Caracterização do Uso de uma Rede Sem Fio de Grande Porte Distribuída por uma Ampla Área

Resumo

Managing wireless networks is challenging due to the requirement of ensuring good performance while coexisting with other networks. This paper analyses a production wireless network that is also used for research. The wireless network at Universidade Federal Fluminense uses home grown technology which was funded by RNP in the SCIFI work group, which is composed of a software controller and low cost access points compatible with OpenWRT. The analysis of the wireless network is performed modeling the network as a directed graph, in which nodes are the access points and edges represent vicinity. Algorithms for choosing the wireless channel in order to maximize performance by minimizing interference both by access points which are controlled or not by the system. The characteristics of associations of user devices to the wireless network are shown. The results of the analysis show that, after the installation of new channel, up to 75% of unmanaged networks in the vicinity of an access point switch their channel to adapt to the new wireless configuration.