Load Balancing - D-Link AirPremier DWL-2210AP Manual

Load Balancing

The D-Link DWL-2210AP allows you to balance the distribution of wireless client
connections across multiple access points. Using load balancing, you can prevent
scenarios where a single access point in your network shows performance degradation
because it is handling a disproportionate share of the wireless traffic.
The following sections describe how to configure Load Balancing on your wireless
network:
• Understanding Load Balancing
• Identifying the Imbalance: Overworked or Under-utilized Access Points
• Specifying Limits for Utilization and Client Associations
• Load Balancing and QoS
• Navigating to Load Balancing Settings
• Configuring Load Balancing
• Updating Settings
Understanding Load Balancing
Like most configuration settings on the D-Link DWL-2210AP, load balancing settings
are shared among clustered access points.
In some cases you might want to set limits for only one access point that is
consistently overutilized. You can apply unique settings to a particular access
point if it is operating in standalone mode. (See "Understanding Clustering" and
"Navigating to Access Points Management" in this manual.)
Identifying the Imbalance: Overworked or Under-utilized Access Points
A typical scenario is that a comparison of Session Monitoring data for multiple
access points allows you to identify an access point that is consistently handling a
disproportionately large percentage of wireless traffic. This can happen when location
placement or other factors causes one access point to transmit the strongest signal
to a majority of clients on a network. By default, that access point will receive most of
client requests while the other access points stay idle much of the time.
Imbalances in distribution of wireless traffic across access points will be evident in
Session Monitoring statistics, which will show higher "Utilization" rates on overworked
APs and conversely, higher "Idle" times on under-utilized APs. An AP that is handling
more than its fair share of traffic might also show slower data rates or lower transmit/
receive rates due to the overload.
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