Most frequent asked question on MIMO WLAN Networking

Frequently Asked Questions >> MIMO Technology

MIMO Overview

Enabling All Wireless Networks

Securing the MIMO Network

Enabling Guest Access

Managing the MIMO Network

---- MIMO Overview ----

What is MIMO?

MIMO is a wireless networking technology that greatly improves both the range and capacity of a connection between a Client station and an Access Point. MIMO stands for Multiple Input – Multiple Output, and is a new paradigm for multiple antenna digital signal processing that enhances the user experience of a wireless connection and makes it comparable to that of a wired Ethernet connection.

Are there advantages of MIMO over conventional 802.11a/b/g products?

Simply put, MIMO utilizes a multiple antenna system to take advantage of the multi-path affect in RF technology, rather than fight against it as conventional 802.11 Access Points do. The resulting improvement in both range and capacity provides substantially more reliable signal quality and greater bandwidth.

How far, and at what data rate?

AeroGuard™ MIMO has been found to increase both range and capacity at 2-6x over conventional wireless LAN technology. AeroGuard™ supports data rates up to 108Mbps over longer distances, enabling reliable video streaming and voice over Wi-Fi for business applications. AeroGuard™ is the first WLAN solution available with pre-802.11n MIMO technology.

What is the pre-802.11n?

IEEE has designated 802.11n as the industry standard that will deliver superior range and capacity wireless networks to support next generation streaming content applications. Pre-n is the interim stage for technologies supporting this direction in wireless technology. AeroGuard™ MIMO solutions are the first wireless LAN technology available with pre-802.11n compliance.

Which RF bands does AeroGuard™ MIMO support?

AeroGuard MIMO solutions operate in two bands; 2.4GHz for 802.11b/g compatibility and 5GHz for 802.11a compatibility. In addition to the standard highest data rates of 54 Mbps, AeroGuard™ MIMO supports 72, 96 and 108 Mbps data rates using one single channel. These bands may be in operation simultaneously which enables AeroGuard™ MIMO solutions to create high capacity all wireless AP to AP backhaul connections, while simultaneously supporting standard Access Point functionality.

What types of devices are available with MIMO technology?

The complete AeroGuard MIMO solution includes dual radio Access Points and a 32Bit PC Card client adapter for laptop and handheld devices. A fully integrated Network Management System is also available to support the management of multiple deployment sites remotely.

Do I have to use a MIMO adapter card with a MIMO AP?

No. AeroGuard™ MIMO solutions are fully compatible with conventional 802.11a, 11b or 11g devices. Conventional Wi-Fi client adapters may be used with AeroGuard™ MIMO APs, and AeroGuard™ MIMO client adapters may be used with conventional APs.

If I use my existing Wi-Fi client adapter will I still see the same performance improvement?

Ideal performance is obtained with a complete AeroGuard™ solution using MIMO APs and MIMO client adapters. However, using conventional client adapters with MIMO APs provides significant benefits over a completely conventional Wi-Fi solution. Improvement in signal range and stability will be experienced at the data rate capacity specified for the client adapter’s chipset (e.g., 11Mbps, 54Mbps).

---- Enabling All Wireless Networks ----

What is a wireless backhaul?

The backhaul function is essentially a wireless bridge that connects one MIMO AP to another MIMO AP. The dual radio design of AeroGuard™ MIMO APs provides dedicated bandwidth specifically for the wireless backhaul, up to 108Mbps. The resulting wireless network has data rate performance equivalent to Fast Ethernet wired networks, without having to use Cat.5 cabling. Wireless backhaul allows rapid deployment of high bandwidth network infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of installed cable networks.

Which RF band is used for Access Point vs backhaul functions?

The AeroGuard™ MIMO solution is totally flexible. Each MIMO Access Point can utilize either the 802.11a or 802.11g bands for the backhaul link. The process can be automatic where either band is selected depending on the available radio of the nearest AP, or manual where the network is configured to utilize a specific band only for backhaul connections. A typical deployment utilizes the 11a band for backhaul and 11b/g band for the AP to support ubiquitous client connectivity. Preference in configuration is entirely dependent on the needs of the end user and the installation strategy of the installer (VAR).

Which RF band is used for Access Point vs backhaul functions?

How many APs can be wirelessly connected using the backhaul function?

The AeroGuard™ MIMO solution starts with one Access Point connected to a business Ethernet network. Additional MIMO Access Points may then use the wireless backhaul function to connect to this “central” AP. Multiple “hops” can be made with the backhaul function as required to extend the network without the use of Ethernet cables. The number of APs that one “central” AP can support via the backhaul function is not limited, however, it is recommended that one “central” AP support up to a total of eight to ten (8 - 10) APs depending on the bandwidth demands of the application.

How does wireless backhaul differ from conventional WDS (Wireless Distribution System)?

AeroGuard™ dual radio design allows for dedicated AP and backhaul radios, delivering far superior capacity performance over a single radio AP configured with a WDS bridge, not to mention the MIMO performance advantage. WDS is an Wi-Fi network feature that allows APs from some vendors to split RF channels, and thus bandwidth, between AP and bridging functions. AeroGuard™ requires no channel splitting, but offers dedicated bandwidth for the AP and bridging functions, enabling reliable network backhauls. In addition, MIMO technology enhances the range and reliability of signal quality to produce truly business-class all wireless networks.

Can I cascade MIMO APs using the backhaul function?

Yes. The wireless backhaul can string or cascade multiple APs up to a total of seven (7) APs. For each “hop,” the backhaul alternates between the 11a and 11b/g radios, so that if the first backhaul uses the 11a band the second backhaul segment will use the 11g band, and visa versa as additional APs are cascaded. See SOHOware’s application notes on configuring MIMO networks for alternative deployment scenarios if a specific band is desired for all backhauls.

---- Securing the MIMO Network ----

Does the AeroGuard™ support the latest security?

Yes. AeroGuard™ MIMO Access Points provide the strongest available security measures for Enterprise networks, including WPA and WPA2 with migration readiness for the pending 802.11i standard. This means the strongest levels of TKIP and AES based encryption, EAP-PEAP based authentication for 802.1x, and a host of supporting features that include embedded RADIUS and support for Rogue AP detection.

Is performance degraded when the highest encryption is enabled?

No. The AeroGuard™ MIMO solution includes embedded hardware acceleration for the AES encryption process, providing 108Mbps throughput capacity for encrypted wireless data. This means AeroGuard™ puts performance where it is needed most to assure a wire speed experience even with strong security.

How does the Rogue AP Detection feature work?

AeroGuard™ MIMO APs have in-depth sensing capabilities to detect and identify all Wi-Fi based transmitters. This enables the administrator to determine a true rogue presence before taking steps to mitigate the problem. The following features are supported:

    ·    Reporting of rogue AP identity (BSSID, MAC address, SSID name)
  ·    Locating of rogue AP (proximity to nearest AeroGuard™ AP and signal strength)
  ·    Statistics (channel in use, time reported, digital thumbprint if supported)

Is the 802.1x authentication scalable for different size networks?

Yes. AeroGuard™ APs support both internal and external RADIUS database authentication. The internal or embedded server can be activated for any MIMO AP on the network using the Security Portal function, and supports up to 100 users without the need for an external server. For larger user profiles, an external RADIUS server can be supported for virtually any size of user database.

---- Enabling Guess Access ----

Can visitors be allowed to access the Internet without compromising business security?

Yes. AeroGuard™ APs support separated guest networks that have unique security policies from the internal business network. A visitor who selects an AeroGuard™ AP from their PC’s client utility and attempts to connect will be shown a portal login screen in their browser requiring a user name and password. AeroGuard™ supports VLAN (tag based) to achieve network separation.

How many separate networks does AeroGuard™ support?

Up to 16 VLANs are possible, each with unique security policies if desired. The VLANs can use one SSID or unique SSIDs as desired to identify.

How does guest access work in a hotel application?

The portal login feature simplifies the access experience for visitor usage, making AeroGuard™ an ideal solution for hotels and event centers that have a high turn rate of short term guest usage. Upon check-in, the guest may receive the login password (and SSID for legacy Wi-Fi adapter users) for use during their stay, and the hotel can determine the frequency of changing the login information as fits their security requirements.

What would justify setting up separated guest access?

For a hospitality business, there are several values for considering a separated guest network:

    ·    Provides an opportunity to display a disclaimer to guests, reducing liability for the venue regarding access to Internet content, viruses, etc. (this is an FCC requirement).
  ·    The portal login prevents their Internet service from being abused by non-guests.
  ·    A guest network separated by VLAN maintains secure separation for the corporate business network without having to deploy two physical networks; a significant cost savings.

Is privacy protected for each guest?

Yes. AeroGuard™ supports the option for client-to-client separation when logged onto the guest network. Each client station is protected from viewing by another client station when this feature is enabled.

What, specifically, is required to support multiple VLANs?

Each AeroGuard™ AP can identify and route data that includes VLAN tags. To create VLANs, a switch with VLAN capability is required on the network. If using a layer 2 VLAN switch, such as SOHOware’s BroadSwitch™ Managed Switch, each VLAN requires it’s own DHCP server (router) to enable the unique subnet for the given VLAN.

---- Managing the MIMO Network ----

What internal management options are supported in AeroGuard™?

AeroGuard™ MIMO Access Points include comprehensive management options to support deployments ranging from single APs in a small office up to Enterprise networks with hundreds of APs. Each AP has an embedded Management Portal function. Typically, one AP in the WLAN is designated as a Management Portal to provide domain level centralized administration of the AeroGuard™ wireless network, with each Management Portal supporting up to 20 AeroGuard™ APs. Individually, each AeroGuard™ AP includes an intuitive Web based interface, an RS-232 for CLI administration, and in-depth SNMP support.

How secure are the administrative access methods?

The Web interface requires the use of an encrypted HTTP (HTTPS) session through a browser. For CLI sessions, an SSH (secure shell) link is required. The AeroGuard™ MIMO Access Point also supports the SNMP v3 protocol.

How does AeroGuard™ scale for Enterprise deployments?

In addition to the embedded Management Portal function, SOHOware offers a NMS appliance to enable remote management of multiple installations, with each installation deploying multiple AeroGuard™ APs. The SOHOware NMS (SNMS) is specifically designed to interact and manage each Management Portal located at each network deployment, creating a hierarchical solution that provides the remote administrator with complete information about each deployed AeroGuard device.

How many networks and AeroGuard™ APs can be supported by SNMS?

Up to 25 separate networks may be supported remotely from a single SNMS seat located at a VAR or IT consulting firm’s NOC. A total of 500 AeroGuard™ APs may be separately monitored via Management Portal APs at each network location.

How does SNMS improve my Service (VAR) business?

SNMS is specifically intended to support the VAR in scaling their service capabilities for AeroGuard™ MIMO installations. By implementing a remote management strategy, the VAR can reduce operations costs associated with client support through powerful remote management tools that address fault analysis and recovery, configuration, performance, and security parameter management. SNMS enables the VAR to respond more quickly and effectively to the client’s situation, at a fraction of the cost of an on-site truck roll.