Aruba Test Results

Aruba HTF Pilot Deployment
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Aruba HTF - Pilot Deployment

Network Report
&
Test Results

Final



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Aruba Architecture for HTF Pilot

Corporate Controller Pair @ HTF MDF:
Master - 7240
Local1 7240

Controller: running Aruba AOS-Version 6.3.1.3

------------------------------

Guest - DMZ Single Controller - @ SC DC:
Standalone Local1 - 7210
Controller: running Aruba AOS-Version 6.3.1.3

------------------------------

With
ClearPass Publisher Appliance
AirWave Single Management Systems Server

------------------------------

SSIDs:
Employees vmwave (BSSID)
Guests vmwaveguest



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Summary of Performance Results and Testing
WLAN & Network Speed and Performance
Results showed the Aruba WLAN had throughput ranges of 3 to 1.2 times greater
performance than the Cisco Network, tests included iperf and internet testing.

Device and Network Authentication
On Aruba turn-up, all devices available for testing were able to authenticate to the network
and roles appropriately.
Since employees returned to work Tuesday 2/18/14, some issues have been found for a few
device /OS /browser combinations. These have been documented and trouble-shot creating
fixes /documenting work around solutions.

Survey Results & Range of AP representations
For the Cisco WLAN, the general level of coverage is -60 dBm to -65 dBm on the reviewed
floors for both frequencies. After the floor plots are pictorials showing the individual AP RF
patterns. The individual AP plots show wide radius coverage for each AP out to the 70
dBm levels, which will allow clients to hold that AP for a longer distance. So devices, as seen
in the roam walks, hold APs longer, and do switch to lower MCS rates and allow greater
distances from APs, before triggering their roaming threshold.
In a discrete location, there are many APs (>5) offering similar power levels to devices in
that vicinity.

For the Aruba WLAN, the general level of coverage seen over the floors is very consistent at
the -50 dBm to -55 dBm levels for all floors for both frequencies. After the floor plots, are a
range of graphs showing the individual cells of key APs for each of these floor areas and
frequencies. This shows that coverage for each AP is well defined and localized to maintain
devices on high MCS rates, then as you move away roaming is promoted for devices so they
maintain high rates and transition to other APs before degrading service by sticking to an AP
for too long.
In a discrete location, several APs offer excellent coverage at graduated power levels, so load
can be shared between adjacent APs.

Roaming
As a computer /device moves and transitions away from an AP, it needs to change to a new
AP which now is closer and has a stronger signal to maintain the best PHY and Data rates
for throughput and performance.
The plots, at the end of this report, show the number of roams seen with the same device on
both the Cisco and Aruba Networks. Generally the device was seen to roam more on the
Aruba WLAN, with all roams staying through the preferred 5 GHz band. Cisco on the 2
nd

floor did show transitions through 2.4 GHz band, and number of roams in transit across the
floors were less.

Airwave
Summary reports detailing number and type of users are included at the end section of the
report.

Applications and Network Services Access Testing


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All applications and services were found to be fully accessible through the Aruba WLAN, no
access issues have been reported this week.
Tuning /Optimization Processes /Testing Results from Aruba WLAN turn-up

Initial Tuning after Turn-on

AOS Systems and Dashboard Review
After APs has been turned on and allowed to settle for a short period, initial reviews
of AOS Dashboard metrics were completed. This reviews the power levels APs are
settling at, the channel choices APs are making for 2.4 & 5
GHz frequencies, and AP statistics such as channel busy, noise floor and other data
in the AP dashboard.
These metrics and Client data are reviewed in the AOS Dashboard throughout the
Tuning Cycle.

WLAN Floor Power Levels, RF Propagation and Client Review
After reviews of controller metrics, initial reviews Clients Laptops, Tablets and
Phones, the WLAN Power levels they see, and their network characteristics are
assessed (PHY rates, roaming, APs seen, relative power levels in the two
frequencies, occurrence of same or adjacent RF channels).

Tuning Performance Tests
In this initial tuning period, a selection of performance tests on various devices were
conducted for assessment of configuration settings and performance.
Note on testing techniques are in a later section.

Findings and Changes
In this initial testing period for Aruba WLAN, power levels were adjusted
from:

(min /max ARM settings)
12 dBm /9 dBm to 9 dBm /9 dBm of 5GHz
and
9 dBm /6 dBm to 6 dBm /6dBm for 2.4 GHz.



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Network Device Access & Testing to Networks Servers and Applications

2nd Stage Testing

After initial stage testing the network was allowed to settle before the next stage of
testing was performed.
This testing is a review of device authentication, performance, access to the
network, access to network services, applications used with tests performed
throughout the building space.

Network Services & Applications

Access was checked to network servers, applications, and DBs at many locations
throughout all three floors, with access to them validated.

A selection of normally used devices were taken through the floors and tested for
typical use cases of access to the different network servers and applications normally
visited, from various representative locations open spaces, cubes, offices and
meeting rooms each floor.

The applications visited at each were: Biz Apps, SharePoint, PPM, Oracle
EBS, Horizon Workspace, Source, VPN (Guest ), WebEx, WebEx (steaming) and
Helpzilla.

Communication Voice & Video Applications

Some limited testing was performed with Skype, Facetime & Lync, under the
following scenarios:
Skype Three calls and video were held both internally and externally for 15
minutes periods, one both devices moving internally, two to external devices one
moving here in HTF and one static. With two devices moving together around the
building, the area of the stairs east end had some freezing of video.

Further testing was carried out 2/24/14, with moving calls throughout the
building, devices and calls worked well, though Skype server issues were
found for call set up.

Facetime two Facetime calls were made, one with both devices roaming, and the
other to an external client generally static with a little local movement. When both
devices were roaming a call was dropped near the stairs near the south west corner,
will want to test this location to see if isolated or a trend.

Further testing was carried out 2/24/14, calls worked well and no issues
found.

Lync a Lync call was initiated with in HTF with an iPhone to an external call
server and external iPhone end point. A video and voice call was held for 10
minutes while traversing the building and entering many rooms and meeting rooms
on route. Route taken was from 2nd floor cafeteria, upstairs, along 3rd floor, down
elevator, to the 1st floor, walking through out and upstairs then traversing to the


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meeting room. Only one issue was found video froze at the bottom of the
elevator while until the doors opened.

Further Lync testing is planned week of 2/24.

Formal AirMagnet Surveys

As part of the baseline assessment of the Cisco Network, an AirMagnet survey was
taken of floors 2 and 3. A report was then to show the different coverage over each
floor through the 5 & 2.4 GHz Frequencies, and break-out for each section of the
key APs and their zones of coverage.

Similarly the same survey was performed over all the floors after the transition to
Aruba, and the same reports run from the data.

The graphical results are shown in a later section.

Specific Testing at Cube /Meeting Room /Office Locations

As part of the baseline assessment of the Cisco networks, iperf and internet speed
testing was performed at specific locations, which then were repeated after putting
the Aruba WLAN into service.

The results are shown in a later section.

Roaming Tests

Roaming tests were logged and plotted on floor plans using a single laptop device,
ideal results will be a roam by every 2nd - 3rd /4th AP, to maintain the highest MCS
rates. Roams should let the device remain on the 5GHz frequency without
transferring to 2.4GHz. These have been documented and plotted on floor plans for
both network in later sections.



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Relative Performance Test results prior CICSO network & new ARUBA Network

HTF Pilot

Iperf Server Samsung Win8.1 w/ 1G port. Wire iperf test to wired 1G MAC 937 Mbps (Server validation Test).
General setting were used, iperf testing could be optimized to increase throughput.

Speed Tests wire speed tests with Samsung Win8.1 w/ 1G port were 250/550 @ speedtest.com, and 350/750 at
Comcast/xfinity test sites.

If dates are not stated in entries below, then measurements were taken on 2/15 for Cisco and 2/16 for Aruba.

Further testing will be planned for iPerf testing, with network under normal load conditions week of
2/24.



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Details of other Testing and Applications used for Network Assessment
and Testing

Other testing processes not described elsewhere

Of the different types of devices, many devices have different OSs, wireless NICs (network
interface cards), and maximum power levels they typically transmit at, and consequently
effective range they are able to talk bi-directionally to APs. The graded power curve for
device types is (most powerful to least): laptops, tablets, phones & other handheld devices.

Laptops
A variety of CMD commands were run to access connection WLAN /NICs, ping,
while moving around through the HTF floors to access PHY rates and roaming
characteristics the device choose, and connectivity for the WLAN config settings
during testing. This is dynamic testing, and observations are used to review results
for Surveys and Roam results.

Tablets /Phones
Aruba Utilities is a useful application for Droids and review of networks designed
for capacity; it lists all the SSIDs, channels and frequencies (device must be b/g/a
n & ac useful) that the device can see, colour codes similar
VAPs, and shows the dBm power levels visible for each at that location. It also
clearly shows PHY rates & roaming activities for these devices as they move
through the floor space and network; and can pull AirWave floor plan data and
metrics.



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AirMagnet Survey of WLAN

HTF Cisco AirMagnet Survey Data Samples

Floor 2 5 GHz

Signal Distribution



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Floor 2 2.4 GHz



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Floor 3 5 GHz



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Floor 3 2.4 GHz



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HTF Aruba AirMagnet Survey Data Samples
Survey data of the Aruba WLAN was taken on Feb 16th.

Floor 1 5 GHz



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Floor 1 2.4 GHz



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Floor 2 5 GHz



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Floor 2 2.4 GHz



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Floor 3 5 GHz



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Floor 3 2.4 GHz



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Roaming representations of device roaming characteristics for a laptop device



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AirWave

Cisco users through their Pilot Phase:

Aruba users through their Pilot first week:



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