User Guide: Vista Manager AWC Plug-in version 3.10.0

# Using AWC

Information Required for AWC Calculation
Prerequisite
Configure AWC
Notes

AWC (Autonomous Wave Control) is an automatic control technology that utilizes game theory to optimize a wireless network.
By applying a calculation result from AWC, wireless APs can always operate with optimal parameter sets.
The first AWC calculation begins one hour after the AWC Plug-in is started. Subsequent calculations begin one hour after the previous calculation has finished.

> Note

> > AWC calculation and application is performed per management group. Therefore, the AWC calculation for a management group treats APs in other management groups as interfering sources.

> Note

> > The results calculated by AWC are based on the situation of the wireless AP and the surrounding environment, and therefore may be biased depending on the operating environment.

This section explains the prerequisites, things to note, and configuration of the AWC function.

## Information Required for AWC Calculation

AWC Calculation uses the usage status of Neighbor APs channels collected in the following two ways:

- Neighbor AP Detection (AP Profile)
  Scans the surrounding channels in the radio band to detect the transmission power of all nearby APs, regardless of whether they are managed by AWC.
  The detection result of Neighbor AP Detection is used for IDS / Wireless IPS as well as AWC calculation.
- Neighbor Managed AP Detection (AWC Settings)
  The reception strength of each AP is detected by the AP under the control of the AWC Plug-in. This makes it possible to correctly calculate the Tx Power of the managed AP in AWC.

AWC calculation scans only the channels used by the system by Neighbor Managed AP Detection, and obtains immediate detection results. Additionally, interference from unmanaged APs is taken into account by the scan results of all channels detected by Neighbor AP Detection, and the Wireless Channel and Tx Power used by each Managed AP are determined.
For this reason, when performing automatic control of APs using AWC functionality, both of these detection functions must be enabled. If one of the detection functions is disabled, the actual situation may not be correctly reflected in AWC calculations.

> Note

> > In both cases, it is necessary to stop the output of the channel used for communication during scanning, so the performance of the wireless network service slightly decreases.
> > The Neighbor AP Detection and Neighbor Managed AP Detection functions can be disabled when AWC Calculation is not used.

## Prerequisite

> Note

> > When APs are configured to use auto-channel, AWC-calculated channels will be selected from the ones selected in the "Auto Channel Selection" of an AP Profile.

- Enable the NTP client function on all the managed APs. Set the NTP Synchronization Interval to 10 minutes or less.
  The system clocks on all the managed APs and the PC running the AWC Plug-in must be synchronized.
- Set Neighbor AP Detection to "Enabled" in the "Profile Configuration" for the AP.
- Set channel and transmit power to "Auto" in the AP-specific configuration.
  If they are set to fixed values, those values will be used instead, and will not be optimized.
  When one parameter is set to "Auto" and the other is set to a fixed value, the one set to "Auto" will be optimized to the AWC-calculated optimal value.
  For example, suppose you configured channels and transmit powers for Radio1/2 as follows:

  Table 1
  | Radio 1 | Radio 2
  Channel | Auto | 40ch
  Tx Power | Max | Auto

  In this case, the possible configurations after the AWC calculation results are applied are as follows:

  Table 2
  | Radio 1 | Radio 2
  Channel | 1ch to 13ch | 40ch
  Tx Power | 100% | 1% to 100%

- Set Neighbor Management AP Detection for each management group to "Enabled" in the AWC settings.

## Configure AWC

This section describes the steps to configure AWC (Autonomous Wave Control), and automatically adjust channel and transmit power on APs in a particular management group.

1. Add wireless APs
   Register the APs to a management group and put them under the management of the AWC Plug-in. Refer to the sections from Quick Tour > Configure Multi-channel Wireless Network > Create Management Group to Quick Tour > Configure Multi-channel Wireless Network > Register Wireless AP for detailed procedures.
   Once the APs are managed, AWC periodically calculates the optimal channels and transmit powers for each management group.
2. Edit AWC Configuration
   As required, tune detailed AWC calculation parameters, such as cover area for transmit power, unmanaged AP influence for channel, and timing for calculation and application.
   Refer to Edit AWC Settings for more details.
3. Review AWC Calculation History
   AWC calculation results can be viewed on the AWC History page.
   The calculated parameters are not automatically applied to APs. You have to manually apply them, or setup scheduled tasks to apply them automatically.
   Refer to View AWC Calculation Result for a detailed description of items on the page.
4. Apply AWC Calculation Results
   The result of the AWC calculation is not automatically applied to APs. You need to configure AWC to apply its calculation.
   There are two ways to achieve this: use "Task Scheduling", or enable "Apply Immediately".

   > Note

   > > Because "Apply Immediately" is disabled by default, add a scheduled task or enable "Apply Immediately" when creating a management group as required.
   > > By default, management group "Default Wireless Group" has a schedule to apply the AWC Calculation Result.

   > Note

   > > When applying AWC calculation results changing the AP channels, or adjusting transmit power on APs, wireless clients connected to the AP will be disconnected.
   > > The clients will not be disconnected if only the transmit power is changed on TQ4400, TQ4400e, and TQ4600 APs.

   - Add a Scheduled Task
     Refer to Manage Task Scheduling for procedures to add a scheduled task.
     Once the scheduled task is added, AWC calculation results will be automatically applied to APs at the time configured in the "Triggers" field. The calculation results that are applied are the results calculated at the time specified in "AWC Calculation Time".

     > Note

     > > The AWC Plug-in searches for the time by starting from the scheduled time and going back 24 hours. It applies the results calculated between the time and 1 hour before that.

   - Apply Immediately Configuration
     When you enable Apply Immediately, AWC calculation results are instantly applied to APs after the calculation is finished. Apply Immediately is disabled by default.

     > Note

     > > When you enable "Apply Immediately", make sure you disable the scheduled task to apply AWC Calculation Results in order to keep the calculation results that have been already applied from being re-applied to APs.

   Once this step is complete, the AWC Plug-in can apply the optimal channel / transmit power configuration to the APs in the management group at a configured time.
5. Review the Applied Configuration
   The results of the operation can be seen by viewing the current channel and power of the APs, and the logs.
   - Channel and Power
     The currently used channel and transmit power of each AP can be viewed on the following pages:
     - Floor Map Details
     - "Wireless AP Details" page
   - Log
     When the AWC Plug-in successfully finishes applying AWC Calculation Results to all the managed APs, it outputs a message to the log to record a successful application.
     When the AWC Plug-in fails to apply AWC Calculation Results to one or more APs, it outputs a message to the log for each AP where application failed, and outputs a log message to record an overall failure of application to the management group.
     Note that logs on applying AWC Calculation Results can be viewed by Admins only.
     Refer to Management Log for procedures to view logs.

## Notes

◼ Cases where AWC Calculation Results cannot be applied correctly
With the default configuration, AWC Calculation Results are not automatically applied to the managed APs because a scheduled task to apply calculations and the "Apply Immediately" function are disabled by default.
Additionally, AWC Calculation Results cannot be applied correctly in the following cases:

- If an AP's profile and/or configuration were changed after the AWC calculation was performed.
- If an AP left the control of the AWC Plug-in after the AWC calculation was performed.
- If the operation on the APs failed for some other reason.
  Application of the AWC calculation stops if a failure occurs.

04 Jul 2023 09:16