What is the Wi-Fi Alliance Wi-Fi CERTIFIED EasyMesh Program about? OpenWrt Summit Lisbon 2018 Ian Wheelock, ARRIS

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1 What is the Wi-Fi Alliance Wi-Fi CERTIFIED EasyMesh Program about? OpenWrt Summit Lisbon 2018 Ian Wheelock, ARRIS

2 About Me Ian Wheelock Based in Cork, Ireland Engineering Fellow with ARRIS for over 15 years ARRIS contributor to the initial Multi-AP spec provided to WFA Continue to support WFA/EasyMesh v2 as well as other programs like prpl

3 Agenda Some background on WFA and Wi-Fi Issues Why we need Multi-AP/EasyMesh What EasyMesh is Summary

4 WFA, MAP, EasyMesh Who or what are they? WFA is the Wi-Fi Alliance Standards creation body specifically for Wi-Fi topics they created/trademarked the term Wi-Fi They also create new standards to provide usable functionality on top of Wi-Fi Over 800 global members (SoC, manufacturers and SW companies) MAP is the Multi-AP Technical Specification This WFA specification defines how multiple Wi-Fi APs can be connected/configured together in a home The standard includes a network protocol to allow interoperability between vendor devices Wi-Fi CERTIFIED EasyMesh is the certification program for MAP The Wi-Fi EasyMesh certification validates the operation of the MAP network protocol in a device WFA (and members) developed the cert program, over 170 test cases, for ATLs to conduct cert testing WFA members (manufacturers and SW companies) can submit product for testing

5 Why do we need a mulc-access point standard?

6 Fantastic products, but physics rules!! Speeds increasing daily! Mbps+ speeds are available now Single GW with Wi-Fi cannot match speeds Wireless backhaul desirable N600, AC1200, AC1750, AC3200 Practical throughput is very different AC1200 AC1750 AC3200

7 Why does anyone need Multiple Access Points? Expected Home Wi-Fi Experience using SINGLE-AP Max performance 100% Performance Max performance Room #1 Room #2 Room #3 and beyond Wall 1 Wall 2

8 Why does anyone need MulBple Access Points? Typical Home Wi-Fi Experience using SINGLE-AP Max performance Performance Reduction Min/No performance Room #1 Room #2 Room #3 and beyond Wall 1 Wall 2

Service Providers help subscribers deal with issues in their home networks extra retail devices complicate this function

9 Why do we need a Mul?-AP standard? MAP spec developed in response to huge growth in retail whole-home Wi-Fi solutions None are interoperable! Service Providers help subscribers deal with issues in their home networks extra retail devices complicate this function due to lack of visibility Wi-Fi support is a huge Opex cost in operators Industry suggests a figure of about $1B annually Multi-AP Spec designed to provide interoperability and manageability of home AP devices (SP or retail)

10 Manageability of network with SP Gateway Pretty much full visibility in the home, some Wi-Fi issues! Operations Technicians Helpdesk Before Retail Extender Operations Centre Max performance Typical home Wi-Fi Network Performance Reduction (no extenders) Min/No performance

Operations Technicians Helpdesk After Retail Extender?

11 When retail routers added to home Little to no visibility in the home, maybe improve Wi-Fi? Operations Technicians Helpdesk After Retail Extender? Operations Centre Max performance Typical home Wi-Fi Network Performance improvement??? not clear! Min/No performance

12 When MAP extenders added to home Full visibility, better Wi-Fi, better control over Wi-Fi Operations Technicians Helpdesk After MAP Extender Operations Centre Max performance Typical home Wi-Fi Network Improved performance/range (EasyMesh Extenders) Max performance

13 Why MAP is an alternative to adding retail extenders Costs of proprietary Wi-Fi solution on legacy HW platforms Lots of proprietary development/integrabon per device and Cloud/Firmware decisions Wi-Fi RRM Cloud Wi-Fi RRM AGENT Prop Comms Wi-Fi RRM AGENT Prop Comms Wi-Fi RRM AGENT PROP Comms

14 Why MAP is an alternative to adding retail extenders Leverage SOC agents, intelligent controller algorithms SIMPLE SoC Agents more opeons/plahorm for intelligent algorithms ARRIS HomeAssure Cloud Wi-Fi RRM Cloud ARRIS HomeAssure HNC Intelligence & control MAP Agent EasyMesh MAP Ctlr MAP Agent MAP Agent Innovation above the MAP Layer Agents provided by SoC

15 MAP/EasyMesh Details

16 WFA MAP Specification Defines the MAP network protocol operation, reusing IEEE standard Two key components MAP CONTROLLER + MAP AGENT MAP protocol adds many tools to manage the details of the Wi-Fi network On-boarding guarantees Wi-Fi passwords are setup correctly no more misconfiguration Enables the best fronthaul Wi-Fi channel to be configured on each extender Enables steering of Wi-Fi devices to the best/most appropriate 2.4/5GHz band Introduces standard way of communicating 4-address WDS operation between extenders Enables reconfiguration of wired/wireless backhaul between extenders MAP has no built-in intelligence more of a toolbox that intelligent layers can use to optimize and maximize the performance of the home Wi-Fi network About 30 new messages and TLVs added to for Wi-Fi management

17 MAP Components MAP CONTROLLER Intelligent layer uses the controller to process MAP messages used to configure the MAP network devices. Normally resident in the primary Gateway MAP AGENT handles MAP protocol messages to make Wi-Fi/Network changes in the Access Point it is linked with Controller manages the onboarding and configurapon of new MAP devices added to the network Intelligent layer interacts with MAP Agents (via Controller) to make steering decisions based on system wide Wi-Fi informapon Non-AP STA 1 Non-AP STA 2 ARRIS HNC Multi-AP Device 1 Multi-AP Controller Multi-AP Device 2 Multi-AP Agent Fronthaul AP Backhaul STA Multi-AP Agent Fronthaul AP Logical Ethernet Port Logical Ethernet Port

18 Wi-Fi Backhaul Wi-Fi Mul/-Hop Wi-Fi Backhaul Defined & tested in MAP Interoperable between EasyMesh devices Multiple hops supported Uses WDS 4-address mode Avoids proprietary options Complete wire-less extender deployment possible ARRIS HNC

19 Key MAP Capabili.es/Func.ons Metrics & Control MAP CTRLR MAP AGT Home Network Controller Wireless Backhaul WDS MAP AGT Client Steering MAP AGT Channel Selec0on {SSID/PSK/Enc} Wired Backhaul Extender onboard & autoconf MAP AGT {SSID/PSK/Enc} MAP AGT Band Steering

Wi-Fi Certified EasyMesh Program Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos Wi-Fi Alliance Certification program (flat and dimensional versions) Industry acceptance ofinteroperability MAP standard The Wi-Fi Alliance

The SIIs further signal the standard the product supports (i.e., IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n draft 2.0) indicating backward compatibility with previous generations.

Conducted byforwfa ATLs dotted around world In order a company to use the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos, (a) the the company must be a member in good standing, (b) the product must successfully pass

WFA Staff and MAP contributors developed program as specifically in this Section, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos may only be SignificantExcept work andprovided effort involved used by the Wi-Fi Alliance

20 Wi-Fi Certified EasyMesh Program Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos Wi-Fi Alliance Certification program (flat and dimensional versions) Industry acceptance ofinteroperability MAP standard The Wi-Fi Alliance certifies of wireless networking equipment. The Wi-Fi Alliance administers the certification testing through authorized independent laboratories. Products that satisfy the certification testing requirements and comply with the program requirements may bear the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logo (flat or dimensional). The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logo indicates the product has undergone rigorous testing by the Wi-Fi Alliance and has demonstrated interoperability with other products including those from other companies that bear the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logo. In order to distinguish the IEEE standards the product supports, the Wi-Fi Alliance also prescribes the use of Standard Indicator Icons (SII) in connection with the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logo. The SIIs further signal the standard the product supports (i.e., IEEE a/b/g/n draft 2.0) indicating backward compatibility with previous generations. Service Providers can now use EasyMesh certification/map support to define new products Prerequisites for Use of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos (flat and dimensional versions). Conducted byforwfa ATLs dotted around world In order a company to use the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos, (a) the the company must be a member in good standing, (b) the product must successfully pass certification testing, and (c) the company must complete and comply with the post-testing administrative requirements. WFA Staff and MAP contributors developed program as specifically in this Section, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logos may only be SignificantExcept work andprovided effort involved used by the Wi-Fi Alliance member that certified the product. Creation An ofaffiliate TestofSpecification and automation system the member that the member has identified and formally registered through the Wi-Fi Alliance s membership process ( Registered Member Affiliate ) Cert program was launched June 18, 2018 may use the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logo (flat or dimensional) if: (1) the Registered Member Affiliate ARRIS VAP4641 certified Aug is1,responsible 2018 for manufacture or marketing of the certified product, MediaTek AP3B-MT7615-MAP1TBV1 certified Sep 17, 2018 (2) the Registered Member Affiliate executes the Certification Mark License Agreement, (3) both the member and the Registered Member Affiliate comply with the requirements in this Manual and such additional requirements as the Wi-Fi Alliance may impose in connection with the use by the Registered Member Affiliate of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Logo (flat or dimensional). EasyMesh ARRIS VAP4641 Authorized Users.

21 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Data Elements Data Elements is a data model of Wi-Fi state informaeon Based on data used by single-ap/mule-ap systems to opemise Wi-Fi In reality, a lot of data extracted from EasyMesh TLVs Provides topology, device info and aceve Wi-Fi/networking state Data used by operators to help manage Wi-Fi networks Large analyecs/machine learning plarorms expected to consume data Uses JSON encoding of data over basic HTTP interface (for tes)ng) Likely to be mapped to CWMP TR-181 extensions or other protocol Publicly available hxps://

23 WFA MAP/EasyMesh Release #2 feature summary Upgrade to MAP being targeted for December 2019 release Multi-AP R2 is enhancing to solve even more whole home coverage features Traffic Control Prioritize, Separate, Direct (QoS) Secured Onboarding, Configuring and Messaging EasyConnect/DPP Spectrum Optimization better use of DFS channels Increased Diagnostics WFA Data Elements R2 R2 Program being developed like MAP R1, Upgraded Certification program (EasyMesh R2) will be developed

1 opensource stack Testing and validation work also part of development Future extension will likely include Data Elements

24 OpenSource Community PRPL Founda6on Multi-AP Release 1 Open Source Portable framework targeting reuse on multiple platforms Building on top of existing Linux framework (cfg80211, nl80211) and opensource stack Testing and validation work also part of development Future extension will likely include Data Elements Also being used as part of joint Broadband Forum effort for intelligent Wi-Fi Mesh Networks - Broadband Forum launched their Open Broadband (OB) Multi-AP project

25 Any Questions?

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