Client Associations to Access Point

[dsware]

We have several APs in an environment. Users are associating with APs that are not the closest AP. What determines which AP a user will associate to? And why will that user stay connected to an AP that he is getting "poor" to no signal strength, instead of associating with an AP that is closer to him??? Is there a way to configure so that all users will associate with the best signal strength?

Thanks!

[kmarrero]

The access points send out beacons that are like keep alives. If the access point gets a reply beacon from the client then it adds the client to it's table and the two are associated. When there are multiple access points in an environment, the AP that receives the reply beacon from the client first is the AP that the client will be associated to. There may be some sort of interference that is prohibiting the client to associate to the actual closest AP or there could be a possible firmware issue that is causing the problem. You can try to change the transmit rate on the AP or the beacon period to help your clients associate with the closest AP. Here is a URL that will help. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps458/products_configuration_guide_chapter09186a008007f77f.html#80382