I'm gearing up for my first WiFi deployment, which is set to go live in a week. We've laid out everything based on engineering drawings, and a software report shows we're hitting -67 dB or better for all the access points. We have 19 access points spread out across two floors, covering about 17,000 sq ft. I was contemplating running some iperf tests, but I'm worried that might not be enough to ensure everything is functioning properly. What else should I be checking before we launch?
2 Answers
You definitely want to test roaming! Walk from the office area into meeting rooms and see if your devices switch to the nearest AP without dropping connections. Also, make sure devices are using the best frequency band for their capabilities. An app like WiFiMan can help you record your roams and check signal strength. It's also vital to verify that signal strength aligns with your software predictions by testing in corners and other predicted weak spots. Don’t forget to bring some typical devices that your team uses to test in key areas like where the managers will sit and the lunchroom. And try simulating failures by cutting power to an AP to see how quickly your network heals itself!
Make sure everything looks good in your management console! Check that your base APs are geographically placed to ensure successful relay failover. Verify the base and relay profiles are set correctly as well. Everything should be green and grouped in Mist if that's what you're using!
I ran into connectivity issues before, so your tips on checking signal strength and testing different areas really helped me pinpoint the problems instantly—saves so much time!