Psion Teklogix 9160 G2 - Manual (Page 199)

Psion Teklogix 9160 G2 Wireless Gateway User Manual 177
Chapter 18: Load Balancing
Understanding Load Balancing
The 9160 G2 Wireless Gateway allows you to balance the distribution of wireless
client connections across multiple access points. Using load balancing, you can
prevent scenarios where a single access point in your network shows performance
degradation because it is handling a disproportionate share of the wireless traffic.
The following sections describe how to configure Load Balancing on your
wireless network.
18.1 Understanding Load Balancing
Like most configuration settings on the 9160 G2 Wireless Gateway, load balancing
settings are shared among clustered access points.
Note: In some cases you might want to set limits for only one access point that is
consistently over-utilized. You can apply unique settings to a particular
access point if it is operating in standalone mode. (See ““Understanding
Clustering” on page 56 and “Navigating To Access Points Management”
on page 55.)
18.1.1 Identifying Imbalance: Overworked Or Under-utilized
Access Points
A typical scenario is that a comparison of Client Association data and Trans-
mit/Receive data for multiple access points allows you to identify an access point
that is consistently handling a disproportionately large percentage of wireless traffic.
This can happen when location placement or other factors causes one access point to
transmit the strongest signal to a majority of clients on a network. By default, that
access point will receive most of the client requests while the other access points
stay idle much of the time.
Imbalances in distribution of wireless traffic across access points will be evident in
Client Association data and Transmit/Receive statistics, which will show higher
“Utilization” rates on overworked APs and conversely, higher “Idle” times on
under-utilized APs. An AP that is handling more than its fair share of traffic might
also show slower data rates or lower transmit/receive rates due to the overload.