Until people started using the networks, all networks worked fine. In wireless networks, configuration, installation, and usability all affect a person’s ability to communicate and, ultimately, the quality of virtual conference communication. Meetings are hard to run without Wi-Fi and impossible without it when it works well. We examine the best ways to improve your network’s performance.
Managers in IT are aware of the “appearance” when they are called to meetings that aren’t connected. Technical teams are typically judged by problems, not by what’s right. Actively networking and ensuring the network is set up in the right way will enable you and your team to avoid awkward encounters.
Ensure a successful network by focusing on the following three areas:
- Problem-solving and management of equipment
- Optimization of video conferences
- Accessibility and segregation
The best networks are well managed, and these activities are not exclusive. Here is how you can quickly succeed on each pillar. Also read about managed router vs unmanaged.
Contents
An Introduction to Equipment Management
Enterprise Wi-Fi networks can be deployed in several ways:
- Routing devices for consumers
- Access points with Wireless LAN controllers (WLC); and more recently,
- Controller-less solutions based on the cloud
You may manage these systems internally or through your communication service provider (CSP), and they can cover everything from small offices to entire corporate campuses. However, even if these systems are configured perfectly, they may still experience problems. Your first step should be to choose the right equipment and settings.
Imagine you have a small office and are using a consumer router. These are generally good enough for small businesses, and CSPs have greatly improved their offerings, as long as you have traded in your equipment (you are paying for it anyway). As a result, self-managed routers are not “set and forget”: they always need maintenance.
You should be familiar with the following basic settings:
- Automate firmware updates by installing or enabling them.
- For better security, disable ICMP, WPS, and UPnP.
- Make sure you use WPA 2 or above with certificates or WPA 2 Enterprise.
- If your computer comes with a firewall, turn it on.
- You may want to consider using a Wi-Fi 6 product if you are in a crowded area where multiple devices can use the same frequency. In addition to better support for IoT devices, WiFi 6 can access more solid objects than previous wireless protocols. It is a free upgrade if you “rent” the router from a CSP who recently upgraded to this standard.
- To extend your network more efficiently, use routers equipped with mesh capabilities rather than previous “extender” implementations that reduced performance. Configuring meshes isn’t always fast, but they’re easy to do.
- Your traffic should be handled by enough internet pipelines.
Through a single gateway/interface, more advanced systems will centrally manage multiple access points. By strategically placing APs and directional antennas on the corporate campus, users can roam around and (theoretically) stay connected. We will discuss external authentication in more detail below.
Unlike controller-based solutions, controller-less solutions require less information technology to install. An AP can be configured as a “master” and managed through it via a web interface along with its “member” APs. While the configurations are similar, uncontrolled solutions are capable of “self-healing” when a problem occurs, and they isolate interference and bandwidth from the pig source.
ExtNoc is the best
Campuses find it expensive to install these solutions. Fortunately, the cost of adopting excellent network management is no longer an obstacle to going to meetings due to poor Wi-Fi performance. ExtNoc’s cloud directory platform provides advanced network security and management capabilities.
Router management services: benefits
Manage all routers connected to your network efficiently with a completely outsourced solution.
With Extnoc Managed Router Service, all your routers connected to your network are managed efficiently by a completely outsourced solution. By utilizing our managed service, you can maximize the performance and availability of your network, while minimizing costs. Our managed service includes installation, configuration, testing, and management of all routers. Besides the latest products, ExterNetworks proved world-class service and support organization will also benefit you. We offer managed router services that offer superior performance at a low cost and prevent headaches with daily router monitoring and maintenance.
Read more: Why use backup technology?
