real-world wi-fi capacity / interference testing

Real-World Wi-Fi Capacity / Interference Testing2011

2 | Tom’s Test Results

Top (Undeniable) TakeawaysRuckus continues to deliver the best performance at long ranges

Downlink represents 80%+ of today’s enterprise traffic mix, Ruckus excels

ZoneFlex delivers more aggregate throughput for high-capacity client environments

Ruckus is the only vendor to mitigate interference

Airtime fairness is critical and works best with Ruckus

Ruckus provides all around consistency across all tests

SHORTMEDIUM

LONG 12

3

56

“”

Ruckus puts forth the best effort in the largest number of tests [and does so] with a mere 2x2:2 design and through engineering attention to the factors necessary to provide a high-quality wireless experience in increasingly hostile RF conditions.

T H E B O T T O M L I N E

4

3 | Tom’s Test Results

What was the Big Difference?THEM US

Fixed 1:1 relationship between Wi-Fi radios and antennas

Dynamic 1:manyrelationship between Wi-Fi radios and antennas

4 | Tom’s Test Results

Tom’s Test Environment

DUT

100’ (30m)LoS

10’ (3m)LoS

70’ (21m)LoS

OFFICE BUILDING DETAILS▪20,000+square feet▪6” sheetrock interior walls,

metal studs▪Steel frame▪Tilt-up concrete slab▪12” stucco exterior walls▪5’ tall, 2” cubicle walls▪Noise floor: -90dBm

DUT Device (AP) Under TestSingle client test locationsClients used for capacity and interference testing

5 | Tom’s Test Results

A Real Wi-Fi Testbed

6 | Tom’s Test Results

HP E-MSM460Dual-band 802.11n(3x3:3)

CiscoAironet 3502i

Dual-band 802.11n(2x3:2)

Airport Extreme A1354

Dual-band 802.11n(3x3:2)

ArubaAP125

Dual-band 802.11n(3x3:2)

MerakiMR24

Dual-band 802.11n(3x3:3)

RuckusZoneFlex 7363

Dual-band 802.11n AP

(2x2:2)

Standalone Standalone Cloud controlled

version 5.5.0.0-01-9514

Cisco 4402(ver. 7.0.98.0)

Version7.5.1

Aruba 3200ArubaOS 6.0.0.1

MerakiEnterprise

Cloud Controller

ZoneDirector 1106 controller

(ver. 9.1.0.0.38)

Devices Under Test

Default (out of box) configuration used for all DUTs

7 | Tom’s Test Results

▪Tools used▪ IxChariot 7.0 server and endpoints▪ IxChariot default WLAN high throughput

TCP script using 1MB file transfer▪ 300+ tests run (including client rotations)▪ Open: no encryption

▪Single client testing▪ Dell Latitude E6410 laptop (3x3:3)

▪ Windows 7 Professional OS▪ Intel Core i7 2.67GHz with 4GB RAM▪ Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN

(driver version 13.1.1.1)

▪Multi-client testing▪ 60 Dell Vostro laptops

▪ Intel Core i3 - 2.27 GHz with 3 GB RAM▪ MS Windows XP professional SP3▪ DW1520 Wireless-N WLAN half-mini card (Broadcom)▪ Driver 5.60.48.35

Test Details

1. Non-802.11n interference• 2.4GHz interference generator

2. Co-channel interference▪60 laptops (5GHz) continuously

downloading 1MB file over same channel from different AP

INTERFERENCE SOURCES

8 | Tom’s Test Results

What Was Measured1. 5 GHz downlink TCP performance at 10’ LoS (no interference)

2. 5 GHz uplink TCP performance at 10’ (3m) LoS (no interference)

3. 5 Ghz downlink TCP performance at 70‘ (21m) LoS (no interference)

4. 5 GHz uplink TCP performance at 70‘ (21m) LoS (no interference)

5. 5 GHz TCP downlink performance at 70‘ (21m) LoS (with interference)

6. 5 GHz TCP uplink performance at 70‘ (21m) LoS (with interference)

7. 2.4 GHz downlink TCP performance at 100‘ (30m) NLOS (no interference)

8. 2.4 GHz uplink TCP performance at 100' (30m) NLOS (no interference)

9. 2.4 GHz downlink TCP performance at 100' (30m) (with interference)

10. 2.4 GHz uplink TCP performance at 100' (30m) (with interference)

11. 5 GHz TCP Uplink aggregate throughput (with 60 clients)

12. 5 GHz TCP downlink aggregate throughput (with 60 clients)

13. 5 Ghz TCP bi-directional aggregate throughput (with 60 clients)

9 | Tom’s Test Results

Non-802.11 Interference (2.4 GHz)Channel Utilization With No Tests Running

Amplitude of RF transmission over time

Interferer transmission

Channel utilization

TIM

E

CH A NN E L S

10 | Tom’s Test Results

Non 802.11 Interference (2.4 GHz)Channel Utilization During Single Client Performance Tests

RF interference + Wi-Fi client transmissions (-50dBm to -60dBm)

Break between tests

85% channel utilization

CH A NN E L S

TIM

E

11 | Tom’s Test Results

802.11n Co-Channel Interference (5 GHz)Channel Capacity During Multi Client Performance Tests

95% channel utilization

Wi-Fi transmissions (-50dBm)

Test begins

CH A NN E L S

TIM

E

12 | Tom’s Test Results

Rate/Range Comparison (2.4GHz)

Meraki MR24HP E-MSM460

Aruba AP125Apple AirPort Extreme

Ruckus ZoneFlex 7363

Cisco Aeronet 3502i

13 | Tom’s Test Results

Rate/Range Comparison (5GHz)

Ruckus ZoneFlex 7363Meraki MR24HP E-MSM460

Cisco Aeronet 3502iAruba AP125Apple AirPort Extreme

14 | Tom’s Test Results

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170

126.15

136.55

113.68

128.47

157.47

129.51

Uplink TCP Performance

Mbps

10’ (3m) Throughput Testing (5GHz)

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100110120130140150160170180

156.03

166.25

152.42

179.10

169.52

161.45

Downlink TCP Performance

Mbps

L E G E N D

Channel: 36 (40 MHz wide)Distance: 10 feet line of sightInterference: NoneClient: Single 802.11n client

(3 stream capable)

15 | Tom’s Test Results

70’ (21m) Throughput Testing (5GHz)

Mbit/s

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

103.33

103.45

113.68

101.69

114.70

136.11

Downlink TCP Performance

Mbps

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

97.43

108.23

100.44

112.86

82.90

89.63

UplinkTCP Performance

Mbps

L E G E N D

Channel: 36 (40 MHz wide)Distance: 70 feet line of sightInterference: NoneClient: Single 802.11n client

(3 stream capable)

16 | Tom’s Test Results

70’ (21m) Throughput Testing (5GHz)

Mbit/s

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95

17.76

67.93

56.30

67.81

10.27

88.55

Downlink TCP Performance

Mbps

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

2.15

24.82

48.11

37.53

0.50

78.89

Uplink TCP Performance

Mbps

L E G E N D

Channel: 36 (40 MHz wide)Distance: 70 feet line of sightInterference: Co-channel (60 clients to different AP)Client: Single 802.11n client

(3 stream capable)

17 | Tom’s Test Results

100’ (30m) Throughput Testing (2.4GHz)

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95

27.34

33.81

38.37

35.28

51.85

88.55

Downlink TCP Performance

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

42.14

32.94

48.11

37.53

69.11

76.26

UplinkTCP Performance

Mbps Mbps

L E G E N D

Channel: 1 (20 MHz wide)Distance: 100 feet non line of sightInterference: NoneClient: Single 802.11n client

(3 stream capable)

18 | Tom’s Test Results

100’ (30m) Throughput Testing (2.4GHz)

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

17.24

24.15

28.28

23.79

0.50

31.64

Downlink TCP Performance

Mbps

Apple Extreme

Aruba 125

Cisco 3500

HP 460

Meraki 24

Ruckus 7363

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

7.52

10.42

27.83

10.39

0.50

28.98

Uplink TCP Performance

Mbps

L E G E N D

Channel: 1 (20 MHz wide)Distance: 100 feet non line of sightInterference: 2.4 GHz interference generatorClient: Single 802.11n client

(3 stream capable)

19 | Tom’s Test Results

Apple

Meraki

Cisco 3502i

Aruba AP125

HP E-MSM460

Ruckus ZF7363

0 20 40 60 80 100

54

0

54.34

82.64

85.07

103.99

Bi-Directional (75% downlink, 25% uplink)

Apple AirPort Ex-treme

Cisco 3502i

Meraki MR24

Aruba AP125

HP E-MSM460

Ruckus ZF7363

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

54

62

42*

69

77

97

Mbps*failed to complete test run

High Capacity Wi-Fi Testing (5GHz)

AirPort Extreme

Cisco 3502i

Meraki MR24

Aruba AP125

HP E-MSM460

Ruckus ZF7363

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

3.8

38

47

76

88

111

Mbps

TCP Downlink TCP Uplink

IxChariot Aggregate TCP Throughput: Continuous 1MB Download from 60 Clients

Failed to finish

Failed to finish

Mbps

20 | Tom’s Test Results

More Downlink Capacity (5GHz)IxChariot Aggregate TCP Throughput: Continuous 1MB Download from 60 Clients

Ruckus 7363111

HP E-MSM460

Aruba AP125

Cisco 3502iMeraki 24*

AirPort Extreme*

88

76

47

4

38

*Meraki and Apple unable to complete test runs

21 | Tom’s Test Results

More Uplink Capacity (5GHz)IxChariot Aggregate TCP Throughput: Continuous 1MB Download from 60 Clients

Ruckus 736396

HP E-MSM460

Aruba AP125

Cisco 3502i

Meraki 24*

AirPort Extreme*

77

69

42

54

62

*Unable to complete test runs

22 | Tom’s Test Results

High Capacity Wi-Fi Testing (5GHz)IxChariot Aggregate TCP Throughput: iPads and Laptops

23 | Tom’s Test Results

Airtime Fairness Matters More Now

▪Proliferation of different devices

▪Widely varying 11n capabilities:▪ Peak iPad throughput = 13 Mbps▪ Good .11n laptop > 100 Mbps

▪User revolt with any disproportional impact on bandwidth from growing quantities and variety

24 | Tom’s Test Results

Not All ATF Approaches are Fair

Fails to support client count

Starves iPads 100%

Perfectly Proportional

Impact

Starves Laptops

100%

Ruckus

Meraki

HPCisco

ArubaApple

Test: Single AP to 10 iPads +

1, 10, or 60-count 802.11n laptopsProportionality of Traffic Impact from Laptop Additions

25 | Tom’s Test Results

Interference

▪Patented technology that combines:▪ Smart antenna arrays▪ Best path selection algorithms▪ Advanced quality of service

engine▪ Smart mesh RF routing▪ Centralized Wi-Fi management

▪Adapts to real-time changes in environmental conditions

▪Extends Wi-Fi coverage 2 to 3 times

▪Radically simplifies deployment

What’s Behind Tom’s Results?

26 | Tom’s Test Results

Adaptive Wi-Fi Control

▪Patented adaptive antenna array combined with expert (best path) signal control software

▪Directional, high-gain multi-element smart antenna

▪Continually picks the best signal path to clients

▪Adaptive antenna switching and dynamic beamsteering

27 | Tom’s Test Results

And Clever Networking, Too…Smart meshing ▪ Autonomously optimized, self-organizing

networks, including hybrid meshing▪ Adapt automatically (and carefully) to

changes in environment and interference

Dynamic channel management

▪ Periodic survey of channel performance▪ Automatic adjustment where optimal▪ Channel chosen based on best available throughput

Band steering ▪ Balances client load across bands by redirecting clients based on capabilities

▪ Maximizes overall throughput

QoS at AP level ▪ Application queues per client▪ Prioritization of voice, video, and data

Airtime fairness ▪ Round-robin time allocation based on client capabilities▪ Prevents slower clients from throttling faster ones

28 | Tom’s Test Results

Redefining WLAN Price/Performance

1.Deploy in

half the time at half the cost

Unmatched performance at range

Bigger, better, more affordable wireless

Simplicity brought to large-scale wireless LANs

Indoor/outdoor802.11n APs

ScalableWLAN controllers

out of data path

SmarterWLAN

applications

2.100%

performance increase over

any other 802.11n WLANs

Simple, robust remote management of APs and WLANs

RemoteWi-Fi systemsmanagement

29 | Tom’s Test Results

Unrivaled Consistency