3com AirProtect Planner User manual

Brand: 3com

Model: AirProtect Planner

Type: User manual

This manual is also suitable for

3CWXPGS - AirProtect RF Planning Tool

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3Com® AirProtect Planner

User Guide

3CWXPGS

Wireless LAN Planning for Security,

Coverage and Performance

Version 5.0

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www.3Com.com

Part number: 10016914

June 2008

Disclaimer

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

i

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3Com Corporation, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA USA 01752-3064

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please contact 3Com and a copy will be provided to you.

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EndUserLicenseAgreement

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

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EndUserLicenseAgreement

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

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TableofContents

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

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Tableof Conten ts 

CHAPTER 1 GETTING STARTED...................................................................................................................................1

1.1 BEFORE YOU BEGIN.......................................................................................................................................................1

1.2 HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................1

1.3 CONTACT INFORMATION.................................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 2 INTRODUCTION TO WLAN PLANNING AND PLANNER .................................................................2

2.1 WHAT IS WI-FI? .............................................................................................................................................................2

2.2 DISADVANTAGES OF POORLY PLANNED WLANS ...........................................................................................................2

2.3 PLANNER: A COMPLETE WLAN PLANNING SOLUTION ..................................................................................................3

2.4 DELIVERABLES FROM PLANNER.....................................................................................................................................3

2.5 PLANNER: BENEFITS ......................................................................................................................................................3

2.6 WORKING OF PLANNER..................................................................................................................................................4

2.7 PLANNER: WORKFLOW ..................................................................................................................................................4

CHAPTER 3 LAUNCHING PLANNER............................................................................................................................5

3.1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS ......................................................................................................................................................5

3.1.1 Dialogs...................................................................................................................................................................5

3.1.2 Messages................................................................................................................................................................5

3.1.3 Trees .......................................................................................................................................................................5

3.1.4 Other Functions......................................................................................................................................................5

3.2 OPENING PLANNER ........................................................................................................................................................5

3.2.1 New Project File.....................................................................................................................................................6

3.3 SUPPORT FOR AUTOCAD ...............................................................................................................................................8

CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH THE LOCATIONS TREE AND THE DEVICES LIST.........................................10

4.1 LOCATIONS TREE..........................................................................................................................................................10

4.1.1 Adding a new Location Folder.............................................................................................................................10

4.1.2 Adding a new Location Node ...............................................................................................................................10

Cross Floor Location folder................................................................................................................................................................14

Non-Cross Floor Location folder........................................................................................................................................................14

4.1.3 Managing Layers..................................................................................................................................................14

4.1.4 Viewing/Loading a Location.................................................................................................................................15

4.1.5 Closing a Location Node......................................................................................................................................16

4.1.6 Importing a Location............................................................................................................................................16

4.1.7 Cut/Copy/Paste a Location ..................................................................................................................................17

4.1.8 Moving a Location ...............................................................................................................................................18

4.1.9 Placing Locations on a Location Folder with an attached image........................................................................18

4.1.10 Renaming a Location........................................................................................................................................19

Renaming a Location Folder...............................................................................................................................................................19

Renaming a Location Node ................................................................................................................................................................20

4.1.11 Deleting a Location ..........................................................................................................................................20

4.1.12 Modifying Location Properties.........................................................................................................................20

4.2 DEVICES LIST...............................................................................................................................................................22

CHAPTER 5 MENU AND TOOLBAR OPTIONS .........................................................................................................24

5.1.1 Menu Items...........................................................................................................................................................24

File Menu............................................................................................................................................................................................24

Edit Menu...........................................................................................................................................................................................25

View Menu .........................................................................................................................................................................................26

Draw Menu.........................................................................................................................................................................................27

Drawing a Polygon .............................................................................................................................................................................28

Drawing a Curved Polygon.................................................................................................................................................................28

Tools Menu.........................................................................................................................................................................................29

Help Menu..........................................................................................................................................................................................30

5.1.2 Updating the License............................................................................................................................................30

TableofContents

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

5.2 LAYOUT: ICONS............................................................................................................................................................31

5.3 MANAGING OBJECTS WITHIN THE LAYOUT ..................................................................................................................33

5.3.1 Selecting Objects..................................................................................................................................................33

5.3.2 Moving an Object.................................................................................................................................................33

5.3.3 Changing the Properties of an Object..................................................................................................................33

5.4 MANAGING MATERIAL REPOSITORIES..........................................................................................................................34

5.4.1 Global Material Repository..................................................................................................................................34

5.4.2 Local Material Repository....................................................................................................................................35

5.4.3 Adding a Material ................................................................................................................................................36

5.5 LAYOUT: USING THE TOOLS OPTIONS...........................................................................................................................37

5.5.1 AP Repository.......................................................................................................................................................37

Add AP ...............................................................................................................................................................................................38

IEEE 802.11n Advance Parameters ....................................................................................................................................................38

Modify AP ..........................................................................................................................................................................................39

Delete AP............................................................................................................................................................................................39

5.5.2 Sensor Repository.................................................................................................................................................39

Add Sensor .........................................................................................................................................................................................40

Modify Sensor Model.........................................................................................................................................................................41

Delete Sensor......................................................................................................................................................................................41

5.5.3 Antenna Repository..............................................................................................................................................41

Add Antenna.......................................................................................................................................................................................42

Modify Antenna..................................................................................................................................................................................42

Delete Antenna....................................................................................................................................................................................43

5.5.4 Radiation Pattern Repository...............................................................................................................................43

Add Radiation Pattern.........................................................................................................................................................................44

Modify Radiation Pattern....................................................................................................................................................................44

Delete Radiation Pattern.....................................................................................................................................................................45

5.5.5 Application Environment Repository....................................................................................................................45

Adding an Application Environment ..................................................................................................................................................46

Modifying an Application Environment .............................................................................................................................................46

Deleting an Application Environment.................................................................................................................................................47

5.5.6 Waterfall Curve Repository..................................................................................................................................47

Adding a Waterfall Curve ...................................................................................................................................................................47

Modifying a Waterfall Curve..............................................................................................................................................................49

Deleting a Waterfall Curve..................................................................................................................................................................50

5.5.7 Import Planner Settings........................................................................................................................................50

5.5.8 Export Planner Settings........................................................................................................................................51

5.5.9 Location Properties..............................................................................................................................................52

Location Properties: Dimensions Tab .................................................................................................................................................52

Location Properties: Calculations Tab ................................................................................................................................................53

Location Properties: Local Material Repository Tab ..........................................................................................................................54

5.5.10 Renumber Devices............................................................................................................................................55

CHAPTER 6 WLAN PLANNING WIZARD ..................................................................................................................56

6.1 STEPS IN WLAN PLANNING.........................................................................................................................................56

Coverage Planning..............................................................................................................................................................................59

Capacity Planning...............................................................................................................................................................................61

6.2 AUTO DEVICE PLACEMENT ..........................................................................................................................................64

6.3 AUTO CHANNEL ALLOCATION......................................................................................................................................65

6.4 ESTIMATING THE CAPACITY .........................................................................................................................................65

CHAPTER 7 DEVICE PLACEMENT ON THE LAYOUT MODEL...........................................................................66

7.1 PLANNING DEVICE PLACEMENT...................................................................................................................................66

7.1.1 RF View Area........................................................................................................................................................66

7.1.2 Status and Control Pane.......................................................................................................................................67

7.2 PLANNING DEVICE PLACEMENT: VIEWS FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LAYOUT ............................................................67

7.2.1 AP Coverage View................................................................................................................................................67

7.2.2 AP Channel View..................................................................................................................................................69

7.2.3 AP Link Speed View..............................................................................................................................................71

7.2.4 AP Interference View............................................................................................................................................72

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3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

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7.2.5 AP Redundancy View............................................................................................................................................74

7.2.6 AP SINR View.......................................................................................................................................................76

7.2.7 Sensor Coverage View..........................................................................................................................................77

7.2.8 Sensor Threat View...............................................................................................................................................79

7.2.9 Sensor Redundancy View......................................................................................................................................80

7.2.10 Calibration View...............................................................................................................................................82

7.3 PLANNING DEVICE PLACEMENT: STATUS AND CONTROL .............................................................................................83

7.3.1 Signal Certainty Level..........................................................................................................................................83

7.3.2 Accuracy...............................................................................................................................................................84

7.3.3 Opacity.................................................................................................................................................................84

7.3.4 Show Grid.............................................................................................................................................................84

7.3.5 View Layout Model...............................................................................................................................................84

7.3.6 Show RF Signal....................................................................................................................................................84

7.3.7 Show Spillage View ..............................................................................................................................................84

7.3.8 Selecting Protocols...............................................................................................................................................85

7.3.9 Calculate/Calibrate Button ..................................................................................................................................86

7.3.10 Color Palette.....................................................................................................................................................86

7.4 STATUS BAR .................................................................................................................................................................87

7.4.1 Cursor Location (X, Y).........................................................................................................................................87

7.4.2 RSSI Display.........................................................................................................................................................87

7.4.3 Layout Dimensions...............................................................................................................................................87

7.4.4 Current Mode.......................................................................................................................................................87

7.4.5 Interference ..........................................................................................................................................................87

7.4.6 SINR .....................................................................................................................................................................87

7.5 DEVICE LIBRARY..........................................................................................................................................................88

7.6 DEVICE PROPERTIES.....................................................................................................................................................89

7.6.1 Access Point Properties........................................................................................................................................89

7.6.2 Sensor Properties .................................................................................................................................................91

7.7 VIEWING SIGNAL STRENGTH........................................................................................................................................92

7.8 STATISTICS ...................................................................................................................................................................92

7.9 SAVING THE FILE..........................................................................................................................................................95

7.10 SAVING THE PROJECT FILE........................................................................................................................................95

CHAPTER 8 SETTINGS...................................................................................................................................................97

8.1 SETTINGS: INVOKING FROM TOOLS MENU ...................................................................................................................97

8.2 SETTINGS: PREFERENCES .............................................................................................................................................97

8.2.1 Preferences: Layout Designer..............................................................................................................................97

8.2.2 Preferences: AP Views..........................................................................................................................................98

8.2.3 Preferences: Sensor Views....................................................................................................................................98

8.2.4 Preferences: Color Palettes..................................................................................................................................99

8.2.5 Preferences: Calibration......................................................................................................................................99

8.3 SETTINGS: AP DEFAULTS............................................................................................................................................100

8.4 SETTINGS: SENSOR DEFAULTS....................................................................................................................................102

CHAPTER 9 GENERATING OUTPUT FROM PLANNER.......................................................................................104

9.1 WLAN PLANNING REPORT ........................................................................................................................................104

APPENDIX A: PLANNING SENSORS...............................................................................................................................107

PLACEMENT OF SENSORS......................................................................................................................................................107

APPENDIX B: INTEGRATION OF 3COM ® AIRPROTECT PLANNER AND 3COM ® AIRPROTECT

ENTERPRISE........................................................................................................................................................................108

EXPORTING THE PROJECT FROM PLANNER ............................................................................................................................108

APPENDIX C: FILE LEVEL AND APPLICATION LEVEL PARAMETERS...............................................................110

APPENDIX D: GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...........................................................................................................................111



GettingStarted

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

Chapter1 GettingStarted

1.1 BeforeYouBegin

Thankyouforpurchasing3Com®AirProtectPlanner(Planner),astateoftheartWirelessLocalAreaNetwork(WLAN)

securityandnetworkplanningtooldevelopedby3ComCorporation.

1.2 Howtogetmoreinformation

Toreceiveimportantnewsonproductupdates,pleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.3com.com.

1.3 ContactInformation

3ComCorporation

350CampusDrive,Marlborough,MA01752

508‐323‐5000(Tel)

508‐323‐1111(Fax)

Fortechnicalsupport,sendanemailto:[email protected]

IntroductiontoWLANPlanningandPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

2

Chapter2 IntroductiontoWLANPlanningandPlanner

WirelessLocalAreaNetworks(WLANs)connectyouinstantlyevenwhileyouaremoving.Theyprovideconvenientand

increasinglyflexibleproductivityintoday’scorporateandindustrialenvironment.However,WLANsneedtobeproperly

plannedforadequatecoverageandsecuritytogetthesebenefits.Thischapterdiscussesthedisadvantagesofpoorlyplanned

WLANs

andpresentsPlannerasthesolutiontosuchproblems.

Plannerplanstheentirenetworkwiththehelpofvariousoutdoorobjectsnamely,buildings,trees,waterbodies,indoor

buildingobjectsnamely,walls,windows,doors,elevatorshafts,furniture,concretecolumns,andmetalobjects;anddevices

suchasAccessPoints(APs)andSensors.

TheinitialinputtoPlannerisalayoutimageinanygraphicalformat.Asanoutput,

itgeneratesvariousRFviewsandthenassemblestheseviewsintoacomprehensiveRFplanningreport.

2.1 WhatisWi‐Fi?

Wi‐FiisanothernameforIEEE802.11basedWLANs.Thesenetworksoperateatanduse802.11a,5GHz,802.11b/g,2.4GHz

andtheemerging802.11n,2.4and5GHz.Wi‐FiispromulgatedbytheWi‐FiAlliance.ProductscertifiedasWi‐Ficompatible

byWi‐FiAllianceareinteroperable

witheachothereveniftheyarefromdifferentmanufacturers.Youcanuseanybrandof

APwithanyotherbrandofClienthardwarethatisbuilttotheWi‐Fistandard.Wi‐Fihasgainingacceptanceinhomes,offices,

andpublicplaceslikecoffeeshops,hotels,andairports.

2.2 DisadvantagesofPoorlyPlannedWLANs

PoorlyplannedWLANshavethefollowingrisks:

• LowPerformance:Lackofcoverage,capacity,andthroughputplanningresultsinpoorconnectivityspeedsincertain

areas.Thiscouldresultinlowperformanceofthenetwork.

• HighSecurityRisk:RFsignalsspillduetotheverynatureofthewirelessnetworkenvironment.Forexample,

hackerscouldtapintotheWLANfromtheparkinglotorthestreet.Thiscanleadtoserioussecuritybreaches.

• BadUserExperience:Lowperformance,throughput,orcoverageleadtobaduserexperience.

• HighOperationalExpenses(OPEX):Networkadministratorshavetospendalotoftime

andeffortin

troubleshootingissues,qualityofservice,andsecurityexposureafterthedeploymentofnetworks.Thisleadsto

higheroperationalexpenses.

• LowerReturnonInvestment(RoI):ApoorlyplannednetworkresultsinalowerRoIastheproductivitygainsare

notashighaspredicted.

Thecurrentstate‐of‐the‐artistocarryoutasitesurvey(alsocalledradiosurvey),usebestpracticesforAPplacement,oreven

performdeploymentonadhocbasis.Thesemethodshavethefollowinglimitations:

• Sitesurveysaretimeconsuming,expensive,andpronetoerrors.

• Adhocdeploymentsposedifficulty

invisualizingnetworkcoverage,leadtosecurityexposure,andcausechannel

interference.

• ‘What‐If’scenariosarenotpossibleinsitesurveyoradhocdeploymentmethods.

ThereisnoestablishedpracticeforplanningWLANsecuritynetworks,anessentialpartofITsecurityintoday’snetwork

environment.

Pre‐deploymentenablessuccessful

WLANdeploymentsby:

• Maximizingnetworkcoverageandthroughput

• Minimizingchannelinterference

• MinimizingsecurityexposurebyensuringminimumsignalspillageoutsidethedesignatedareaofWLANoperation

• Providing‘What‐If’scenariosfortrade‐offbetweensecurityexposureduetosignalspillageandnetworkcoverage

• Maximizingthe

detectionandpreventionrangeofWLANsecuritySensors

• PlanningSensorstoensurereliablelocationtrackingofunauthorizeddevices

• EnsuringthateventheweakesttransmitterisdetectedandpreventedbytheSensors

• Planningtoenablelive24x7RFmonitoring

• Troubleshootingremotely

• Restructuringthewholeplanespeciallywhile

extendingtheexistingofficespaceordeployingnewequipments

IntroductiontoWLANPlanningandPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

2.3 Planner:ACompleteWLANPlanningSolution

PlannermakesthetaskofWLANplanningsimple.Itseasy‐to‐useinterfaceprovidesrichvisibilityintosecurityexposure,RF

coverage,channelallocation,andavailablelinkspeedinWLANs.Thisensuressecurity,highreliability,andoptimal

configurationofWLANs.

Plannerprovidesthefollowing:

• AdvancedpredictionmodelforSensorandAP

placement

• DevicedatabasewithpresetoptionsforcommonAPmodels,Sensorsmodels.

• AbilitytoaddnewAPmodelsandantennae

• Buildingmaterialdatabase

• CrossFloorcoverage

• LiveAPcalibration

Onceyoumodelthelayoutofthefacility,youcanplaceAPs(RefertoAppendixD:

GlossaryofTerms)usingasimpledrag

anddropoperationtogenerateRFmapsandacomprehensivesetofdeliverablesasdescribedinthefollowingsection.

2.4 DeliverablesfromPlanner

• SiteModelforfutureRFplanning

• BillofMaterial(BoM)for3Com®AirProtectEnterpriseSensors(Sensors)

• BoMforAPsandantennae

¾ NumberandlocationofSensors

¾ Number,location,andconfigurationofAPs

¾ Antennatypesandlocation

• RFMaps

¾ SecurityView:Coverageinside

thePerimeter,CoveragebeyondthePerimeter,Redundancy

¾ AccessPoints:Coverage,Spillage,ChannelAllocation,Interference,andRedundancy

• Consolidatedplanningreport

¾ BoMforSensorsandAPs

¾ RFmapsforsecurity(Sensors)coverage

¾ RFmapsfornetwork(AP)coverage

¾ With/outCustomerInput

¾ WLANbasics

• Files

¾ .spm

¾ .prj(project)

¾ .zip(compressedprojectfilein.zipformat)

2.5 Planner:Benefits

PlannerprovidesvisibilityintotheWLANallowingthenetworkadministratorto:

• Eliminatesecurityrisksbyminimizingsignalspillagetoprotectthenetwork.

• PlanforsecurityusingSensorstomaximizedetectionandpreventionofthreats.

• ReducetheOperatingExpenditure(OPEX)byestimatingthenetworkperformanceandminimizingnetwork

problems

andon‐goingnetworkmaintenancethroughproperplanning.

• ReduceCapitalExpenditure(CAPEX)byinvestingonlyintherequiredequipmentsandeliminatingexpensivesite

surveys.

• Increasevisibilityforsecurityexposureanalysisandeffectivemaintenancebyunderstandingtheimpactof

upgrades.

• Satisfyuserneedsbyreducingnetworkdowntimeandmaximizingcoverage,networkcapacity,andthroughput.

• Provide‘What‐If’scenarioswhenthereisachangeinthelayoutorintheplacementoffurniture,oranyadditionor

deletionofWLANequipments.

• ‘What‐If’analysistomigrateto802.11ndevicesfromtheexistinglegacysystems.

• WLANPlanningWizard



¾ CapacityPlanning

¾ CoveragePlanning

IntroductiontoWLANPlanningandPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

4

¾ AutoDevicePlacement

¾ AutoChannelAllocation

• CapacityEstimation

• SupportofAutoCADfilesforsitemodeling.

2.6 WorkingofPlanner

PerformthefollowingstepsforWLANPlanningusingPlanner:

1 Installing

2 Launching

3 DesigningaLayout

4 PlanningWLANforsecurity,coverage,andspeed

5 Settingvariousprotocols,filters,andadvancedparametersforaccurateRFviews

6 GeneratingaBoMandreports

2.7 Planner:Workflow

PlannerhelpsyouplantheentireWLANwithminimalinputfromthecustomer.TheinputtoPlannerisalayoutimageinany

graphicalformatoravalidAutoCADfile.Youcancreateamodelofthedeploymentspacebyplacingobjectssuchaswalls,

windows,doors,furniture,andopenspaces

ontothelayoutasdepictedbelow.

Figure 1. Planner Workflow

LaunchingPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

Chapter3 LaunchingPlanner

ThischaptershowsyouhowtolaunchPlannerandusethenewPlannerfile.

3.1 GlobalFunctions

Plannercontainsseveralcommonfunctionsthatapplythroughouttheapplication.Theyareasfollows:

3.1.1 Dialogs

ThefollowingfunctionsapplytoalldialogboxesinPlanner.Dependingonoptionsavailableinaparticulardialogbox,you

can:

• Click<OK>toacceptanactionorsaveallthechangesandclosethedialogbox.

• Click<Save>tosaveallthechangesmadeandclose

thedialogbox.

• Click<Cancel>todiscardtheactionorthechangesandclosethedialogbox.

• Click<Apply>tosaveallchangeswhilekeepingthedialogboxopen.

• Click<Delete>toremoveaselecteditem.

• Click<Close>toclosethedialog

box.

• Click<RestoretoDefaults>toresettofactorydefaults.

• Click<ResettoInstallationDefaults>torestoretodefaultinstallationvalues.

• Click<Yes>toaccepttheactioninthedialogbox.

• Click<No>todenyordeclinetheactioninthedialogbox.



3.1.2 Messages

ThefollowingfunctionsapplytoallmessageboxesinPlanner.

• Click<OK>forYes.

• Click<Cancel>forNo.

• Ifyouexceedtheallowedrangeforanyparameter,Plannerpopsupanalertmentioningthevalue/dataisinvalid,

andthatyouhavetobewithinthepermittedrange.

3.1.3 Trees

ThefollowingfunctionsapplytoalltreesinPlanner.Inanytree,youcanperformthefollowing:

• Click

toexpandthesubnodes.

• Click

tocollapsethesubnodes.

• Double‐clickthenodetexttoeitherexpandorcollapsesubnodes.

3.1.4 OtherFunctions

ThefollowingfunctionsapplytoalltherepositoriesandmessageboxesinPlanner:

• Click intherelevantsectiontoviewmoreinformationabouttherespectivesection.

• Onthevariousrepositoryscreens,clickthecolumnheaderofthetablestosortthelistofitemsinthetable.

3.2 OpeningPlanner

WhenyoulaunchPlanner,theOpenWi‐FiProjectdialogboxappears.Youcandooneofthefollowing:

1 CreateanewWi‐FiProject

2 SelectfromoneoftherecentlyusedWi‐FiProjects

3 OpenanexistingWi‐FiProject

LaunchingPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

6

Figure 2. New Project

• Click<CreateNew>tostartaNewProjectFiletocreateanewWi‐Fiproject.

• SelectafilefromtheRecentFilessectiontoviewarecentlyusedproject.

• Click<Browse>toselectanexistingproject(.spm,.prjor.zip).

• Click<Open>to

invoketheselectedWi‐Fiproject.

3.2.1 NewProjectFile

YoucanstartanewprojectinPlannerbydoingoneofthefollowing:

• FromtheFilemenu,selectNewProject.

• Click<CreateNew>ontheOpenWi‐FiProjectdialogbox.

• Click fromtheToolbar. 

ThisopenstheNewProjectFiledialogbox.

Figure 3. New Project File

EnterthefollowingdetailsintheNewProjectFiledialogbox.

• Name:Enterthedesirednameoftheproject.

• Location:Enterthedesiredlocationfortheprojectorclick<Browse>tonavigatetothelocation.IntheBrowseFor

Folderdialogbox,selectalocationfromthefolder

treeorclick<MakeNewFolder>toaddanewlocationtothe

foldertree.

LaunchingPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

Figure 4. Browsing for Folder

• DirectoryName:Displaysthepathandtheprojectfiledirectoryname.

• LocationMap:Enterthelocationofthedesiredlocationmapimageorclick<Browse>tonavigatetothefolder

containingthedesiredimage.

Ifyouenterinvaliddataorselectaninvalidfile,Plannerdisplaysanalert.



ThePlanneroutputsare:

• ProjectfilecreatedandsavedasanXMLfilewithanextension‘.prj’.

• PlannerfilecreatedandsavedasanXMLfilewithanextension‘.spm’.

Ifatalaterpoint,youmodifyandsavethisXMLoutputfile,byeditingitina

textpad,thefilebecomescorrupt.Afterthat,

youwillnotbeabletoopenthisfileinPlanner.

A.spmfileisboundtoa.prjfile.Youcannotcreatea.spmfileonly.Whenyoutrytoopena.spmfileseparatelyandnot

throughtheProject,Plannercreates

adefaultproject,createsanodeforthat.spmfileunderthe‘Root’locationfolder,and

displaysthe.spmfile.

Theprojectlayoutappearsasfollows.

LaunchingPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

8

Figure 5. Project Layout

ThenewPlannerprojectlayoutscreenisdividedintothreepanesasfollows:

1 MenuandToolbarsatthetop:

TheMenubarprovidesPlanneroperations.TheToolbarprovidesbuttonsforquickoperations.Theoperationsenableyou

todesignandviewthelayout.RefertothesectionMenuItems

formoredetails.

2 LeftpaneconsistsoftheLocationstreeatthetopandtheDeviceslistbelow:

TheLocationstreecontainslocationfoldersandlocationnodes.Onlaunchinganewproject,PlannercreatestheLocations

treewiththe<ProjectName>astherootlocation.

TheDeviceslist

containsalistofdevicesplacedonthefloormap.YoucanseethisdevicelistonlyiftheLocationNodeis

loaded.

TheLocationstreeandtheDeviceslistarediscussedfurtherinthesectionWorkingwithLocationTreeandDevicesList.

3 RightpaneconsistsofthePlannerLayoutModelforthelocation.

ThePlannerLayoutModelistheviewablelayoutareaforthelocationselectedintheLocationstree.

3.3 SupportforAutoCAD

PlannersupportsAutoCADfiles.AnAutoCADfilecontainsthedimensionsofthelayoutandalsoalistoflayersinthelayout.

WhenimportedintoPlanner,PlannerautomaticallypopulatestheDimensionsfield.Youcaneditthedimensions.Oncethese

dimensionsareaccepted,theManageLayersscreenappearswhereyoucanselect

therequiredlayers.Plannerselectsthe

layersthatareturnedonintheAutoCADfile,bydefault,andbasedonthat,importsandmodelsalltheobjectsfromthese

layers.Youdonothavetore‐modeltheseobjects.RefertothesectionManagingLayers

toknowmoreaboutmanaginglayers

ofanAutoCADfile.

PlannersupportsthefollowingversionsofAutoCADfiles:

• AutodeskDXFRelease10,11,12,13,14,2000,2002,2004/2005/2006

• AutodeskDWGRelease9,10,11,12,13,14,2000,2002,2004/2005/2006

LaunchingPlanner

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

PlannerallowsimportingofthefollowinginformationfromanAutoCADfile.

• LayoutDimensions

• LayerInformation

Plannersupportsthefollowingshapesofobjects.Alltheseshapesmustbe2D.

• Lines

• Rectangles

• Polygons

• Circles

• Arcs

However,Plannerdoesnotsupportthefollowingshapes:

• Doughnut

•

HollowArcs

• CurvedPolygons

• Spline

• 3Dobjects

WorkingwiththeLocationsTreeandtheDevicesList

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

10

Chapter4 WorkingwiththeLocationsTreeandtheDevicesList

Plannerenablesyoutomodeltheenterpriseacrosslocations.Italsoenablesyoutoplacedevicesonalocationtoensure

optimumcoverage.TheLocationstreeandtheDeviceslistfeaturesappearontheleftpaneoftheprojectlayoutscreen.

4.1 LocationsTree

TheLocationstreeenablesyoutoorganizethenetworkintoalistoflocationsandviewlive802.11RFcoveragemapsforeach

locationnode.Thetreealsohelpsyoueasilynavigatethroughthelocationsandswitchbetweendifferentfloors.

TheLocationstreecomprisesoflocationfoldersandlocationnodes.

•

Locationfoldersrepresentorganizationalcomponentssuchasbuildings,cities,orcountries.

¾ RootLocation:Thisistherootlocation.PlannerassignstheProjectNameyouselect,asthenamefortheRoot

Location.Youcanrenamethislocation.However,youcannotdeleteormovethislocation.

• Locationnodesrepresent

componentdetailssuchasafloorinabuilding.Forexample,HawaiiConferenceRoom,

Bldg15–CubicleG2,orExecutiveArea.

Youcanperformvariousfunctionslikeadding,deleting,renaming,movingalocation,andsoonfromtheLocationstree.

4.1.1 AddinganewLocationFolder

IntheLocationstree,right‐clickthelocationfolderunderwhichyouwishtoaddanewlocation,andselectAddLocation

Folder.TheNewLocationFolderdialogboxappears.

Figure 6. Adding a New Location Folder

• Name:Enterthedesirednameforthenewlocationfolder.

• LocationMap:SpecifythelocationoftheLocationMap.Alternately,click<Browse>tonavigatetothegraphical

locationmapthatyouwishtoimportintothelocationfolder.

• ConsiderCrossFloorSpillage:Selectthischeckboxtoenable

crossfloorspillage.Plannerpopsupanalerttowarn

youthatthisactionisirreversibleonceCrossFloorfolderiscreated.Youcannotde‐selectorchangethisoptionata

laterpoint.

4.1.2 AddinganewLocationNode

IntheLocationstree,right‐clickthelocationfolderunderwhichyouwishtoaddanewlocationnode,andselectAdd

LocationNode.TheNewLocationNodedialogboxappears.

WorkingwiththeLocationsTreeandtheDevicesList

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

Figure 7. Adding a New Location Node

TheNewLocationNodedialogboxconstitutesdetailsoftheLocationNodeandtwosections:DimensionsandCopyingof

Objects.

SpecifythefollowingdetailsoftheLocationNode:

• Name:Enterthedesirednameforthenewlocationnode.

• PlanType:SpecifyiftheplantypeisanIndoororOutdoorlayout.

• LocationMap:SpecifyiftheLocationMapisa.jpgor.gifImage,oranAutoCAD

file.Click<Browse>tonavigateto

thegraphicallocationmapthatyouwishtoimportintothelocationnode.

OnceyouselectandimportanAutoCADfileforalocationnode,theManageLayersdialogboxappears.

WorkingwiththeLocationsTreeandtheDevicesList

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

12

Figure 8. Managing Layers of an AutoCAD file

• CeilingHeight:Enterthedesiredceilingheightforthelayout.

• CeilingMaterial:Selectthedesiredceilingmaterialforthelayoutfromthedrop‐downlist.

Note:LocationMap–AutoCADoption,CeilingHeight,andCeilingMaterialareavailableonlyifyouselectIndoorLayoutasthe

PlanType.TheyarenotavailableforanOutdoorLayout.

• RegulatoryDomain:Differentcountrieshaveregulatoryagenciespermittingaselectnumberofchannelsfor

protocols.Selecttherelevantcountryfromthedrop‐downlistforwhichyouaredoingWLANplanning.

• ApplicationEnvironment:Selectthedesiredapplicationenvironmentfromthedrop‐downlist.

• MinAttenuationFactor:Specifiestheminimumattenuationfactorsfor802.11a/nand802.11b/g/nprotocols,

dependingontheapplicationenvironmentselected.

• MaxAttenuationFactor:Specifiesthemaximumattenuationfactorsfor802.11a/nand802.11b/g/nprotocols,

dependingontheapplicationenvironmentselected.

Dimensions

• Unit:Selectthe

unitofmeasurementyouwanttouseforthelayoutfromthedrop‐downlist.

• a:Specifythelengthofthelayout.

• b:Specifythewidthofthelayout.

• LockAspectRatio:Allowsyoutomaintaintheratioofthelengthandwidthofthelayouttothat

oftheLayoutimage

selectedearlier.Toachievethis:

1. SelectLockAspectRatiobeforeenteringthedimensionsofthelayout.

2. Enteranyoneofthetwodimensionsofthelayout.Thevalueoftheotherdimensionisautomaticallyenteredas

perthedefaultaspectratio.

• LayoutDimensions:

Displaysapreviewofthelayoutmap.

Incaseyoudonotknowthedimensionsofthelayout,click<HelpMe>.TheFindLayoutDimensionsscreenappears.

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3com AirProtect Planner User manual

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Model: AirProtect Planner

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3com AirProtect Planner User manual

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