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Open Mesh hardware compatible with Tanaza

by | Mar 22, 2021 | Cloud Management, Device management, TanazaOS

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Open Mesh hardware
Can I use Open Mesh hardware with Tanaza?

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about the Open Mesh hardware compatibility.

If you have Open Mesh hardware deployed and you are looking for an alternative to CloudTrax, then keep reading. This article is for you.

As you may be fully aware, Open Mesh hardware will reach end of life by the end of 2021. The CloudTrax/Datto software will no longer give any updates on Open Mesh hardware, and there will be no technical support or hardware repair services anymore.

What is next for your Open Mesh hardware?

If you are still wondering what is the best alternative for your Open Mesh networks, let me paint the picture here:

  • Alternative one. Migrate all your networks to Datto with highly expensive licenses that can’t be reallocated to any other device.

  • Alternative two. Tear down your entire network and deploy brand new access points. Not to mention the bearing costs associated with changing to another networking brand. Plus the highly likely lock-in limitation that does not allow you to scale your networks.
  • Alternative three. Switch to a smart platform that understands your needs, is future-proofed as it’s compatible with multiple access points’ brands, integrates with third-party applications, offers centralized network management, built-in troubleshooting tools, features zero-touch deployment and its 100% cloud. On top of all of this, it’s cost-effective and allows users to reallocate subscription plans to any other compatible device. Plus you can manage an unlimited number of devices and networks –at no extra cost.

Tanaza, the smartest alternative for Open Mesh hardware

Tanaza is a WiFi cloud management solution for IT professionals to deploy and control WiFi networks and manage access points. Tanaza’s core tech is based on a powerful Linux-based Operating System.

The Tanaza WiFi cloud management platform supports the most popular Open Mesh hardware models on the market. With Tanaza, Open Mesh users only need to install the TanazaOS firmware on the compatible access points and start managing them right away.

Tanaza is without a doubt the smartest and most profitable alternative to avoid tearing down your Open Mesh networks. The cloud-based Tanaza platform allows you to manage multiple access points from a single dashboard from desktop, mobile or tablet. Also, it gives you the freedom and the flexibility to change the hardware brand when necessary and to scale your networks when needed.

With Tanaza, you can avoid vendor lock-in, have unprecedented flexibility and operational levels. Furthermore, it helps you to lower down CapEx and OpEx.

Open Mesh hardware compatible with Tanaza

Tanaza supports the following Open Mesh devices:

Open Mesh A42
Product specifications

The Open Mesh A42 is a 2Ă—2 universal 802.11ac Wave 2 cloud-managed WiFi access point, with concurrent 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios. It comes with MU-MIMO technology and an 1100 Mbps high-speed wireless transmission rate. This device is ideal for indoors and outdoors environments as it supports a high volume of simultaneous users, making it perfect for high-density deployments.

Open Mesh A62
Product specifications

The Open Mesh A62 is a universal tri-band 802.11ac Wave 2 cloud-managed WiFi access point with simultaneous 2.4GHz and dual 5GHz radios. It supports MU-MIMO technology and a 2000 Mbps aggregated high-speed wireless transmission rate. This device is perfect for indoor and outdoor environments as it keeps the highest volume of concurrent users (up to 150). It can be powered by standard PoE or passive PoE, with no need for power outlets at the AP site.

Open Mesh MR1750
Product specifications

The Open Mesh MR1750 is a high-performance 3×3, 802.11n, and 802.11ac access point featuring dual-band functionality as it operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies for enhanced data throughput (450 Mbps at 2.4 GHz, and 1300 Mbps at 5 GHz) and increased bandwidth support. It comes with MU-MIMO technology and includes standard PoE.

Open Mesh OM2P
Product specifications

The Open Mesh OM2P is a single 1×1 802.11g/n WiFi access point, ideal for cost-sensitive deployments or long-range mesh networks. It supports a 2.4 GHz band frequency and a 150 Mbps speed rate. This device can handle 20-50 concurrent users per AP, suitable for indoor and outdoor environments.

Open Mesh OM2P-HS
Product specifications

The Open Mesh OM2P-HS is a 2×2 802.11g/n WiFi access point, suitable for general WiFi in uncongested environments. It supports a 2.4 GHz band and 300 Mbps speed rate for indoors and outdoors. This device can support 20-50 simultaneous users per AP, with standard 802.3af and 12-24v passive PoE.

Open Mesh OM2P-LC
Product specifications

The Open Mesh OM2P-LC is a single 1×1 802.11g/n WiFi access point, ideal for cost-sensitive deployments or long-range mesh networks. It supports a 150 Mbps speed rate, with 20-50 concurrent users per AP, suitable for indoor or outdoor environments.

Open Mesh OM5P-AC
Product specifications

The Open Mesh OM5P-AC is a universal high-speed Dual Band 802.11ac cloud-managed WiFi access point with simultaneous 2.4GHz and dual 5GHz radios. It supports a 1.17 Gbps (300+867 Mbps) aggregated speed wireless transmission rate, making it perfect for high-density deployments, indoors or outdoors.

Benefits of choosing Tanaza for your Open Mesh hardware

If you decide to migrate your Open Mesh devices from CloudTrax/Datto to Tanaza, you can benefit from:

 

  • A single, centralized cloud-based configuration platform to manage all your Open Mesh access points.
  • An intuitive user-friendly interface.
  • Remote monitoring and control of access points’ performance. 
  • Zero-touch deployment and configuration of access points. Avoid on-site travels.
  • Email alerts if any access point in the network gets disconnected to avoid any issue.
  • The multi compatibility with multiple access points from different brands for indoor and outdoor deployments, medium and large scale.
  • No unexpected costs by extending the life of Open Mesh devices, and avoiding to dismantle the whole Open Mesh infrastructure.
  • Scale your networks by adding new access points compatible with the platform while still managing them from a single dashboard.
  • Get constant updates of the operating system to assure security and stability.
  • The most cost-effective network management platform in the market with flexible subscription plans (monthly, annual, every 3 years, every 5 years).

 

We are getting closer to the date when Open Mesh devices will have no support and will become legacy for Datto.
With Tanaza, you can extend the life of your devices, reuse existing access points and scale your networks by adding any brand compatible with Tanaza.

​Download the case study

Discover how other Open Mesh users like you have found Tanaza as the smartest alternative to cloud-based network management.
Read the Case Study.

Related articles:

 

https://www.tanaza.com/blog/open-mesh-alternatives/

Tanaza for Open Mesh users

by | Mar 5, 2021 | Cloud Management, Device management, TanazaOS

Explore Tanaza's Features
Open Mesh Alternatives

Tanaza: a smart cloud-based networking solution for Open-Mesh users

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WiFi Management Platform

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about how Tanaza can be a smart alternative to give
a second chance to your already existing networks.

If you are an Open-Mesh user still wondering what is the best alternative for your Open-Mesh devices, keep reading this article to find out how Tanaza can give a second chance to your already existing networks.

In December 2021, most Open-Mesh devices would reach the end of life date, and the software would no longer offer any updates or firmware bug fixes on those products. Additionally, there would be no further technical support, and no hardware repair services would be available.

The only option for Open-Mesh customers will be to migrate to the Datto platform. This, however, comes at a high price, given the additional recurring expenses that the company’s business model provides. 

What if there was an alternative?

Tanaza enables centralized management on Open Mesh devices.

Tanaza is a WiFi cloud management platform for IT professionals to manage and operate remotely WiFi access points and networks. The Tanaza platform allows Open-Mesh users to quickly install, configure and monitor hundreds of access points via the cloud through an intuitive web interface accessible from computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Tanaza is vendor-agnostic. It has compatibility with the most popular Open-Mesh devices in the market. IT professionals can deploy and manage unlimited access points, mix and match devices from multiple brands like Ubiquiti, Mikrotik, TP-Link, and Ligowave, among others. 

Furthermore, thanks to partnerships with OEM vendors, the Tanaza Operating System can run out-of-the-box in selected devices from Comfast, Amer Networks, Intelbras, and DCN, for a plug-and-play experience. Still, IT professionals can manage all the devices from a single dashboard. Game-changer, right?

Why should you choose Tanaza for your Open Mesh deployments?

The Tanaza platform offers multiple functions, which allows you to significantly reduce the configuration and installation times of even complex WiFi networks:

Centralized configuration

Users can increase efficiency with Tanaza by configuring, managing and monitoring multiple organizations and WiFi networks, cloud-based access points, SSIDs, and client devices from a single platform.

Tanaza lets users set the basic configurations of the network applied by default to all the cloud-managed access points in that network. This feature ensures an issue-free, fast and easy provisioning of new access points, especially in large-scale WiFi networks. Additionally, in case of disconnection of an access point, due to a new configuration, the system automatically restores the last working settings of the WiFi access point to avoid disruptions in the network.

Remote monitoring

It is possible to monitor WiFi networks and control APs remotely. Tanaza enables users to check the WiFi network’s performance indicators thanks to real-time statistics at the WiFi network and access point level.

You can control how many client devices are currently associated with an SSID and how much bandwidth they are consuming and identify possible bottlenecks in bandwidth demand. Furthermore, oversee the access points’ health status, mostly if the number of connections requested increases. Reboot WiFi access points at a specific hour and weekday or schedule WiFi network maintenance to minimize slowness and load peaks after a long uptime. All of that avoids going on-site since no hardware controllers are required.

Cloud-based platform

Tanaza represents the best alternative to the on-premises and hybrid-cloud deployments because there’s no need for physical hardware controllers. It relies its cloud platform on the Amazon Web Services (AWS), guaranteeing the market’s highest security levels while running on a robust cloud infrastructure.

Tanaza takes care of many operations, including server maintenance, back-up, security patches, and fixes, and ensures the system’s high availability for minimum downtime and productivity losses.

Zero-touch deployment

Network administrators can set the network’s basic configurations, applied by default to all the cloud-managed access points in that network remotely, and send the APs pre-configured to the customer’s site for installation. It’s also possible to reconfigure access points without rebooting them or restarting the services, all from the Tanaza dashboard. Moreover, you can easily migrate from CloudTrax/Datto to Tanaza, thanks to the auto-provisioning and cloud configurations.

Intuitive user-interface

The Tanaza platform offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface: the deployment, configuration, and remote monitoring of WiFi networks become a child’s game even for those who have not the technical skills to handle the software.

Integrations

You can integrate third-party applications provided by official Tanaza Partners. Enable any external captive portal on top of the Tanaza cloud platform. 

The Tanaza platform integrates with the Classic Hotspot management system, a platform to manage and monitor public hotspots from the cloud. Customers can set up their free and paid hotspots through a captive portal and customizable splash pages, with social login and voucher-based authentication, to grant guests access to the WiFi.

Classic Hotspot also works as a useful marketing tool to collect information stored within the Analytics dashboard and segment users to run engaging marketing campaigns.  

Furthermore, if you are a Service Provider deploying large networks in emerging countries, Express Wi-Fi might be an ideal solution to generate revenues over WiFi. Tanaza is an Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner. The Tanaza WiFi cloud management software integrates seamlessly with the Express Wi-Fi platform to enable Service Providers to use a fully integrated solution to manage their network deployments coupled with the best-in-class monetization tools offered by Express Wi-Fi by Facebook. Learn more about Express WiFi to generate revenues over WiFi

Multi compatibility

The platform is compatible with multiple access points from multiple brands for indoor and outdoor deployments, medium and large scale. Tanaza is compatible with the most commercial networking brands and also it  has a line of selected devices that run the Tanaza firmware out of the box from sought-after OEMs. Discover the line of access points powered by Tanaza.

How will Tanaza make Open-Mesh users’ lives easier?

  1. Save on unexpected costs by extending the life of Open-Mesh devices. 
  2. Scale your networks by adding new access points compatible with the platform while still managing them from a single dashboard. 
  3. Access a wide variety of educational materials and online troubleshooting support. 
  4. Benefit from constant updates of the operating system to provide turnkey solutions, vulnerability patches, security, and stability.

Discover what Open Mesh customers say about Tanaza

End-User with an in-house IT team

Our recent customer Hotel Il San Pietro in Positano, adopted Tanaza as a solution for their Open-Mesh infrastructure, consisting of 60 Open Mesh A42 devices. They also added another 10 Ubiquiti Unifi devices to provide more coverage to missing areas. All that wouldn’t be possible without Tanaza.

​”Tanaza has been a great support for us, considerably speeding up the timing in resolving any possible issues. A win-win solution for everyone involved. I speak mainly from the guest experience point of view, and I admit that the customers were delighted.

Our IT team was also satisfied, managing everything with considerable ease compared to before. The previous difficulties were solved by looking “out of the box,” with a winning solution,” Andrea Zana, General Manager, Hotel Il San Pietro di Positano.

Managed Service Provider in Brazil

TB4U Tecnologia is a consulting company helping clients adopt the ultimate technological solutions for their business in Brazil. They have extended the life of all their Open-Mesh devices, with no need to dismantle their existing deployments of more than 50 Open-Mesh devices. As a result, they have saved around 80% on CAPEX by migrating their networks to Tanaza.

“​Tanaza allowed us to continue following our strategy of having the entire WiFi solution managed in the cloud after Datto acquired Open Mesh and announced the end of support for Open-Mesh customers. The Tanaza solution gave us the chance to take advantage of the existing infrastructure in use, and the hardware from different manufacturers all handled with single management software,” Camila Goulart, Sales Director, TB4U Tecnologia.

We are getting closer to the date when Open Mesh devices will have no support and will become legacy for Datto. With Tanaza, you can extend the life of your devices, reuse existing access points and scale your networks by adding any brand compatible with Tanaza.

Download the case study

Learn how Hotel Il San Pietro di Positano extended the life of their Open-Mesh devices with Tanaza without dismantling their networks.

Service Providers generate revenue with Express WiFi by Facebook and Tanaza

by | Feb 1, 2021 | Cloud Management, Express Wi-Fi, Express WiFi, TanazaOS, WiFi Networks

Explore Tanaza's Features
Generate Revenue with Express WiFi and Tanaza
Service Providers Generate Revenue with Express Wi-Fi and Tanaza

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Wi-Fi is a powerful reality that is helping to generate revenue in emerging countries.

The ever increasing demand for more IoT devices and content like streaming videos and VR experiences is putting a strain on network infrastructures worldwide. However, access to the Internet in low-income countries remains a luxury.

In fact, high-quality Internet access creates new opportunities to connect people across communities. Furthermore, it generates new business opportunities to maximize revenues and reduce the digital gap between the connected and the unconnected.

Express Wi-Fi by Facebook and Tanaza allow Service Providers to bring connectivity in emerging countries while generating revenues over Wi-Fi. So, if you are a Service Provider keep reading and discover how to make the most out of this initiative.

Generate Revenue over WiFi

What is Tanaza?
Tanaza is an Italian company with over ten years in the Wi-Fi industry. It has developed an intuitive cloud-based platform for IT professionals to manage Wi-Fi networks and access points from a centralized dashboard. At the core of Tanaza’s technology is TanazaOS, a powerful Linux-based Operating System compatible with multiple hardware Wi-Fi access points.
What is Express Wi-Fi by Facebook?
A best in class SaaS platform that helps Service Providers (SPs) build, operate, grow, and monetize Internet access over Wi-Fi. The Express Wi-Fi platform comes with an innovative monetization portfolio, which helps launch and manage sustainable, high-quality Wi-Fi networks in emerging markets.

With Express Wi-Fi SPs can empower people around the world to connect to a faster, higher-quality, and more affordable Internet. Furthermore, it facilitates the user onboarding process through an app, available for iOS and Android, allowing end-users to buy data plans on-the-go.

For instance, Express Wi-Fi provides solutions for:

4G Coverage Gaps. In high-density population areas, Express Wi-Fi helps partners identify, deploy, and manage their footprint to complement their mobile offering.

Areas with Low 4G Adoption. While some people can connect, many cannot do so for diverse reasons. Express Wi-Fi offers different business and incentive features to help partners overcome this challenge.

Areas with 4G Congestion. By allowing for seamless roaming on a partner network, end-users will benefit from an always-connected state. As a result, the partner’s business will be able to better manage congested areas due to a better WiFi platform.

How can SPs generate revenue with Express Wi-Fi?

Express Wi-Fi is ideal for SPs looking to invest and scale their Wi-Fi portfolio to bring great Wi-Fi to people when and how they want it. Most importantly, Express Wi-Fi has the intelligence to help Wi-Fi operators to understand business performance, identify new segments, and execute sales initiatives for growth. 

Furthermore, Express Wi-Fi provides consumer-facing tools that allow SPs to engage with customers by leveraging a monetization lever portfolio to generate revenues over Wi-Fi. As a result, it brings maximum flexibility and optionality to SPs.

The Express Wi-Fi approach to generate revenue

There are two broad categories to generate revenue for Service Providers:
Direct: the end-user, customer, or subscriber pays when buying Internet data packs from the distribution channel, i.e.retailers.

  1. Home and SMBs, offering Wi-Fi data plans for homes and small businesses in fixed locations.
  2. Prepaid data packs. Service providers can introduce volume and time-based data packs and sell those to their subscribers.
Indirect: when a network is monetized by 3rd party options like Ads or sponsored Internet Access

  1. Recharge API and Vouchers. When end-users don’t have to pay for Internet access, recharge APIs and vouchers, provide bulk provisioning and distribution of datapacks. Ideal for Doctor’s clinics, youth hostels, coffee shops.
  2. Sponsored Hotspots. It provides customized, branded captive portals ideal for businesses to improve brand visibility and rollout marketing campaigns.
  3. Ads. Express Wi-Fi provides ad-sponsored networks via banner and video ads, a popular monetization method in public networks.

Key Benefits of Express Wi-Fi

  1. Achieve better utilization and profitability from a portfolio of monetization levers
  2. Leverage Machine Learning and advanced analytics for optimal network deployment
  3. Integrate with existing networks, thanks to Technology Partners like Tanaza
  4. Reduced footprint thanks to the cloud-based SaaS model, and thus faster time to market.
  5. Lastly, access to a broad ecosystem of ‘off-the-shelf’ access points thanks to Partners’ multi-vendor compatibility like Tanaza.

The Express Wi-Fi users

Partners (Service Providers)

Through the Partner portal, Service Providers –known to Express Wi-Fi as partners, are enabled to perform end-to-end management of retailers, distributors, sales representatives, and brand ambassadors. Also, the insights tab displays business metrics data of crucial elements within the platform to improve hotspots’ performance.

In addition, have full control over revenue generation. For instance, the monetization feature displays insights about the revenue data from different monetization tools and provides SPs with opportunities to maximize revenue where and when it is needed.

facebook-express-wifi-business-dashboard

Express Wi-Fi Partner’s portal
 Image courtesy of Express Wi-Fi by Facebook

Retailers

Express Wi-Fi also relies on local business owners operating Wi-Fi hotspots that customers (end-users) nearby can pay to access higher-speed bandwidth using local SPs. 

In fact, Retailers are the partners’ local representatives and are the point of contact for end-users to buy data and learn about the service. As a result, Service Providers can manage Express Wi-Fi retailers, distributors, sales reps, and brand ambassadors. Also, view their details and information, and perform actions such as adding new retailers, managing their balance, and editing their location information.

Retailers have a different interface that enables them to manage their Express Wi-Fi account, sell data packs to new or recurring customers, keep track of transactions, and perform top-ups.

Generate Revenue with Express WiFi - Retailer Portal

Express Wi-Fi Retailer’s portal
Image courtesy of Express Wi-Fi by Facebook

Customers (end-user)

Customers or end-users are the ones who purchase or get access to the Internet service offered by the Express Wi-Fi partner. 

Service Providers can manage Express Wi-Fi customers, invite customers, view their details and information, reply to customer data requests, apply vouchers and send messages. 

Actually, Customers need to download the Express Wi-Fi app (available for iOS and Android) to buy data packs and find nearby hotspots more easily. The App enables customers to purchase data packs or view their purchase history. In addition, Customers can perform actions like watching ads or invite friends to join Express Wi-Fi to earn free data and locate Wi-Fi zones.

Typically, Customers access Express Wi-Fi hotspots by signing up with a participating retailer and purchasing a prepaid data pack. Therefore, by using Express Wi-Fi hotspots, Partners can quickly expand their services and provide faster, more affordable connectivity to rural and urban areas.

Generate Revenues with Express WiFi - Customer Interface

Express Wi-Fi Customer’s portal
Image courtesy of Express Wi-Fi by Facebook

Where is Express Wi-Fi available?

Today, the Express Wi-Fi platform is a reality throughout Africa, Asia, South East Asia, and South America.

Tanaza, a Technology Partner of Express Wi-Fi

Tanaza integrates seamlessly with Express Wi-Fi allowing SPs to have a full overview and management of APs while generating revenues with the Express Wi-Fi platform. 

Certainly, this partnership empowers Service Providers to configure, manage and troubleshoot unlimited access points and networks for Express Wi-Fi deployments. In short, is a win-win partnership.

Tanaza Firmware

The Tanaza Wi-Fi cloud infrastructure has 99.99% reliability. In fact, its technology is based on the Linux-based TanazaOS™ operating system, which is compatible with various brands’ access points. As a result, TanazaOS supports a wide range of chipsets, such as Qualcomm Atheros and Mediatek, based on ARM and MIPS CPUs. 

Most importantly, Tanaza’s multi compatibility gives SPs the freedom to choose the device of preference from our compatible list. 

Alternatively, when deploying new Wi-Fi networks, SPs have at their disposition the line of performing and cost-effective Tanaza Powered Devices. In addition, these devices come with the TanazaOS firmware already installed for a plug and play experience, guaranteeing high-efficiency levels and a considerable reduction of TCO.

Tanaza enables Service Providers to deploy Express Wi-Fi in emerging countries and connect rural areas while generating extra revenues over Wi-Fi networks.

Tanaza Architecture

First of all, Tanaza’s communication architecture and protocols have been designed to ensure the highest levels of security and reliability. As a result, the traffic coming from client devices and access point management, which passes through a 256-bit SSL encrypted tunnel, are entirely separated for safety. Furthermore, Tanaza domains are certified, and the platform is hosted on Amazon Web Services to ensure the highest levels of reliability in the market.

Manage your networks with Tanaza and generate revenue with Express Wi-Fi

In conclusion, Tanaza allows SPs to make substantial savings due to the elimination of expensive hardware controllers in the architecture. Also, it significantly reduces on-site maintenance interventions. Besides, compared to other professional solutions available in the market, Tanaza’s flexible licensing system allows you to reduce CAPEX significantly. 

Above all, the Tanaza platform is a SaaS that empowers SPs to manage networks from a centralized dashboard. Furthermore, the zero-touch provisioning feature allows remotely installing and configuring multiple APs. As a result, it ensures that the setup procedure is the same for all access points, regardless of the hardware brand.

In addition, Tanaza’s platform is user-friendly and intuitive; thus, no expertise is needed. The configuration and simplicity of Tanaza allow SPs to scale how and when they need it unlimitedly. 

Thanks to Express Wi-Fi Partners like Tanaza, Service Providers can offer better connectivity experiences to shops and businesses run by local entrepreneurs, with a broader range of compatible devices to choose from. So, SPs can generate extra revenues over WiFi in multiple ways.

Related articles:

 

Express wifi by facebook

WiFi Hotspot Monetization with Express Wi-Fi by Facebook and Tanaza

https://www.tanaza.com/blog/facebook-connectivitys-express-wi-fi-technology-partner-program/

Load balancing

by | Jan 22, 2021 | Cloud Management, Network Troubleshooting, TanazaOS, WiFi Networks

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Load Balancing for Network Performance

Understanding Load Balancing for Network Performance


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about how to optimize throughput
with the correct load balancing settings.

What is Load Balancing?

Load Balancing is the process of distributing network traffic across multiple WiFi access points. In this way, any access point handles too many client devices connected to the same device.

By distributing the load evenly, load balancing helps to improve the responsiveness of applications. Furthermore, users can have greater availability of applications and websites.

Wireless networks are getting more and more popular and have become an essential part of our lives with the ever-increasing use of IoT devices. The reality is that users expect high-quality connectivity in all scenarios, especially in public spaces with crowded networks and multiple concurrent users downloading and uploading content simultaneously.

Hundreds of devices want to connect to a network comprised of multiple access points and a limited spectrum. For all of those devices to receive a decent connection quality, throughput, and delay, there shouldn’t be access points overloaded. Otherwise, it would not be easy to provide service for each client device connected to the network.

Load balancing and the IEEE 802.11 standard

The IEEE 802.11 standard specifies that the client device decides which access point to connect to. In high-density environments, the client device’s choice to connect to one or another AP can lead to an AP overload. It might also lead to oscillations in the AP association as a client device has limited data about the network’s performance.

Also, since it doesn’t collaborate with other client devices before connecting to an AP on another, it creates overload easily. This whole mix provides the recipe for undesired behavior for load balancing, as there is no control over the client devices.

How does load balancing work?

Load balancing ensures that client devices are distributed evenly, so no single AP is simultaneously overloaded with too many client devices. Therefore, the total number of client devices can be served by various APs, delivering better performance and an improved user experience.

If a client device wants to connect to an access point, it sends a “request of association” to the AP. If the access point is already overloaded with client devices connected, it will deny the client device’s association request. The client device then would have to resent a request of association to a nearby access point that it has more space to grant a “room” to the client.

A network with multiple access points shares the client devices’ load information. Load balancing is a mechanism that can exist in distributed architectures in which all the access points communicate with one another. Or in a centralized architecture that uses a WLAN controller.

It optimizes throughput for all client devices by continually optimizing user associations to give each client device optimal throughput. This improves the throughput for each client device and dynamically balances the client load for the network.​

Load Balancing: Before vs After

When do you need load balancing?​

Load balancing is an ideal setting to enable in high-density environments in which roaming is not necessary. For instance, a theatre room with multiple access points installed in the same open space. In a deployment of this type, the client device will hear all the access points and load balancing in this scenario is a must.

On the contrary, when it comes to deployments in which roaming is the star, load balancing is not the right approach as it would cause client devices to become sticky and stay associated with the access point way longer than it should. In this type of scenario, where roaming is a must, having load balancing can be detrimental for the roaming process. So be aware of the settings.

Hardware vs. Software Load Balancing

Load balancing typically comes in two flavors: hardware and software-based. Vendors of networking hardware load proprietary software into the device provided, which often uses specialized processors that activates the load balancing capabilities. Software solutions like Tanaza generally run on open standard networking hardware. You can install the Tanaza operating system on a compatible access point of your choice and manage the device from a single control plane.

Tanaza supports 802.11v. Besides helping to preserve the device battery life, this standard also allows the WiFi network to influence the device’s behavior, providing the information of nearby access points (like their load), optimizing client transition to the best identified AP. Activating this capability for the ideal scenario efficiently balances the number of devices connected to an access point. It also helps to direct poorly connected devices to the best AP.

If you are a Tanaza user and would like to activate 802.11v to improve the load balance of client devices in your networks, read this article to learn how to activate 802.11v within the Tanaza platform.

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