Introduction to the most effective practices for wireless spectrum management

A controller-based architecture provides a system-level approach to wireless network management, which has led to the rapid development of local area networks in recent years. However, as many companies begin to rely on their WLAN for critical business operations, the observation of the RF spectrum is critical for IT managers.

To highlight the importance of WLAN, companies face three major challenges: 1) limited wireless spectrum segments, 2) lack of IT expertise and resources in this area, and 3) rapid increase in interference sources. The unlicensed spectrum segment used by the WLAN is used in conjunction with several other wireless technologies, which has led to an increase in the number of devices using this radio frequency segment, making the limited spectrum resources overcrowded, all of which are more limited. IT organizations need to ensure an effective spectrum design to optimize the available network bandwidth.

But unfortunately, RF spectrum management is beyond the scope of traditional IT technology. The challenge of solving RF problems is that we not only need the right tools, but also the right training. Many companies lack the special skills to troubleshoot internally and the people who optimize the performance of their wireless networks.

One of the most basic realities is that some wireless devices interfere with each other when they are together. Devices that collide with wi-fi networks include Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, wireless bridges, wireless video cameras, and wireless gaming devices.

In addition, many non-communication devices are also capable of transmitting microwave energy in unlicensed bands, such as microwave ovens, certain lighting systems, wireless activity detectors, and radars.

In the next few years, as the Wi-Fi network transitions to 802.11n new technologies, there will be many clients that support both the 802.11a/g standard and the new 802.11n standard. Because the old client's data transfer rate is low, they will reduce the performance of the entire network, so it is more important to maintain bandwidth by reducing interference.

As the importance of wireless spectrum management increases, there are several best practices you should keep in mind to help you improve the quality of your wireless systems without wasting unnecessary costs and resources.

*Troubleshooting. Understanding the characteristics of an interferer can be a complicated matter. The lobe pattern formed by electromagnetic waves will vary depending on the wireless source and environment. What has been speculative in the past has now evolved into a science, and a new wireless chipset has emerged that can identify wireless sources other than wi-fi.

For example, a wi-fi system using an off-the-shelf 802.11 chipset cannot confirm the activity of any wireless frequency source that occurs in the same spectrum segment. The new "spectrum aware" chipset can monitor and classify any wireless activity (and with high recognition accuracy).

*automation. To date, most tools that provide visible wireless spectrum require manual adjustment and require a relatively high level of expertise to operate. The IT department should try to automate it. A new approach integrated into spectrum intelligence allows wireless systems to self-diagnose problems as they occur, and alert administrators to potential performance impacts in advance.

In addition, these new systems automatically adjust the wireless settings when they are interfering or when the system is crowded, essentially allowing the network to self-repair and self-optimize. For the IT department, this can reduce the manpower and time required for configuration changes.

*Safety. For traditional wireless intrusion detection/protection systems, new intangible threats have emerged and can only be detected at the RF layer. These threats include private wireless bridges, rogue access points between channels, and older standards such as 802.11 frequency hopping, each of which may represent an illegal intrusion point.

RF interference devices that use non-standard frequencies or non-standard modulators can also be a threat. The IT department must be prepared to respond to these threats. The good news is that monitoring and reducing this new security threat is achievable as troubleshooting capabilities improve and automation increases.

* Mandatory measures. For network administrators, prohibiting devices that conflict with wi-fi networks is also a challenging task. For example, a 2.4 GHz cordless phone can affect the performance of bar code scanners and inventory tracking devices in a retail environment. The wireless network in the university dormitory may not be usable due to interference from gaming equipment. Regardless of whether it is a "no Bluetooth", "no cordless phone" or "no gaming device" policy, network administrators and policy makers need to work together to define and implement appropriate spectrum usage policies.

Effective wireless management is critical to maintaining an important WLAN, especially if the unlicensed frequency resources are very limited. The lack of IT experts and resources in wireless management and the surge in the number of wireless devices that consume spectrum have increased the need for a spectrum management system approach.

Emerging technologies provide more powerful spectrum intelligence that reduces the operating costs of wireless systems. These features allow IT administrators to monitor, locate, and reduce sources of interference through the network to resolve technical failures faster and automatically avoid RF interference.

These emerging technologies also make it easier for network administrators to assess service outages, receive notifications about performance degradation, and act quickly. IT departments should focus on effective troubleshooting, automatic mitigation, security of the wireless spectrum, and implementation of acceptable spectrum usage policies. With this approach, IT can successfully build and maintain a truly critical wireless network without major conflicts with IT resources and budgets.

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