WLC 2125: Allowing a certain number of users per Access Point?

[ryabutler]

Hello everyone! We have a Cisco 2125 Wireless LAN Controller with Cisco 1130AG Access Points.

Is there a way to configure the WLC 2125 to allow only a certain number of connected/associated wireless users

per access point?

If so, how would I make that change?

Thank you!

[Stephen Rodriguez · Accepted solution]

By default the WLC is set for 12 clients, before it throws an error about load violation. The way this works, is when the 13th and beyond client attempt to associate, we send them a message type 17, to try and convince the client to go to another AP that is less busy. On the 4th attempt, the client is allowed on the network.

At this time, we do not have a way to hard set the limit of clients on a per AP basis, as the association and roaming logic is on the client and not the AP.

HTH,

Steve

[ryabutler]

Thanks Steve!

[Scott Fella]

Steve,

If this is true and a bunch of people walk into a room with 12 clients already, what really happens to the user experience? Does the 13th + user loose connectivity or is roaming still transparent to them.

[Stephen Rodriguez]

if the 13th + client tries to get on, they will get on, after the 4th attempt and this is microseconds....

The problem is, you could <--operative word, see some degredation in service as the AP now has more clients to support. This is just a number that is "best practice" and can be exceeded. If I remember correctly, we can support 25-30 clients but the latency does increase.

Steve

[Leo Laohoo]

How about this option?

Wireless -> 802.11a/n (or 802.11b/g/n) -> RRM -> General

Default settings for "Clients (1 to 75)" is 12. What happens if I increase this to 25 (as an example)?

[Stephen Rodriguez]

the controller won't throw the load violation error until you exceed 25 users. Still keeping in mind, half duplex communication here, if latency is an issue, i.e. VoIP, careful how much you increase this.

Steve