Manually configure 802.11k (neighbor report)

Standardized IEEE 802.11k features allow for shorter roaming times for Wi-Fi-connected clients.

When the Neighbor Node Generation Method is set to Automatic, each node will guess which nodes are in the neighborhood and provide that information to the Wi-Fi connected clients.

Automatic is selected by default. (Only the manual setting is supported on PCWL-0530E.)

Neighbor node can be flexibly changed by setting the neighbor node generation method to manual.

From the specified neighbor nodes, PCWL generates a neighbor report and distributes it to the Wi-Fi connected clients.

Prerequisite.

This is a limitation when setting up the neighbor nodes manually.

• Support Status of PCWL Series

  • PCWL-04xx : Firmware version 2.13.0 or later

  • PCWL-05xx : Firmware version 1.3.0 or later

  • PCWL-0530E : Firmware version 1.3.0 or later

    • Automatic generation is not supported. Manual configuration is required.

• The number of nodes that can be manually configured is 1 to 5.

• For nodes with invalid PicoManager® licenses, those being configured will be displayed, but only deselection will be possible.

• The PCWL-04xx series supports 802.11k functionality in the 5 GHz band only.

• When entering a MAC address to configure a neighbor node, the following cases cannot be entered.

  • When the MAC address of own node is entered

  • If the MAC address of the selected node is entered

  • If the MAC address of a node with an invalid PicoManager® license is entered

  • If a MAC address for a device that is not a PCWL series device is entered

  • If a MAC address of a node running with unsupported firmware is entered

  • When a MAC address of a node with a different device type and not interoperable is entered

    • PCWL-04xx series is not compatible with other series.

  • Incorrect format of the entered MAC address

• After manually setting up a neighbor node, it takes tens to hundreds of seconds before a neighbor report is generated. During this time, unintended neighbor reports may appear.

  • PCWL-04xx series : approx. 200 sec.

  • Other series : approx. 10 sec.

Manual configuration of 802.11k (neighbor report) from the node setting screen.

Open the node setting screen.

Open the tab where this function exists. (5GHz AP tab for PCWL-04xx series, Common Settings AP tab for other series)

Turn ON the 802.11k ( neighbor report ) toggle ().

Select manual for the neighbor node generation method ( ).

Click the Neighbor Node List button ( ) to display the Edit neighbor node list dialog.

Open

Node setting: Edit neighbor node list dialog

A list of nodes under PicoManager® management is displayed. Unmanaged nodes that are automatically detected are displayed as (PicoManager unregistered).

The automatically detected node will be selected.

The list of nodes displayed here can be filtered and sorted.

Filtering by SSID name and by a combination of the same map or the same backhaul.

Also, nodes with (PicoManager license invalid) and (PicoManager unregistered) are displayed at the end of the list, even if sorted.

Nodes that do not exist in the list (not managed by PicoManager®) can be configured by specifying their MAC addresses.

In this case, it is added to the end of the list.

When the target node has been specified, click the Save button to exit the modal screen.

Finally, click the Save button on the Node Settings screen to reflect the settings.

Manual configuration of 802.11k ( neighbor report) from the node map screen.

Open the Node Map screen.

After selecting the node to be set, click the Neighbor Node button ( ) to display the Neighbor Node Status modal.

From the Neighbor Node Settings tab, turn the 802.11k (Neighbor Reporting) toggle ON ().

Select manual for the neighbor node generation method ( ).

A list of nodes under PicoManager® management is displayed. Unmanaged nodes that are automatically detected are displayed as (PicoManager unregistered).

The automatically detected node will be selected.

Open

Nodemap: Neighbor node status_Neighbor settings

The list of nodes displayed here can be filtered and sorted.

Filtering by SSID name and by a combination of the same map or the same backhaul.

Also, nodes with (PicoManager license invalid) and (PicoManager unregistered) are displayed at the end of the list, even if sorted.

Nodes that do not exist in the list (not managed by PicoManager®) can be configured by specifying their MAC addresses.

In this case, it is added to the end of the list.

When you have specified the target node, click the Save button to apply the settings.

You can refer to the following page to check if the intended neighbor report is created from the configured neighbor node.

https://picocela.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AQAVHg