RF-Based Access Point Load Balancing in Controller Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network device management systems require manual assignment of access points to controllers, leading to inefficiencies and potential disruptions during controller failures or changes, especially in 'salt-and-pepper' deployments, which can cause connectivity issues and network disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatically reassigning access points based on radio frequency neighborhood information and location data within a controller cluster, constructing an adjacency graph, and validating coverage to ensure seamless transitions without interrupting network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual assignment of access points to controllers is used, then administrative control over AP placement is maintained, but efficiency decreases and network disruptions occur during controller failures or changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic AP-to-controller assignment and reassignment based on radio frequency neighborhood information and location data. The controller cluster autonomously manages AP assignments without requiring manual administrator intervention, even during topology changes or failures, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining controlled automation.
2Reliability
If salt-and-pepper deployment is used, then failover coverage is improved, but connectivity issues and network disruptions occur during controller failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors radio frequency neighborhood information and location data to dynamically adjust AP assignments. When a controller failure is detected or topology changes occur, the system uses feedback mechanisms to automatically reassign APs to appropriate controllers, maintaining failover coverage while preventing connectivity disruptions through seamless transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures APs with multiple controller assignments based on their location and RF neighborhood before failures occur. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a controller fails, APs can be quickly reassigned to backup controllers without disrupting ongoing communications, thereby maintaining reliability while avoiding connectivity issues.
3Reliability
If multiple controllers manage adjacent APs in salt-and-pepper deployment, then failover coverage is provided, but seamless cooperation between controllers is required to prevent client device connectivity loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the management functions of multiple controllers into a coordinated cluster that operates as a unified system. By consolidating control decisions and using shared radio frequency neighborhood information, the controllers can cooperate seamlessly to manage AP assignments, providing failover coverage while reducing the complexity of multi-controller coordination through centralized decision-making.
4Reliability
If uniform communication applications require multiple controllers to work together seamlessly, then service continuity is maintained, but algorithmic complexity increases for matching client devices to best APs
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters used for AP assignment from complex multi-controller coordination algorithms to simpler criteria based on radio frequency neighborhood information and location data. By focusing on RF-based parameters and pre-established AP-group-to-controller mappings, the system maintains service continuity across uniform communication applications while reducing the computational complexity of controller coordination algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for providing radio frequency based access point load balancing in a controller cluster. Specifically, a network device detects a long-term network topology change in a network having a controller cluster, wherein the controller cluster comprises a plurality of controllers, and automatically reassigns one or more of a plurality of access points that are managed by a first controller to a second and different controller in the controller cluster without interrupting network traffic to and from client devices associated with the one or more of the plurality of access points. The access points are located within a particular radio frequency neighborhood. Also, the one or more of the plurality of access points provide adequate coverage in the particular radio frequency neighborhood in the event that the first controller and its corresponding access points after the reassignment become unavailable.