CWS Network Performance & Optimization Flashcards

What is the primary cause of the 'sticky client' problem in WLANs?

Answer: Clients holding onto a weak AP association instead of roaming to a stronger AP

Sticky clients are devices that remain associated with a distant or overloaded AP instead of roaming to a closer, stronger one, degrading performance.

Which 802.11 feature helps manage sticky clients by encouraging them to roam to better APs?

Answer: BSS Transition Management (802.11v)

802.11v BSS Transition Management allows APs to send BSS Transition Request frames to suggest or force clients to roam.

What does SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) measure in a wireless network?

Answer: The difference in dB between the desired signal level and the noise floor

SNR is the difference in decibels between the received signal and the ambient noise floor; higher SNR means better signal quality.

What is the effect of enabling band steering on a dual-band AP?

Answer: It encourages capable clients to connect on the 5 GHz band to reduce 2.4 GHz congestion

Band steering steers dual-band-capable clients to the less congested 5 GHz band, improving overall network performance.

A wireless client is experiencing intermittent disconnections during peak hours. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: AP overload due to too many associated clients or high channel utilization

During peak hours, high client density and channel utilization can cause APs to drop or reject clients, leading to disconnections.

What is the role of QoS (Quality of Service) in a wireless network?

Answer: To prioritize certain traffic types (e.g., VoIP, video) to reduce latency and jitter

QoS classifies and prioritizes traffic so time-sensitive applications like VoIP and video conferencing get preferential treatment over bulk data.