Wireless LAN Configuration and RF Management
Configuration building blocks
Know the SSID-to-VLAN mapping, virtual AP (VAP) profiles, and how AP groups bind VAPs to radios. Understand ARM (Adaptive Radio Management) for channel and power, band steering, client match, and airtime fairness. Candidates should be comfortable with 2.4/5/6 GHz channel plans, DFS behavior, and regulatory domain constraints.
RF management concepts
ARM scans, assigns channels, and adjusts transmit power to reduce co-channel interference. Understand minimum/maximum EIRP, coverage vs. capacity tradeoffs, and how client match steers sticky clients. Know that 6 GHz introduces Preferred Scanning Channels (PSC) and that wider channels (80/160 MHz) reduce channel reuse.
Traps
Questions often blur channel width and throughput - wider is not always better in dense environments. Another trap: assuming ARM fixes all interference; it cannot resolve non-Wi-Fi interference or poor AP placement. Watch for DFS: radar detection causes channel changes and brief outages; some clients avoid DFS channels.
Rule of thumb
In high-density areas, favor 20/40 MHz on 5 GHz and 20 MHz on 2.4 GHz, with power tuned so clients see roughly -65 to -67 dBm at the cell edge. Use 6 GHz PSC channels for discovery efficiency.
Verification
Confirm channel reuse plans, power settings, and client distribution across bands.