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WLAN CC Extricom 8AL90478USAA 1 en
WLAN CC Extricom 8AL90478USAA 1 en
Alcatel-Lucent OT8118/8128
Extricom MultiSeries 500/1000 WLAN Controllers & EXRP-30n/-40En
Access Points
Extricom version 4.5.09
Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8 version 2.6.6
8AL90478USAA Ed.01
April 2013
INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................3
About Alcatel-Lucent................................................................................................................. 3
Extricom .................................................................................................................................... 3
SITE INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................4
Test Topology ........................................................................................................................... 4
SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................5
Known issues............................................................................................................................ 6
Compatibility information .......................................................................................................... 6
General conclusion ................................................................................................................... 6
TEST RESULTS............................................................................................................................7
Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8 WLAN Infrastructure Verification – VoWiFi ......................................... 7
Test Areas ................................................................................................................................ 8
APPENDIX A: TEST CONFIGURATIONS ....................................................................................9
Extricom MultiSeries 500/1000 WLAN Controllers & EXRP-30n/-40En Access Points ............ 9
ESS, Radio and QoS settings ............................................................................................... 9
Setting up WPA2-Enterprise/802.1X ................................................................................... 13
Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8 ........................................................................................................... 15
802.11b/g/n ......................................................................................................................... 15
802.11a/n ............................................................................................................................ 16
APPENDIX B: DETAILED TEST RECORDS ..............................................................................17
This interoperability report describes test results and optimal configuration of the Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8
in an Extricom WLAN environment.
The document should be used in conjunction with configuration guide(s) from Extricom and Alcatel-
Lucent.
About Alcatel-Lucent
The Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch 8118/8128 WLAN handsets offer a sleeker design, high-resolution color
TFT display (OT8128), IP44 compliant construction, and longer battery time. OT 8118/8128 handsets
can be managed over-the-air (OTA) and are designed to interoperate within a Wi-Fi network. With the
OT 8118/8128 WLAN handsets, users get a mobile device for voice conversations, text messaging and
alarms from Alcatel-Lucent Call Servers and third party Alarm servers.
Extricom
a
About Extricom:
Extricom is a manufacturer of 4th generation enterprise wireless LAN solutions, based on its Channel
Blanket™ technology. While adhering to the 802.11 a/b/g/n standard, Extricom’s patented, Interference-
Free architecture takes a completely new approach to the way the infrastructure is deployed. The
Channel Blanket topology provides wire-like reliability, high throughput, seamless mobility, unparalleled
noise immunity, and is easy to install and maintain. In an era of intensive wireless usage powered by the
market explosion of smart phones, iPads, iPods, tablets and other communication devices, voice, data,
video, and location services are delivered with an always-on, robust and mobile Wi-Fi connection to any
client, in any environment. Extricom Interference-Free™ WLAN is purpose-built to slash wireless
complexity and future-proof your network for tomorrow’s multi-service demands.
Extricom solutions are in use by customers operating in numerous industries worldwide, including
Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Logistics and Warehousing, Retail and public venues. They have
discovered the uncompromising performance, reliability and ease of ownership that are the hallmark of
the Extricom WLAN.
Extricom serves its growing global customer base through offices in the USA, Europe and Japan, and by
working with a global network of distributors and partners.
Extricom Ltd.
Tel-Aviv
Israel
Participant(s):
……
Roaming scenarios between channel blankets were carried out by Toni Freger (Extricom, IL)
Test Topology
Roaming
High Level Functionality Result
Roaming, Open with No Encryption OK*
Roaming, WPA-PSK, TKIP Encryption OK*
Roaming, WPA2-PSK, AES Encryption OK*
Roaming, PEAP-MSCHAPv2 Auth, AES Encryption OK*
*) Roaming within channel blankets is handled entirely by controller, hence the absence of handover times.
Roaming between channel blankets is supported as successful tests have been carried out by Extricom.
Approximate handover times: OPEN 35-70ms and WPA2-PSK/AES 100-140ms
• In comparison with traditional multiple channel deployments, battery lifetime of the Alcatel-Lucent
OT81x8 is shorter than normal (up to 30% less)
• In 802.11g/n mode, b-rates are still advertised in beacons. In a future release, Extricom will
introduce the possibility to enable/disable b-rates on an 802.11g/n radio/blanket as a user option
in the web GUI. Until then, Alcatel-Lucent recommends 802.11b/g/n mode where the basic rate is
set to 11Mbps and lower data rates are disabled.
For additional information regarding the known issues please contact Alcatel-Lucent support.
Compatibility information
Compatible controllers
MultiSeries 500
MultiSeries 1000
General conclusion
With the exception of battery lifetime, verified test areas, such as authentication, association, handover
and load tests, all produced good results. The roaming experience, no matter whether employing PSK
and 802.1X, was fully acceptable. Please note that roaming within a single channel blanket is handled
entirely by the WLAN controller.
As mentioned, the outcome of load tests was very good. In both active and U-APSD modes, it was
possible to maintain twelve simultaneous calls per AP without any noticeable deterioration of voice
quality. This number was not imposed by a limitation of capacity, but rather phones available at the time
of testing. Keep in mind that a baseline of ten calls per AP is quite adequate for most deployments.
Software Versions:
• Extricom software v 4.5.09
• Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8 v 2.6.6
Note: Security options, RF and power save modes were adjusted according to requirements in individual
test cases.
• 12 active calls per single radio verified in active and U-APSD mode
• Load tests done with iPerf and actual FTP file transfers, no noticeable deterioration of voice
quality
802.11n features: 802.11a/n 100% Pass (2/2), 802.11b/g/n 100% Pass (1/1)
Virtually all tests were performed in both 802.11b/g/n and 802.11a/n mode.
Please keep in mind that metrics do NOT account for “see comments” and “untested” cases.
In the following appendix, you will find screenshots and explanations of basic settings in order to get the
Extricom solution operational with Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8.
- The screen shot above serves as a baseline for 802.11a/n (left) and 802.11b/g/n (right) radio
settings. Please note the lowest basic rate for respective radio bands.
- At the time of validation, the controller only supported non-DFS channels 36,40,44,48 in the
5GHz band, avoid channel bonding (20/40MHz) when available non-DFS channels are scarce
(see “red box”)
Note: Alcatel-Lucent does not recommend 802.11g/n mode at this moment in time (see “Known Issues”,
p.6).
- Voice packets should be prioritized in the network. Per default, Class Selector 6 is mapped to the
high priority queue “Voice”, while Expedited Forwarding isn’t.
- Leave mapping from WMM to DiffServ at its defaults. Ideally DSCP markings should be trusted in
order to facilitate appropriate mapping to WMM at the other end.
Note: U-APSD is strongly recommended since it will boost the battery performance dramatically.
Note: Both root and client certificates are required for TLS. Otherwise, only the root certificate will suffice.
- Select “WPA/WPA2–Enterprise” with the options “WPA2 Only” and “AES Only” to ensure AES-
CCMP encryption.
- Make sure that the corresponding RADIUS profile also is selected (“Radius”).
Note: Proactive/Opportunistic Key caching must be active when roaming between channel blankets.
Without key caching, a full EAP exchange is executed every time the handset roams, which may degrade
the user experience during an active call.
802.11b/g/n
General guidelines when deploying Alcatel-Lucent OT81x8 handsets (SW version 2.5.7 or later) in
802.11a/n environments:
1. Enabling more than 8 channels will degrade roaming performance. Alcatel-lucent strongly
recommends against going above this limit.
2. Using 40 MHz channels (or “channel-bonding”) will reduce the number of non-DFS*
channels to two in ETSI regions (Europe). In FCC regions (North America), 40MHz is a
more viable option because of the availability of additional non-DFS channels. The
handset can co-exist with 40MHz stations in the same ESS.
3. Make sure that all non-DFS channel are taken before resorting to DFS channels. The
handset can cope in mixed non-DFS and DFS environments; however, due to
“unpredictability” introduced by radar detection protocols, voice quality may become
distorted and roaming delayed. Hence Alcatel-Lucent recommends avoiding the use of
DFS channels in VoWIFI deployments.
Alcatel_lucent VoWIFI
Pass 25(24)*
Fail 0
Comments 5(6)*
Untested 4
Total 34
*) an(bgn)