|
How many concurrent clients can an Access Point (AP) handle?
WLAN testing FAQ
(Continued from previous question...)
How many concurrent clients can an Access Point (AP) handle?
The number of wireless clients that can be handled by an AP depends on the size of the client association table in the AP and the rate at which the AP can associate and authenticate new clients as they sign on. A client association database that is too small, will limit the amount of users that be serviced by the AP, even though capacity is available, causing them to unnecessarily roam in search of other APs, or denying them service altogether. Similarly, if the AP is not capable to performing the management functions required to associate and authenticate clients in a timely manner, clients will be denied service, or service will be delayed. In installations supporting high mobility users, or in recovery situations from network or power outages, the APs ability to efficiently associate and disassociate clients has a major effect on quality of service. Although these two metrics are very important to overall quality of service, they are difficult to measure. VeriWave's WaveApps addresses this problem and provides precise measurement of these parameters, as well as, the APs ability to buffer information for clients in power save mode, handling of roaming clients, and recovery from power and network outage situations. Obviously, the number of clients that can be handled is only one part of the service equation. The quality of service provided to each client, depends on the data throughput awarded to it and the overall delay its information will encounter.
To address this problem, VeriWave’s WaveTest generates full air-rate traffic, allowing the AP performance to be measured in light, moderate, high and extreme traffic loading conditions, while providing full control over the amount and characteristics of the clients attempting to use the service.
(Continued on next question...)
Other Interview Questions
| 