Apple Device Roaming

[jeremy_west_564]

I am having a problem with frequent disconnects on apple devices when signal strength is great. In looking into this further, I noticed that the apple devices in question are roaming at an alarming rate. This is happening across iPad, iPod, and MacBook platforms. For example, I looked at an apartment with an iPod touch that was roaming every 30 seconds or so. There is a Win7 laptop in the same apartment that has not roamed one time. I have about 40 Apple devices on the network and similar behavior is happening on 70% of them. I have about 40 other devices on the network and this is not happening with any of them that I have looked at so far. What is more, the Apple devices are roaming out from a nearby AP to an AP several hundred feet away with a few buildings between them. The user is not leaving the apartment but the device is roaming to APs throughout the campus, even APs it either should not see at all, or just barely.

Any ideas? Has anyone seen anything like this before?

[dtsblake_588878]

Jeremy,

Did you ever fix your problem?

I have similar problems and need help.

Thanks, RB

[sid_sok]

If you are using 9.6 and later try using the SmartRoam feature.

Here are the commands:
ruckus# config
ruckus(config)# wlan test
The WLAN service 'test' has been loaded. To save the WLAN service, type 'end' or 'exit'.
ruckus(config-wlan)# smart-roam
The command was executed successfully. To save the changes, type 'end' or 'exit'.
ruckus(config-wlan)# smart-roam 3
The command was executed successfully. To save the changes, type 'end' or 'exit'.
ruckus(config-wlan)# end
The WLAN service 'test' has been updated and saved.
Your changes have been saved.
ruckus(config)# end
Your changes have been saved.
ruckus#

The value after the smartroam is the roaming factor and it sets the low SNR/RSSI the AP receives form a client before it forces a client to disconnects.

Here are the different roaming factor and the associated low SNR/RSSI level:
Factor LoRSSI
1 5
2 10
3 15
4 17
5 20
6 23
7 27
8 32
9 40
10 60

The better the coverage the more aggressive you can be on forcing a client off an AP that receives a low client signal. Depending on the deployment different roam factor should be used. Also please note this is not officially support until the 9.7 release but code is in place. I would suggest starting from the low side and monitor/test carefully at each level before increasing the roam factor.

[dtsblake_588878]

Thanks

[spikes_it]

This did not help with my situation. I'm still seeing client systems try to roam frequently when they shouldn't be. This is resulting in a greater than 2% packet loss while on the wireless network.

I continue to work with support but there's only so many times I can send in the log files for analysis. 😞

[dtsblake_588878]

We are using primarily AP model ZF7982-US. I know Ruckus' design calls for the ZD to manage/control the ZF but the ZF units are also built for stand-alone. Is any "heavy" Mac (OSX / iOS) site that is not having "roaming / disconnect" problems as expressed in this post string using other AP models? If so, please list: AP model, ZD model, ZF soft version, (Mac, iPad, or iPhone model) OSX release, or iOS version.

Thanks, RiX