each other but have overlapping

coverage areas, hidden node problems may occur if the STAs in the
Service
20 overlapping coverage areas do not send data in a certain period. To
configuration
prevent such problems, you are advised to set the RTS-CTS working
mode to rts-cts.

Reduce the number of retransmissions after a packet sending failure and

Service
21 remove low rates from the basic rate set to mitigate non-Wi-Fi
configuration
interference.

You are advised to configure smart roaming on the device to ensure

Service
22 network experience of STAs with low roaming aggressiveness and enable
configuration
them to connect to APs with better signals.

In scenarios where STAs frequently move, such as outdoor coverage

scenarios, if the STAs are connected to an AP for a short time and use the
Service network intermittently, reduce the aging time of the STAs and the lease
23
configuration for addresses in the DHCP global address pool to prevent the STAs from
occupying the entry resources and IP addresses of an AP after they leave
the coverage areas of the AP.

Service When a large number of users connect to the network, configure user
24
configuration isolation and port isolation.

When a large number of 2.4G terminals exist on the network, enable the
Service
25 band steering function to enable 5G-capabile terminals to preferentially
configuration
connect to the 5G radio and reduce the burden on the 2.4 GHz radio.

Service In multi-user scenarios, enable airtime fair scheduling to ensure that

26
configuration wireless channel resources are allocated to users fairly.
Table 1 Common problems in WLAN deployment and recommendations

No. Category Recommendation

If multiple SSIDs are bound to an AP, set a larger interval for sending
Beacon frames.
Service In most cases, set the interval to the half of the number of bounded SSIDs
27
configuration multiplied by 100. For example, if four SSIDs are bound to an AP, set the
interval for sending Beacon frames to 200 ms (4/2 x 100).
It is recommended that the interval be set from 100 ms to 500 ms.

The use of the web-based management system requires an authorized

Web-based account and support for the HTTPS protocol. In addition, the web file
28 management version loaded to a WLAN device must match the system software
system version of the device; otherwise, you may fail to log in to the web-based
management system.

In large-scale wireless network coverage scenarios, use the AC+Fit AP

Networking networking. Fat APs are applicable only to small-scale SOHO office
29
design scenarios and cannot implement inter-AP roaming. Therefore, Fat APs
are not recommended in large-scale coverage scenarios.

When planning the AP deployment distance, consider the STA transmit

power. It is recommended that you adjust the AP transmit power to
slightly higher than the STA transmit power to ensure balanced uplink
Networking
30 and downlink signal strength (without interference) and better service
design
experience even when the STAs are located at the coverage edge. During
actual deployment, strictly comply with local limit on the equivalent
isotropically radiated power (EIRP).

Properly control the distance between antennas. It is recommended that

you comply with the following requirements:
[Outdoor scenario]
• If antennas are to be deployed on different poles and face opposite
directions, ensure that the horizontal distance between the antennas is
at least 1.5 m. If antennas are to be deployed on the same pole and
face the same direction, ensure that the vertical distance between the
antennas is at least 5 m.
• Keep antennas at least 2 km away from 4G signal transmitters
(towers).
Networking
31 [Indoor scenario]
design
• Ensure that antennas are deployed no less than 7 m. In semi-open
indoor areas, ensure that APs are around 20 m away from each other.
• Deploy antennas at least 2 m away from 4G antennas.
• Keep antennas away from electronic equipment that may cause radio
interference, such as microwave ovens.
[Vehicle-mounted scenario]
• Deploy antennas at least 5 m away from each other.
• Keep antennas at least 2 m away from 4G antennas.
[Trackside installation scenario]
Table 1 Common problems in WLAN deployment and recommendations

No. Category Recommendation

• At the same trackside, place antennas with the same direction at least
50 m away from each other, and place co-located antennas facing
opposite directions at least 20 cm from each other.
• Ensure that the height difference between trackside antennas and
vehicle-mounted antennas do not exceed 0.5 m.

In a scenario where rooms are on both sides of the corridor, you are
advised to deploy indoor distributed APs or wall plate APs in the rooms
Networking to implement indoor coverage. Alternatively, you can deploy indoor
32 settled APs in the rooms in W-shaped mode.
design
Do not deploy indoor settled APs in a corridor, nor in two rooms facing
each other on both sides of the corridor.

For outdoor equipment, all feeders, power cables, network cables, and
fiber connectors must be waterproofed.
• Feeder connectors and power cable connectors must be completely
Networking wrapped using one layer of PVC insulation tape, three layers of
33
design waterproof tape, and three layers of PVC insulation tape. Each layer of
tape should be wrapped tightly and bundled securely with binding
straps.
• Network cables and optical fibers use waterproof PG connectors.

Surge protection measures are mandatory for deploying outdoor APs and
Networking antennas to prevent device damage and service interruption due to
34
design lightning. Deploy outdoor AP within the 45-degree protection area of the
lightning rod and connect the APs to the nearest ground points.

Multicast packets are not protected by the ACK mechanism on air

interfaces, and air interface links are not stable. Multicast packets are
usually sent at a low speed is sent at a low speed to ensure stable
transmission. If a large number of such multicast packets are sent from
the network side, the air interfaces may be congested. It is recommended
that the multicast packet suppression function be configured. If multicast
services are required, configure the traffic rate limit.
Service [Fit AP]
35
configuration • In direct forwarding mode, you are advised to configure multicast
packet suppression on switch interfaces connected to APs.
• In tunnel forwarding mode, you are advised to configure multicast
packet suppression in traffic profiles of the AC.
[Fat AP]
Configure multicast packet suppression on switch interfaces directly
connected to APs.

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