3com AirProtect Planner User manual



3Com® AirProtect Planner

User Guide

3CWXPGS

Wireless LAN Planning for Security,

Coverage and Performance

Version 5.0



www.3Com.com

Part number: 10016914

June 2008

Disclaimer

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

i



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

3Com Corporation reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content from time to

time without obligation on the part of 3Com Corporation to provide notification of such revision or change.

3Com Corporation provides this documentation without warranty, term, or condition of any kind, either implied or

expressed, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties, terms, or conditions of merchantability, satisfactory

quality, and fitness for a particular purpose. 3Com may make improvements or changes in the product(s) and/or

the program(s) described in this documentation at any time.

If there is any software on removable media described in this documentation, it is furnished under a license

agreement included with the product as a separate document, in the hardcopy documentation, or on the

removable media in a directory file named LICENSE.TXT or !LICENSE.TXT. If you are unable to locate a copy,

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

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGENDS:

If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described herein re

provided to you subject to the following:

United States Government Legend: All technical data and computer software is commercial in nature and

developed solely at private expense. Software is delivered as Commercial Computer Software as defined in

DFARS 252.227-7014 (June 1995) or as a commercial item as defined in FAR 2.101(a) and as such is provided

with only such rights as are provided in 3Com’s standard commercial license for the Software. Technical data is

provided with limited rights only as provided in DFAR 252.227-7015 (Nov 1995) or FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987),

whichever is applicable. You agree not to remove or deface any portion of any legend provided on any licensed

program or documentation contained in, or delivered to you in conjunction with guide.

Unless otherwise indicated, 3Com registered trademarks are registered in the United States and may or may not

be registered in other countries.

3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation.

Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds and the Linux Mark Institute.

All other products and services are trademarks, registered trademarks, and service marks or registered service

marks of their respective owners.



EndUserLicenseAgreement

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

ii

IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, INSTALL, OR USE THIS SOFTWARE

3COM END USER SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE DOWNLOADING,

INSTALLING AND/OR USING THIS SOFTWARE, THE USE OF WHICH IS LICENSED BY 3COM

CORPORATION (“3COM”) TO ITS CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR USE ONLY AS SET FORTH BELOW.

DOWNLOADING, INSTALLING OR OTHERWISE USING ANY PART OF THIS SOFTWARE OR

DOCUMENTATION INDICATES THAT YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO NOT

AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT DOWNLOAD, INSTALL OR

OTHERWISE USE THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, DO NOT CLICK ON THE "I AGREE" OR

SIMILAR BUTTON. AND IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION ON

PHYSICAL MEDIA, PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENTIRE PRODUCT WITH THIS SOFTWARE AND

DOCUMENTATION UNUSED TO THE SUPPLIER WHERE YOU OBTAINED IT.

IN THE EVENT THAT A SYSTEM INTEGRATOR, CONSULTANT, CONTRACTOR, OR OTHER PARTY

DOWNLOADS THE SOFTWARE FOR YOU, AND/OR USES OR INSTALLS THE SOFTWARE OR

DOCUMENTATION ON YOUR BEHALF PRIOR TO YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION,

SUCH SYSTEM INTEGRATOR, CONSULTANT, CONTRACTOR, OR OTHER PARTY WILL BE DEEMED TO BE

YOUR AGENT ACTING ON YOUR BEHALF AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE ACCEPTED ALL OF THE

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT AS IF YOU HAD DOWNLOADED, INSTALLED, OR USED THE

SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION.

LICENSE: 3Com grants you a nonexclusive, nontransferable (except as specified herein) license to use the

accompanying software program(s) in executable form (the “Software”) and accompanying documentation (the

“Documentation”), subject to the terms and restrictions set forth in this Agreement. You are not permitted to

modify, create derivative works of, sell, assign, lease, rent, distribute or sublicense (except as specified herein)

the Software or Documentation or to use the Software or Documentation in a time-sharing arrangement or in any

other unauthorized manner nor permit any other party to do any of the foregoing. Further, no license is granted to

you in the human readable code of the Software (source code). Except as provided below, this Agreement does

not grant you any rights to patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, or any other rights with respect to the

Software or Documentation.

Subject to the restrictions set forth herein, the Software is licensed to be used on one (1) 3Com product owned by

or leased to you, for your internal use. You may reproduce one (1) copy of the Software and Documentation for

backup or archive purposes in support of your use of the Software as permitted hereunder. Each copy of the

Software and Documentation must contain 3Com’s and its licensors’ proprietary rights and copyright notices in the

same form as on the original. You agree not to remove, alter, or deface any of the trademarks, trade names,

logos, patent or copyright notices or markings, or other legends, or add any other notices, markings, or legends to

the Software or Documentation.

ASSIGNMENT; NO REVERSE ENGINEERING: You may transfer the Software, Documentation and the licenses

granted herein to another party in the same country in which you obtained the Software and Documentation if the

other party agrees in writing to accept and be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. If you transfer

the Software and Documentation, you must at the same time either transfer all copies of the Software and

Documentation to the party or you must destroy any copies not transferred. Except as set forth above, you may

not assign or transfer your rights under this Agreement.

You may not derive or attempt to derive the source code of the Software by any means, nor permit any other party

to derive or attempt to derive such source code. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or

translate the Software or any part thereof. However, if you are a European Union (“EU”) resident, information

necessary to achieve interoperability of the Software with other programs within the meaning of the EU Directive

on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs is available to you from 3Com upon written request.

EndUserLicenseAgreement

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

iii

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE: Certain items of independent code that are included with the Software hereunder may

be subject to various open source or free software licenses (the “Open Source Software”). This Open Source Software

is licensed under the terms of the end-user license(s) that are provided as part of the Documentation or upon request

to 3Com. Nothing in this Agreement limits your rights under, or grants you rights that supersede, the terms and

conditions of any applicable end-user license for such Open Source Software. The terms of this Agreement other than

the Limited Warranties and Disclaimers and the Limitation of Liability will not apply to the Open Source Software.

THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY: Should the Software contain Wind River Systems, Inc.’s (“Wind River”) Run-Time

Module, Wind River and its licensors are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and any provisions related to the

Run-Time Module are made expressly for the benefit of, and are enforceable by, Wind River and its licensors.

EXPORT: The product, Software, Documentation and/or other technical data (collectively "Product") are subject to

U.S. export control laws and regulations. Certain products made by 3Com are further controlled for export as

encryption items and may be subject to additional export or import regulations in other countries. You agree that

you will not export, reexport or transfer the Product (or any copies thereof) or any products utilizing the Product in

violation of any applicable laws or regulations of the United States or the country where you legally obtained it.

You are responsible for obtaining any licenses to export, reexport, transfer or import the Product.

You agree that you are not prohibited by the U.S. or other government export control regulations from receiving

this Software, Documentation and/or other technical data.

In addition to the above, the Product may not be used by, or exported or reexported to (i) any U.S.- or EU-

sanctioned or embargoed country, or to nationals or residents of such countries; or (ii) to any person, entity,

organization or other party identified on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Table of Denial Orders or the U.S.

Department of Treasury’s lists of "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons," as published and revised

from time to time; (iii) to any party engaged in nuclear, chemical/biological weapons or missile proliferation

activities, unless authorized by U.S. and local (as required) law or regulations.

TRADE SECRETS; TITLE: You acknowledge and agree that the structure, sequence and organization of the

Software are the valuable trade secrets of 3Com and its licensors. You agree to hold such trade secrets in

confidence. You further acknowledge and agree that the Software is licensed and not sold to you and that all

ownership of, and title to, the Software and Documentation and all subsequent copies thereof regardless of the

form or media are held by 3Com and its licensors.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS: The Software and Documentation are “Commercial Items(s)”

as defined in 48 C.F.R. §2.101, consisting of “Commercial Computer Software” and “Commercial Computer Software

Documentation”, as such terms are used in 48 C.F.R. § 12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227.7202, as applicable. Consistent with 48

C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227-7202-1 through 227.7202-4, as applicable, the Commercial Computer Software and

Commercial Computer Software Documentation are being licensed U.S. Government end users (a) only as Commercial

Items and (b) with only those rights as are granted to all other end users pursuant to the terms and conditions herein.

Therefore, if you are licensing the Software and/or Documentation for acquisition by the U.S. Government or any

contractor therefore, you will license consistent with the policies set forth in 48 C.F.R. §12.212 (for civilian agencies) and

48 C.F.R. §227-7202-1 and 227.7202-4 (for the Department of Defense), and their successors.

TERM AND TERMINATION: The licenses granted hereunder are perpetual unless terminated earlier as specified

below. You may terminate the licenses and this Agreement at any time by destroying the Software and

Documentation together with all copies and any portions thereof in any form. The licenses and this Agreement will

also terminate immediately if you fail to comply with any term or condition of this Agreement. Upon such

termination you agree to destroy the Software and Documentation, together with all copies and merged portions in

any form.

LIMITED WARRANTIES AND DISCLAIMER: All warranties applicable to the Software are as stated on the Limited

Warranty Sheet or in the product manual, whether in paper or electronic form, accompanying the Software. E

XCEPT AS

EXPRESSLY STATED ON SUCH

LIMITED WARRANTY SHEET, THE SOFTWARE IS LICENSED TO YOU “AS IS,“ WITHOUT WARRANTY OF

ANY KIND AND

3COM AND ITS LICENSORS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE

EndUserLicenseAgreement

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

iv

WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY

, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY

RIGHTS

.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: 3C

OM AND ITS LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL,

CONSEQUENTIAL

, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF 3COM OR SUCH

LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES

. NO 3COM LICENSOR SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY

WHATSOEVER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT

.

GOVERNING LAW: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

U.S.A. excluding its conflicts of laws principles and excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the

International Sale of Goods.

SEVERABILITY: In the event any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the

validity, legality and enforceability of any of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired

and a valid, legal and enforceable provision of similar intent and economic impact shall be substituted therefor.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding and agreement between you and

3Com and supersedes all prior agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Software and

Documentation, and may be amended only in a writing signed by both parties.

Should you have any questions concerning this Agreement or if you want to contact 3Com for any reason, please

contact the 3Com subsidiary serving your country, or write: 3Com Corporation, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough,

MA 01752. (508) 323-5000. Alternatively, log onto www.3Com.com and click "Contact Us" at the bottom of your

screen for topic-specific contact information.

3Com Corporation.



TableofContents

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

v

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

vi

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

TableofContents

3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide

vii

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

1

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

3

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

5

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

7

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

9

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

11

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.

Page is loading ...

3com AirProtect Planner User manual

This manual is also suitable for

3com AirProtect Planner User manual

Related papers

Other documents