Question about the Monitor Clients page on the wlc

[theophile]

Hello,

I'd like to have some precision about the client monitor page on the wlc. When I look at the 'protocol' column, some clients are displayed as connected  to 802.11g, for others 802.11bn, and for some of them 802.11a. I suppose that if a client is connected to 802.11bn, the wireless card used by the client does support 802.11g too? or am I wrong? so this client should be connected to 802.11g from my point of view.

Does someone know what refer to this 'Protocol' entry?

The wlc is running version 7.0.116

Tahnks to all for your help

Theo

[blakekrone · Accepted solution]

All of my devices that are connected via 2.4GHz 802.11n show up as 802.11bn devices, I can't tell you why it says 802.11bn instead of 802.11gn for example but if the 'n' is in there the device is 802.11g capable.

The options I've seen for that listing are:

802.11bn - 2.4GHz 802.11n devices

802.11an - 5GHz 802.11n devices

802.11a - 5GHz devices

802.11g - 2.4GHz devices

802.11b - 2.4GHz devices

[George Stefanick]

Lets narrow this down. Can you take a peek at what devices are showing bn and which ones are showing g. I do know when you see just "b", the client is normally in the probing state and hasnt associated to the WLC so the WLC doesnt  know its compatibility until it associates.

[theophile]

That's what I was thinking too, but it's not the case, have a look at the picture

thanks

[George Stefanick]

Whats not the case, sorry you lost me..

[theophile]

I meant that I've some clients displayed as b/n althought they are successfully connected, sorry for language I'm french

[blakekrone]

What seems to be the issue? If those 802.11bn listed devices are 2.4GHz devices that are capable of using 802.11n technology then everything is working as designed.

[theophile]

I was thinking that if a client does support 802.11g it does support 802.11n too, but that's not the case sorry. Another point, if my client card does support a/b/g/n, who decides in the wireless trunk (the wlc,the client?) the protocol finally used after my client is connected? In my wireless environment, most of the cards do support all protocols so I intended to see more 802.11an client.

It's just a discussion, the wlc works as designed

[blakekrone]

The client ultimately chooses which protocol to use when it supports a/b/g/n if all are enabled on the WLC. The driver for the card will determine the best signal (whether it is the right choice or not) and use that protocol. That is why it's important to use updated drivers, the newer the driver the better their roaming and protocol decisions are hopefully!

[theophile]

ok thanks for your help Blakekrone, have a nice day

Cheers