Optimizing Microsoft Lync Deployments on Extreme Networks IdentiFi Wireless

Transcription

1 Optimizing Microsoft Lync Deployments on Extreme Networks IdentiFi Wireless Solution Deployment Guide and ac/802.11n Qualification Test Results Abstract: This document provides configuration instructions for optimizing an Extreme Networks IdentiFi Wireless deployment for Microsoft Lync environments. Published: August 2014 Extreme Networks, Inc. 145 Rio Robles San Jose, California Phone / Toll-free / Extreme Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. AccessAdapt, Alpine, Altitude, BlackDiamond, Direct Attach, EPICenter, ExtremeWorks Essentials, Ethernet Everywhere, Extreme Enabled, Extreme Ethernet Everywhere, Extreme Networks, Extreme Standby Router Protocol, Extreme Turbodrive, Extreme Velocity, ExtremeWare, ExtremeWorks, ExtremeXOS, Go Purple Extreme Solution, ExtremeXOS ScreenPlay, ReachNXT, Ridgeline, Sentriant, ServiceWatch, Summit, SummitStack, Triumph, Unified Access Architecture, Unified Access RF Manager, UniStack, XNV, the Extreme Networks logo, the Alpinelogo, the BlackDiamond logo, the Extreme Turbodrive logo, the Summit logos, and the Powered by ExtremeXOS logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. sflow is the property of InMon Corporation. Specifications are subject to change without notice. All other registered trademarks, trademarks, and service marks are property of their respective owners. For additional information on Extreme Networks trademarks, see

2 Contents CONTENTS... 2 OVERVIEW... 3 WI- FI MULTIMEDIA (WMM)... 4 FLEXIBLE CLIENT ACCESS (AIRTIME FAIRNESS)... 5 UNSCHEDULED AUTOMATIC POWER SAVE DELIVERY (U- APSD)... 7 CLIENT LOAD BALANCING... 8 RADIO PREFERENCE (BANDWIDTH STEERING) OPPORTUNISTIC KEY CACHING (OKC) AND I PRE- AUTHENTICATION (PRE- AUTH) MICROSOFT LYNC SDN API MICROSOFT LYNC AND EXTREME NETWORKS SWITCHING MICROSOFT HYPER- V AND EXTREME NETWORKS IN THE DATA CENTER MICROSOFT SCCM AND EXTREME NETWORKS APPENDIX A APPENDIX B Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 2

3 Overview Microsoft Lync is an enterprise-ready unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) solution that provides a single client application for instant messaging, voice, video and web conferencing calls. Extreme Networks partnership with Microsoft help ensure high quality Lync user experiences by creating end-to-end wired and wireless Microsoft Lync qualified network. The Microsoft Unified Communications Open Interoperability Program (UCOIP) is a qualification program for 3rd party infrastructure and telephony vendors. Under this program, devices must pass rigorous and extensive testing, and conform to requirements specified by Microsoft in order to achieve Lync Server partner status. Extreme Networks Microsoft Lync qualifications include the following: Qualification of Lync with ExtremeXOS based switches, offering high density Gigabit/10Gigabit connectivity and integration of network policy for security and BYOD. Qualified SDN integration through OneFabric Connect and NetSight that provides dynamic, adaptive QoS for video and audio applications at scale. Advanced communications in the mobile world by completing the Lync qualification of Extreme Networks' IdentiFi Wireless LAN ac Gigabit Wi-Fi and n platforms. Microsoft Lync qualification provides confidence that your network investment is interoperable with Microsoft Lync. Note - Appendix A lists a summary of the Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Open Interoperability Wi-Fi test results. This document is intended for network administrators who have or will be implementing MS Lync on an Extreme Networks IdentiFi WLAN network. This guide provides configuration guidance on optimizing IdentiFi Wireless to support MS Lync wireless clients and is a supplement to the Extreme Networks IdentiFi guides. Topics covered include QoS, roaming, power save and load balancing configurations. Microsoft provides additional information on optimizing a Microsoft Lync deployment on Wi-Fi infrastructures. Note - See Appendix B for additional references. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 3

4 Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) WMM is a Wi-Fi Alliance certified standard that provides multimedia enhancements for audio, video, and voice applications on Wi-Fi networks. For devices with WMM enabled, prioritized media access is accomplished by shortening the time between transmitting packets for higher priority traffic. If enabled, the AP will accept WMM client associations, and will classify and prioritize the egress traffic for all WMM clients. WMM clients will also classify and prioritize the inbound traffic. With WMM enabled the and IdentiFi appliance and access points will examine and prioritize traffic marked with a DiffServ Code Point (DSCP). In addition IdentiFi s Adaptive QoS feature copies the IP ToS/DSCP setting from client packets to the header of the encapsulating tunnel packet to ensure correct priority handling of client payload packets tunneled between the IdentiFi appliance and AP. Note References to Microsoft Lync documents for enabling Quality of Service (QoS) Policies on Lync clients and servers are included in Appendix B. WMM is configurable on a per WLAN service and is enabled by default. To verify that WMM is enabled: 1. Navigate to VNS -> WLAN Services 2. Select the WLAN Service that is servicing Lync clients. 3. Select the QoS tab and verify that the WMM checkbox is selected. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 4

5 Flexible Client Access (Airtime Fairness) Flexible Client Access (FCA) allows you to adjust client airtime access. Legacy /b/g/a devices take longer to send packets due to their lower data rates. As a result these legacy devices hinder faster n and ac client data rates. With airtime fairness enabled these faster clients are allowed their fair share of airtime access. Flexible Client Access can be set to one of five levels of fairness between packet fairness and airtime fairness. Airtime fairness allows faster ac/n clients to have the same amount of airtime as slower a/b/g clients. Without airtime fairness networks legacy clients can slow down the entire network in mixed ac, n, and a/b/g client environments. With FCA enabled and configured for airtime fairness faster client connections are not penalized by slower performing clients and can transfer greater levels of data in the same timeframe. An additional benefit is improved battery life of mobile devices as it is able wake up, transfer its data and return to sleep mode much quicker. The Flexible Client Access feature allows you to adjust client access role in multiple steps between packet fairness and airtime fairness. The default setting is Packet Fairness which provides WLAN devices equal opportunity to send packets. Airtime Fairness Provides equal airtime based on connected rates. It is recommended to enable FCA on WLAN service that is servicing Lync clients. To define the Flexible Client Access VNS global settings: 1. Navigate to VNS -> Global -> Wireless QoS 2. Under Flexible Client Access select 100% airtime from the Fairness Policy drop-down list. 3. Click Save to save the selected FCA Fairness Policy setting. Note - TSPEC must be disabled when using Flexible Client Access. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 5

6 FCA is enabled on a per WLAN. To enable FCA on a WLAN service: 1. Navigate to VNS -> WLAN Services. 2. Select the WLAN service that is servicing Lync clients. 3. Select the QoS tab then select the Flexible Client Access checkbox. 4. Click Save to save the Flexible Client Access setting. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 6

7 Unscheduled Automatic Power Save Delivery (U-APSD) U-APSD (WMM power save) improves battery life for mobile devices that support it. With U-APSD enabled on both the access point and the wireless client, the client device can enter a sleep mode between packets to save power. The access point buffers frames destined for the client and the client chooses when to wake up and receive the buffered packets. U-APSD maximizes power savings without impacting Quality of Service. To enable U-APSD on a WLAN service: 1. Navigate to VNS -> WLAN Services 2. Select the WLAN service that is servicing Lync clients. 3. Select the QoS tab. Then select the U-APSD checkbox. 4. Click Save to save the U-APSD setting. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 7

8 Client Load Balancing Client load balancing distributes client traffic across multiple access points to insure maximize bandwidth, avoid radio and channel overload and optimize overall wireless utilization. Clients are distributed across co-located APs that are members of a load balance AP Group. Load balancing is based on the number of clients across all APs in the load balance group and only for the WLANs assigned to the group. The co-located APs should provide the same SSID, have Line-of-Sight (LoS) between each other, and be deployed on multiple channels with overlapping coverage. Client balancing is configured under AP Load Groups. To create a Client Balancing load group: 1. Navigate to AP -> Load Groups ->Client Balancing 2. Click New 3. In the Add Load Group window enter a name for a load group ID, and select Client Balancing type from the drop-down menu then click Add Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 8

9 4. In the Radio Assignment tab, select the AP radios to assign to the load group. Alternatively you can select multiple radios using the pull down menu. 5. Click on the WLAN Assignment tab and select the WLANs to assign to the load group. 6. Click Save to save the selected Radio Assignment and WLAN Assignment load group settings. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 9

10 Radio Preference (Bandwidth Steering) Radio Preference optimizes the distribution of wireless clients across the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum maximizing the efficiency and throughput that the access point can provide. Radio preference steers dualband clients to the 5 Ghz radio on dual radio APs by only responding to the 5 GHz association requests from the client and ignoring the 2.4 GHz request. To create a Radio Preference Load Group: 1. Navigate to AP -> Load Groups -> Radio Preference 2. Click New 3. In the Add Load Group window enter a name for the load group ID, and select Radio Preference type from the drop-down menu. 4. Click Add. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 10

11 5. In the Radio Preference tab select Enable then select the APs to assign to the Radio Preference Load Group. 6. In the WLAN Assignment tab, select the WLANs to assign to the Radio Preference load group. 7. Click Save to save the load group settings. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 11

12 Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC) and i Pre- Authentication (Pre-Auth) Wireless clients that run applications such as video streaming and VoIP require rapid reassociation during roaming for a seamless handoff between APs. Both OKC and Pre-Authentication enable wireless clients to roam fast and securely from one Wireless AP to another when using 802.1x authentication. Both features accomplish a fast roam by not requiring a complete authentication exchange when establishing transient encryption keys although via different mechanisms. In order to use OKC or Pre- Authentication both the AP s and the clients require support. Note - OKC and Pre-Authentication are configured on a per WLAN service basis. To enable OKC and Pre-Auth on a WLAN service: 1. Navigate to VNS -> WLAN Services and click the a WLAN Service to be configured. 2. In the Privacy tab, select Oppotunistic Keying & Pre-auth from the Key Management Options pull down menu. 3. Click Save to save the selected Key Management Options settings. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 12

13 Microsoft Lync SDN API In addition to the Microsoft Lync WiFi and Switching certification Extreme Networks has integrated with Microsoft Lync. Integrations include Lync connectivity analytics delivered via our Purview Analytics engine reported through NetSight. NetSight is a single pane of glass management system that provides wired/wireless visibility and control. The Microsoft Lync API relays detailed information regarding video and audio to OneFabric Connect (part of Extreme Networks SDN platform), where this data can be utilized to provide in-depth visibility into the quality of audio/video calls, and allow administrators to monitor and troubleshoot elements impacting user experiences. Additionally the SDN API integration via the Extreme SDN Platform delivers QoS for Lync video and audio applications. This integrated solution resolves complex QoS implementation challenges arising from Lync end system QoS provisioning and inefficient static network policies due to the wide range of dynamic UDP ports in use by Lync traffic. Additional information regarding Extreme Networks integrated solutions with Microsoft Lync can be found on Extreme Networks Website. Microsoft Lync and Extreme Networks Switching Extreme Networks demonstrated a network solution for converged services supporting every aspect of unified communications including VoIP desk phone, softphones, instant messaging and video collaboration. The test plan provided by Microsoft defines a design specification to perform voice and video quality tests in a Microsoft Lync Server Unified Communications and Collaboration environment. These tests were intended to validate interoperability and voice quality with Microsoft Lync running on Extreme Networks switching infrastructure. All goals were successfully met. Additional information regarding Extreme Networks integrated solutions with Microsoft Lync can be found on Extreme Networks Website. Those papers provide details of the Extreme Networks/Microsoft UCOIP Lync server partner qualification testing and test results. Also included are details on the configurations used on the Extreme Networks switches that ensure predictable performance and acceptable quality of service (QoS) in the Lync-enabled environment. Microsoft Hyper-V and Extreme Networks in the Data Center Extreme Networks Data Center Manager (DCM), part of OneFabric Control Center, provides IT administrators with a transparent, cross-functional service provisioning and orchestration tool that bridges the divide between the server, networking, and storage teams and provides a single integrated view of virtual server and network environments. By enabling the unification and automation of the physical and virtual network provisioning, Data Center Manager enables networks to benefit from the high availability required for mission critical application and data performance. DCM delivers numerous benefits to IT teams, including the ability to: Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 13

14 Automate physical and virtual switching environments to streamline data center network provisioning Create consistent configurations throughout the network fabric for predictable behaviors and simplified troubleshooting Increase coordination and improve workflow between network, server, and storage teams within IT Gain granular visibility into traffic flows and real-time and historical data to simplify incorporation of VMs into the network, improve visibility and control, and enable simplified auditing of the network via policy-based management Unify management through an easily extensible architecture that supports a variety of hypervisor technologies and vswitches, including VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft Supported Platforms are (not limited to): Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012 with Hyper-V support Microsoft SCVMM 2008 R2 and 2012 Additional information regarding Extreme Networks integrated solutions with Microsoft Hyper-V can be found on Extreme Networks Website. Microsoft SCCM and Extreme Networks Integration with Microsoft SCCM and OneFabric Connect provides automatic detection of SCCMmanaged devices and assigns appropriate quality of service and security policies. System Center administrator can access OneView Reporting to see detailed network information on all System Center managed devices, including Netbios name, user, operating system, service pack, hardware manufacturer and model, received from SCCM and automatically policies are assigned. Additional information regarding Extreme Networks integrated solutions with Microsoft SCCM can be found on Extreme Networks Website. Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 14

15 Appendix A Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Open Interoperabilty (CS2013-OIP) Wifi Test Result Summary: Note The n Access Points submitted for Microsoft Lync certification were tested using the CS2013-OIP n test plan cases listed. The ac Access Points submitted for Microsoft Lync certification were tested using the CS2013-OIP n test plan mandatory test cases plus the supplementary ac test cases n Test Results: Test Case Test Case Description The Access Point is WFA (Wi-Fi Alliance) certified for a and partner has documented the same. The Access Point is WFA (Wi-Fi Alliance) certified for g and partner has documented the same Access Point supports g operation Access Point is n certified Access Point is certified for WPA2 Enterprise Access Point authenticates Lync End Point using WPA2 PSK + association response < 100 ms Access Point authenticates Lync End Point using WPA2 Enterprise (802.1x/802.11i) + association response < 250ms Lync End Point1 makes a call to Lync End Point2 when 20 MHz and 40MHz channel width is enabled on 5GHz band Access Point supports Power Over Gigabit Ethernet (802.3af) Access Point and Controller must support IPv6 in hardware or software Access Point can handle calls when both IPv4 and IPv6 are enabled Access Point can steer dual band clients towards the 5GHz band when the client associates with the Access Point Access Point can detect and display the source of interference on a channel Access Point can determine the category of interference on a channel in English terms WLAN solution can identify client's location and past roaming history Lync End Points with the same capability transmitting at different speeds have better throughput with air time fairness enabled in the 2.4 GHz band Lync End Points with the same capability transmitting at different speeds have better throughput with air time fairness enabled in the 5GHz band Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 15

16 Test Case Test Case Description n performance is not penalized in network with a higher percentage of legacy clients when Air Time Fairness is enabled QoS is media aware and does not degrade the quality of the Lync calls Access Point responds with busy signal when it has reached maximum allowable users WLAN system load balances clients across Access Points Video call quality is not affected with Data traffic shaping enabled Voice call quality is not affected with Data traffic shaping enabled Access Point supports WPA2-AES Encryption Access Point supports WPA2-TKIP Encryption Access Point supports WPA-AES Encryption Access Point supports WPA-TKIP Encryption Access Point performs rogue Access Point detection while servicing voice call Access Point is certified for WMM Access Point documentation must disclose how many spatial streams are supported Access Point has at least two transmit antennas Access Point has at least two receive antennas Access Point supports RF Power Management in a voice/video enabled network Access Point supports RF Power Management in a voice/video enabled network Access Point supports Dynamic Channel Selection WLAN does not cause degradation of call quality while doing Intrusion Prevention (Rogue Access Point) Access Point maps e (WMM) priority tag for video traffic to 802.1p priority tag for video traffic on the network side Access Point maps e (WMM) priority tag for voice traffic to 802.1p priority tag for voice traffic on the network side Access Point can prioritize voice over video and video over data traffic with WMM and 802.1p tagging enabled Access Point can prioritize voice over video and video over data traffic with WMM tagging disabled and 802.1p tagging enabled Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 16

17 Test Case Test Case Description Access Point can prioritize voice over video and video over data traffic with WMM tagging enabled and 802.1p tagging disabled Access Points that tunnel all client traffic to controller map DSCP tags from the wired Lync End Point to DSCP tunnel priority tags Access Points that tunnel all client traffic to controller map WMM tags to DSCP tunnel priority tags Access Point must be able to handle at least one wide band codec voice call with no background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one video call with no background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one wide band codec voice call with 150 Mbps downstream UDP traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one wide band codec voice call with saturated upstream UDP traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one video call with saturated downstream UDP background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one video call with saturated upstream UDP background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least five wide band codec voice call with 150 Mbps downstream TCP background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one wide band codec voice call with saturated upstream TCP background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one video call with saturated downstream TCP background traffic Access Point must be able to handle at least one video call with saturated upstream TCP background traffic Access Point authenticates roaming client when PMK is enabled on controller/access Point Access Point ensures fast roaming between Access Points without affecting call quality when encryption used is PSK Access Point causes no more than 1% packet loss while roaming between Access Points Access Point broadcasts channel load information in beacon and probe response frames when QBSS is enabled Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 17

18 Supplementary Test Cases for ac: Test Case ac-1 ac-2 ac-3 ac-4 ac-5 ac-6 ac-7 ac-8 ac-9 ac-10 ac-11 ac-12 ac-13 ac-14 ac-15 ac-16 ac-17 Test Case Description The Access Point is WFA (Wi-Fi Alliance) certified for ac Access Point can support ac client call over a 80 MHz wide channel when channel bonding is enabled on the Access Point Access Point documentation must disclose how many spatial streams are supported in ac mode Access Point supports ac and n clients simultaneously Access Point in ac mode maps e (WMM) priority tags for voice and video traffic to 802.1p priority tags for voice and video traffic on the network side Access Point in ac mode handles at least 30 wide band codec voice calls with no background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 30 wide band codec voice calls with 300 Mbps downstream UDP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 30 wide band codec voice calls with 300 Mbps upstream UDP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 30 wide band codec voice calls with 300 Mbps downstream TCP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 30 wide band codec voice calls with 300 Mbps upstream TCP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 20 video calls with no background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 20 video calls with 300 Mbps downstream UDP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 20 video calls with 300 Mbps upstream UDP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 20 video calls with 300 Mbps downstream TCP background traffic Access Point in ac mode handles at least 20 video calls with 300 Mbps upstream TCP background traffic Access Point in ac mode ensures fast roaming between Access Points without affecting call quality when encryption is 802.1x Access Point in ac mode ensures fast roaming between Access Points without affecting call quality when encryption is PSK Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 18

19 Appendix B References: Extreme Networks Wireless Products: Extreme Networks Documentation: Delivering Lync 2013 Real-Time Communications over Wi-Fi: Lync Server Managing Quality of Service (QoS): Delivering Lync Real-Time Communications over Wi-Fi (Lync 2010): Enabling Quality of Service with Microsoft Lync Server 2010: Technical Library for Microsoft Lync Server: About Extreme Networks Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXTR) is setting a new standard for superior customer experience by delivering network-powered innovation and market leading service and support. The company delivers high-performance switching and routing products for data center and core-to-edge networks, wired/wireless LAN access, and unified network management and control. Our award-winning solutions include software-defined networking (SDN), cloud and high-density Wi-Fi, BYOD and enterprise mobility, identity access management and security. Extreme Networks is headquartered in San Jose, CA and has more than 12,000 customers in over 80 countries. For more information, visit Extreme Networks website at Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 19