Wi-Fi Design Life Cycle

URL:
https://support.ekahau.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004477928-Wi-Fi-Design-Life-Cycle
 
Wi-Fi Design Life Cycle
  
Below is shown a typical example on how high-quality wireless networks are designed, deployed and managed using Ekahau Pro. Network deployment strategies may vary, but most of the network deployments include several of the following steps:

1. Define the Requirements
   Determine what applications and the anticipated number of users the network will host. Determine service areas, network security policies,end user devices, funding and scheduling. From these, define the network coverage, capacity, performance,compatibility, and security requirements. Conduct a visual site inspection. In Ekahau Site Survey, you define the network requirements by selecting the type of application used in the network, such as “data” or “voice over IP”. You can also create your own custom network requirements. The requirements can be edited from Project > Coverage/Capacity Requirements. Once the requirements for your network have been defined, you can easily compare the network (simulated or measured) against the requirements using the Network Health visualization.
2. Simulate the environment (Not available in Standard version)
   Create an accurate multi-floor 3D model by automatically importing walls from CAD files (optional). Additionally can you enhance the 3D modeling accuracy by defining specific attenuation areas such as cubicles and by defining atrium type of open areas. Ekahau Pro planning tools include multiple different kind of wall and attenuation area profiles, but you may also customize them to your liking or create completely your own profiles.
3. Automatically Create the Network Plan with Auto-Planner (Not available in Standard version)
   Use the Ekahau Pro Auto-Planner to create a network plan for you automatically based on the 3D simulation you created previously. The Auto-Planner automatically computes the optimal access point locations and configurations without going on-site. Ekahau Pro can visualize predicted coverage and performance, based on your requirements. In addition, you can manually adjust the AP locations and configurations or just manually create the complete network plan with simulated access points if needed.
4. Perform Pre-Deployment Site Survey
   The goal of the pre-deployment survey is to verify the accuracy of the network plan prior to purchasing and installing all the equipment. By performing pre-deployment site surveys, you can be more confident of the number of APs and that their installation locations are optimal. During the pre-deployment survey, you will also find all the third-party access points and non-Wi-Fi related interference that may be reducing the network performance. When on site, power up an access point in one of the location defined in the Network Plan phase. Perform a site survey in the coverage area of the AP. Use the Freeze Access Point feature, and move the access point to the next location. Repeat this process for all the APs planned in the network design. The end results is a site survey of the whole facility, without having to purchase all the necessary network equipment.
5. Fine-tune the Network Design
   If the network meets your requirements, you can directly proceed to the next step. If the network does not meet the requirements, fine-tune the configuration using the simulation capabilities Ekahau Pro in until it does.
6. Deploy the Network Infrastructure
   Based on the network plan, and the pre-deployment site surveys, deploy the wireless network infrastructure. Use Ekahau Pro to store notes about the installation.
7. Conduct a verification survey
   Verify the network coverage and performance by conducting a site survey throughout the entire site.
8. Analyze and fine-tune to finalize the network design
   Analyze the network coverage, performance, and capacity. If the verification survey reveals that the network still does not meet the network performance and capacity requirements, fine tune and re-survey until it does. Use the simulation and optimization features of Ekahau Pro to perfect the network.
9. Create documentation (Not available in Standard version)
   Use the reporting feature to create complete documentation of the network installation, coverage, and performance with the click of a button.
10. Troubleshooting, Monitoring, Maintenance
    Problems do occur that cannot be “seen” from the Wi-Fi Controller, but have to be investigated on the client side. Use Ekahau Pro in combination with your Wi-Fi Controller to keep your wireless network up and running. Use the Live Network Status feature to quickly detect and solve basic Wi-Fi issues such as finding defective and / or misconfigured Wi-Fi Access Points. Conduct periodic site surveys to ensure flawless operation. Design for additional coverage or performance using the network planning features by simply opening the surveyed project file, and adding simulated access points on the surveyed data.