I think i need zero handoff?

[whitenack]

Hi all,

I've been seeing a lot lately about mesh networks and their benefits. I see several comments about whether mesh networks are really necessary for most people. I have a unique situation I need some advice about.

I have a small office environment with one server and 7 or 8 workstations. Most workstations are hardwired to the network, but a few are laptops. Most of our work is internet based, but our management software runs on the local workstation and pulls information from the server. There are lots of databases and log files opening and closing all the time, and the software requires constant connection to the server to operate. There is no buffering. If the connection is lost, the software gets all sorts of errors and you must exit out and restart.

Our building is old and big. Lots of thick walls and chopped up offices. Our current Asus AC68U can't reach all the locations, and even where it does, the speed in some places is terribly slow. There are times when the mobile workstations need to move around the office. If I put in more simple access points, there is going to be a moment or two where the connection is lost while the device connects to the new AP. During that time, our management system has problems.

Is there a truly "Zero handoff" solution out there that would solve this trouble? I see the Ubiquiti Unifi had some APs with 802.11N technology that claimed to have this feature, but that isn't available on their AC units. Would those old N units have solved that problem, and would it be worth to downgrade our wifi network to N to gain that feature? Most (if not all) of our wifi workstations are N devices anyway. However, I don't want to go out and buy a few of those units if they aren't really going to be truly seamless "zero handoff".

Thanks,

 

[esco_sid]

I believe you are using consumer products in a business environment it is usually a bad idea i would look into enterprise class APs.

 

[Chris_348]

buy a network switch and at minimum cable your server to the workstation
next buy the mesh network kit, from any of the mesh network providers. pre mesh stuff looses speed massively over distance and especially when you go through a repeater node. Mesh promises faster speeds when through a repeater and quicker handoff as the client negotiates handoff with the network rather than jumping.

 

[whitenack]

Thanks for the replies.

I believe you are using consumer products in a business environment it is usually a bad idea i would look into enterprise class APs.

Yeah, that's the question.

I've got a network switch and all the non-mobile workstations are hardwired. The question is what to do for the laptops and what options out there ensure zero handoff, if there is such a thing.

 

[esco_sid]

Thanks for the replies.

I believe you are using consumer products in a business environment it is usually a bad idea i would look into enterprise class APs.

Yeah, that's the question.

I've got a network switch and all the non-mobile workstations are hardwired. The question is what to do for the laptops and what options out there ensure zero handoff, if there is such a thing.

Well usually for business class Cisco would be #1 choice but they are also usually the most expensive i know they have APs that do what you need them to do as I use to be a network engineer and we used them for a long time setting up networks look into http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/access-points/index.html best is to call them and tell them your needs and how much it would cost there are also a lot of other options i know dell makes switches and such but i haven't really looked into if they have APs but their switches are usually 1/2 the cost of cisco theres aso many other companies but you will need to do your own research for your particular needs.

 

[Pooneil]

Ubiquiti makes easy handoff equipment. But like Sysco they require specialist knowledge to set up and maintain.

 

[nigelivey]

You can use Ubiquity equipment but you would also need their edge switches, the APs alone can not do it, Ruckus also make (in my opinion) the best wifi gear but depending on the amount of APs the cost can sky rocket for the zone director and the licenses. (10,000£). As mentioned above Cisco also offer comparable equipment.

 

[whitenack]

HI all. Thanks for the replies. I have done some more trial and error after reading a suggestion from another thread and have found something. I brought in my router from home, which is nearly identical to the router here. I put this router is AP mode, and used the same SSID and security from the main router, but a different channel. I can now roam between the two channels without any hiccups. The software doesn't realize there has been a change.

The next trouble I have is improving the ability of our devices to switch to the stronger channel. Our routers have a "roaming assistant" feature, which will kick the device off if it reaches a low enough level of connection. The trouble I am running into is keeping the connection strong where I want it and weak where I don't, so the devices will be kicked off when it needs to jump to the next AP>

 

[nigelivey]

HI all. Thanks for the replies. I have done some more trial and error after reading a suggestion from another thread and have found something. I brought in my router from home, which is nearly identical to the router here. I put this router is AP mode, and used the same SSID and security from the main router, but a different channel. I can now roam between the two channels without any hiccups. The software doesn't realize there has been a change.

The next trouble I have is improving the ability of our devices to switch to the stronger channel. Our routers have a "roaming assistant" feature, which will kick the device off if it reaches a low enough level of connection. The trouble I am running into is keeping the connection strong where I want it and weak where I don't, so the devices will be kicked off when it needs to jump to the next AP>

That's is what seamless roaming is. With normal WAPS it is only the client device that controls the connection, there is no way without a controller for the WAPS to handle the handover. The controller sees the association to a particular WAP and hands the connection to another if and when required. I have done installs with a ZD and Ruckus on a site where you could roam over a 6 kilometre distance without packet loss. It is not achievable with the equipment you have as there is no central controller monitoring the connections.

 

[whitenack]

Thanks again. Would the Ubiquiti products offer that functionality? I see where the AC units don't offer "Zero Handoff", but do I need that functionality, or is seamless roaming something different?

 

[Pooneil]

Here is a deprecated article from Ubiquiti that may help.

UniFi has always supported roaming according to base 802.11 standards. However with Zero-Handoff Roaming enabled, clients can freely roam between UAPs without incurring any latency penalty as a result of the roam. The basic premise is Zero-Handoff enabled UAPs appear as a single AP from the perspective of the client, thus eliminating disconnection.

Zero-Handoff Roaming is available starting with v3.x.

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/205144590-UniFi-What-is-Zero-Handoff-