Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner User Guide

Capacity Planner
User Guide
Version 1.0
Table of Contents
The Need for WLAN Capacity Planning ........................................... 1
Approaches to WLAN Design .......................................................................... 1

Designing for Coverage and Capacity ..............................................................2
Measuring WLAN Capacity ..............................................................................5
Capacity Planning within the WLAN Design Process.....................................6
The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner ........................................ 11
Overview .......................................................................................................... 11
Navigating the Tool ........................................................................................ 12
Developing a Capacity Forecast ..................................................................... 15
Tying Capacity Planning to a Physical Area .........................................................................15
Requirements Gathering .........................................................................................................16
Creating a Capacity Plan .........................................................................................................17
Appendix ........................................................................................... 37
Preparing Microsoft Excel .............................................................................. 37
Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner User Guide
The Need for WLAN Capacity Planning

Approaches to WLAN Design
Various approaches to WLAN design have evolved over time. These approaches
range from providing basic coverage to providing maximum capacity, and all
situations in-between. It is helpful to understand the situations in which each
approach is appropriate, to guide WLAN design to achieve the desired result.
A WLAN design focused on providing basic coverage is used when a relatively
sparse user and device population exists. The focus of such a design is on ensuring
adequate RF signal strength is available in only those locations requiring Wi-Fi access,
achieving maximum coverage from each AP, and minimizing the overall number of
APs required in order to reduce the cost of deployment. Capacity planning is not
performed in these environments because device density and throughput
requirements are low. As long as Wi-Fi enabled device density remains relatively low
this design works well. However, the dramatic growth in consumer mobile device
adoption, bring-your-own-device (BYOD), and the increasing reliance on Wi-Fi as the
primary network access method for end-users has placed increasing strains on
corporate Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, a basic coverage WLAN design is only
appropriate in very specific circumstances, such as warehousing, manufacturing,
outdoor shipping yards, casual-use public spaces, and general merchandise retail
establishments.
At the other end of the spectrum, modern high-density environments require a

WLAN designed for maximum capacity. The focus of this approach is on
maximum frequency re-use using small cells, directional antennas, and very carefully
controlled channel and power settings. Adequate capacity planning is a by-product of
proper hardware selection and an RF design that packs the most Wi-Fi cells into a
given physical space. However, this design also typically involves a very large cost of
deployment, stemming from a large number of APs and related equipment as well as
for highly skilled professionals required to design and implement the WLAN. A
maximum capacity design is only appropriate for a very small percentage of WLAN
deployments, such as stadiums, conference centers, and other large public venues
where user and device densities are very high.
The final approach to WLAN design is a balanced design, providing appropriate
levels of coverage and capacity. A balanced design attempts to provide adequate
capacity to meet growing demand while not over-building the WLAN and incurring
excessive cost. This approach requires careful analysis of capacity requirements in
order to determine the appropriate number of APs to meet current and future
demand. Frequency re-use is of critical importance during RF planning in order to
ensure that AP density required can be implemented successfully without causing
significant co-channel interference (CCI). A balanced design is appropriate for most
modern WLANs, which face increasing device density and business reliance on the
WLAN, but must be mindful of budgetary constraints and return on investment.
The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner was designed to aid in the capacity analysis
process for the majority of WLANs that require a balanced design.
Designing for Coverage and Capacity
A successful WLAN deployment addresses all of the needs placed on the network,
including both RF coverage and capacity requirements. Network architects have been
equipped with mature RF coverage assessment and verification tools for over a
decade with professional RF predictive modeling and site survey software packages.
However, tools for accurately designing a network to meet capacity requirements have
been scarce.
Many WLAN designers simply use rough estimates based on the number of users,
devices per-user, and a desired limit on the number of devices per-AP in order to
forecast capacity requirements. These outdated methods for WLAN design have
resulted in capacity forecasts that do not accurately reflect the capacity demand and
intended use-case(s) for the WLAN. Often WLANs deployed with too few access
points by following an outdated coverage-oriented design methodology, or with too
many access points because capacity planning has not been performed, the capacity
planning methodology used is inaccurate, or the false notion that simply deploying
more APs will result in more capacity. Often times network architects recognize the
need for greater capacity but fail to take into account the negative effects of cochannel interference (CCI) that actually reduces capacity.
Figure 1 - Outdated Coverage-Oriented WLAN Design Process
Proper capacity planning must be coupled with RF coverage planning to determine

the right amount of APs for a WLAN as well as how it should be implemented within
a given physical space using correct AP placement, antenna selection, coverage
patterns, and frequency re-use. Even though both planning steps must be performed,
the tools commonly used for each have distinctly different focuses, strengths, and
weaknesses.
Capacity planning methodologies and tools have not been around for very long and
are commonly more rudimentary in nature, with forecasts being based on rough user
and device count estimates which often do not provide accurate results. Most capacity
planning tools also do not account for RF design aspects such as signal strength or
frequency re-use, and do not directly integrate with RF coverage planning tools.
Therefore capacity planning tools must be used in conjunction with an RF
coverage planning tool and should never be used alone! This issue is evident in
high-density deployments where too many APs are deployed based on these
inaccurate capacity forecasts, resulting in high levels of co-channel interference,
massive congestion problems, and failure of the WLAN to deliver sufficient capacity
despite an excess of APs. The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner provides more
comprehensive capacity planning than these rudimentary tools, basing the capacity
forecast on the unique mix of AP and client capabilities coupled with actual
applications used on the WLAN to achieve a higher level of accuracy. Because RF is a
shared medium, the unique capabilities and mix of clients on the network directly
impact aggregate WLAN capacity. However, it does not account for RF design
aspects and should always be used in conjunction with an RF coverage planning tool.
RF coverage planning and site survey tools are adept at planning and verifying RF
design aspects. However, RF coverage planning tools are ill equipped to
accurately forecast capacity because they only rely on coverage-based
concepts, such as smaller cell sizing, in an attempt to provide a capacity
estimate. These tools typically provide rule-of-thumb cell sizing of between 2,000
5,000 square feet per AP based on a generalization of the type of deployment, such as
location-based, voice over Wi-Fi, high-speed data, or a coverage-oriented WLAN.
While it is true that network architects rely on smaller coverage cells and greater
frequency re-use to provide higher capacity, such methods when used in isolation are
insufficient to accurately forecast capacity requirements. This issue is evident in many
WLANs that are designed with too few access points, where coverage and signal
strength are excellent in all locations, but once clients connect to the network there is
insufficient capacity to meet the demand. Additionally, in many high-density
environments small coverage cells alone cannot provide sufficient capacity and access
points must be collocated (serving the same coverage area on different channels).
Relying solely on coverage-based concepts, such as cell sizing rules-of-thumb, cannot
provide an accurate capacity plan for modern Wi-Fi networks. Instead, coveragebased concepts should be coupled with capacity planning concepts and used in
parallel to derive a successful WLAN design.
Figure 2 A Modern Approach to WLAN Design
Planning for RF coverage and WLAN capacity require different methods of

forecasting and measurement, while at the same time being tied together in a coherent
fashion to achieve a successful outcome. Both coverage and capacity requirements
should be forecasted as part of the WLAN design process and merged together to
provide a final WLAN design. Network architects should not rely solely on either
coverage planning or capacity planning to design WLANs, but use both processes
together.
The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner attempts to fill a gap by providing network
architects with a better tool to accurately forecast capacity based on the true measure
of WLAN capacity: airtime demand.
Measuring WLAN Capacity
WLAN capacity is heavily dictated by the interaction between the infrastructure and
client devices, with the capabilities of each directly shaping the performance of a
network reliant on shared airtime. No two WLANs are alike due to the unique mix of
access points and the myriad of different client device types. Therefore, the measure
of WLAN capacity is determining the airtime demand of all stations on the
WLAN based on their quantities, capabilities, and intended use (user and/or
device behavior). From these measurements, coupled with other environmental
characteristics, we can derive a capacity forecast, which describes the number of Wi-Fi
radios operating on non-overlapping channels in the same physical area that are
required to meet the throughput requirements of all client devices.
Figure 3 Airtime is shared by all stations on the same frequency,

but not by stations on different frequencies
The key to the capacity forecast is reducing medium contention between client
devices by segmenting them into small enough groups operating on non-overlapping
channels so that each client can achieve the required application throughput level for
an optimal user experience.
The Capacity Planner provides network architects with the ability to forecast WLAN
capacity requirements based on the airtime demand placed on the network by client
devices of varying capabilities, the application throughput that should be guaranteed
to each client device, the WLAN infrastructure on which it is deployed, and the
environment in which the network operates.
Capacity Planning within the WLAN Design Process
Capacity planning is only one portion of the overall WLAN design process. Proper
WLAN design involves multiple steps (See Figure 2):
1. Identify network goals and objectives
Identify key stakeholders and project partners
Interview key stakeholders to determine business objectives and success
criteria
Identify existing and new business processes reliant on mobility and the
Wi-Fi network
Determine if business processes can be enhanced by modifying or
replacing business processes
2. Requirements Gathering
Network infrastructure capabilities
Client devices and capabilities (categories or specific models)
Application inventory, including business criticality and technical
requirements such as throughput, latency, and priority
3. WLAN Capacity Planning
Perform predictive WLAN capacity planning to model airtime utilization
of the unique mix of clients and applications on the WLAN
4. WLAN RF Coverage Planning
Perform predictive RF modeling to simulate the RF characteristics of the
environment, including coverage and frequency re-use
Perform a pre-installation site survey, also referred to as an AP-on-aStick survey, to verify and adjust predictive RF model accuracy
5. WLAN Deployment
Integration with wired network services (AAA, cable plant, route/switch,

PoE, security, WAN/Internet circuits, IP addressing)
Providing services that enable user mobility (fast roaming, tunneling,
mobile IP, etc.)
Ensuring network and data security through AAA, network
segmentation, client network attachment points (local vs distributed
forwarding), device anchoring (e.g. DMZ), guest services, and
integration with device and application management solutions (e.g.
Active Directory, MDM, MAM, EMM)
Ensuring high availability of all critical components
Stable code version selection
Configuration policy definition, deployment and auditing
Ensuring visibility, troubleshooting, and historical reporting through a
network management system (NMS)
6. RF Coverage Verification
Post-deployment RF site survey (active or passive)
Identify and eliminate or avoid sources of interference through spectrum
analysis
Note: This is a high-level approach to WLAN design, not an exhaustive list of
WLAN design activities.
Additionally, design is only one part of the WLAN lifecycle. Network monitoring,
troubleshooting, optimization, and growth is an ongoing process that may require
design adjustments and network tuning to maintain a high-performance and
successful WLAN as demand grows, use-cases evolve, and the physical environment
changes.
Figure 4 - The WLAN Lifecycle
It is critical to perform WLAN capacity planning in conjunction with RF coverage

planning to accurately determine the model(s), quantity and placement of wireless
access points and antennas. In some environments, capacity requirements will dictate
more access points (on non-overlapping channels) than would be required based
purely on RF coverage requirements. In other environments, the opposite may be
true. And in high-density environments, the per-user performance may be restricted
due to RF spectrum and co-channel interference limitations. It is recommended
that network architects perform WLAN capacity and coverage planning in
parallel and in an iterative process, balancing the requirements of both before
deciding on a final design.
Figure 5 - Predictive WLAN Design Iteration
Once network goals have been identified and requirements gathering for access
points, client devices, and applications have been performed, the predictive design
process starts by forecasting capacity. The capacity forecast, as derived from the
Capacity Planner, determines the required amount of AP radios in both 2.4 GHz and
5 GHz frequency bands that are required to meet the capacity demand placed on the
WLAN by clients and applications. It also provides an estimate of the aggregate WAN
or Internet throughput required to appropriately size the backhaul connection from
the site. The capacity forecast requires these radios to operate on non-overlapping
channels in order to effectively deliver the stated capacity.
Remember: Radios that share channels within the same coverage area also share
capacity! It is important to align the capacity forecast with the RF coverage plan to
ensure that co-channel interference is minimized.
The results of the capacity forecast are then input into an RF predictive modeling
software application to determine AP placement, antenna orientation, ensure coverage
is provided in all required locations, and to develop a channel and frequency re-use
plan. In effect, the capacity forecast is a starting point for the number of AP radios in
each frequency band that should be deployed to meet application throughput
requirements. Through RF predictive modeling we attempt to develop a plan that
accommodates those AP radios while avoiding co-channel interference (CCI). This
may be possible using access points with built-in omni-directional antennas, or require
the use of external semi-directional antennas in order to provide sufficient frequency
re-use if the radio deployment is densely concentrated.
The RF predictive modeling may also reveal that additional access points are required
in order to provide adequate coverage in all locations. For example, the majority of
capacity demand may be within a few large rooms, but additional network access is
required in hallways and stairwells to support roaming users. These additional
locations do not constitute a large capacity demand but require additional APs to
service these areas that were not provided for in the capacity forecast. The RF
predictive model may also reveal that the desired throughput levels in the capacity
forecast are not achievable in a physical coverage area if the required radio
deployment is too dense resulting in high levels of co-channel interference (CCI), or if
the use of external antennas or specific AP placement to reduce CCI is rejected for
other reasons (such as additional cost or aesthetics). In this case, the network architect
should return to the capacity forecast to revise the plan. This may include selecting
different access point and client devices that can achieve the desired throughput using
less airtime and fewer APs, revising service level expectations and throughput levels
for client devices and users, or improving network performance through
configuration settings such as adjusting 5 GHz channel width, band steering, or
minimizing SSID count. The capacity forecast may also be updated to reflect the
optimal balance of radios in each frequency band since the 5 GHz bands offer
much more spectrum for channel and frequency re-use, a larger number of client
devices and AP radios operating on 5 GHz might be preferred.
After the capacity forecast is updated, the RF predictive model will need to be revised
to create a coverage plan based on the updated number of AP radios and frequency
re-use required to meet the network objectives.
It is this iterative process between capacity planning and RF coverage planning that
will lead to a successful WLAN deployment that meets both sets of requirements!
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The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner

Overview
The process of WLAN capacity planning involves identifying the factors that affect
airtime utilization and efficiency in your environment. The Revolution Wi-Fi
Capacity Planner is a Microsoft Excel based tool, comprised of a main Capacity Plan
worksheet and multiple supporting worksheets. It may be downloaded from the
following URL: http://www.revolutionwifi.net/
Capacity Planner determines the number of AP radios required in your WLAN based
on two factors:
1. Association Capacity the number of client devices that need to associate to
the WLAN concurrently.
2. Airtime Demand the throughput and resulting airtime utilization load that
client devices place on the WLAN.
The main Capacity Plan worksheet is where you identify the network design factors,
clients, and applications (or throughput SLA levels) that will be used on your network.
Their unique interaction determines how much airtime is consumed and capacity is
required to successfully handle the offered load.
The capacity forecast is reported as the number of wireless access point radios that do
not share airtime with one another. These access point radios will need to be
operating on non-overlapping channels if they are within range of one another or are
collocated serving the same coverage area. Channels may be re-used if access point
radios are not within range of each other at the receiver sensitivity required to detect
the Wi-Fi preamble (typically around -85 dBm). Channels may also be re-used if
coverage patterns are carefully designed with directional antennas in order to
minimize co-channel interference (CCI). Keep in mind that azimuth and elevation
antenna patterns do not visually depict where an RF signal ends, but where the signal
power is lower relative to the main focal point. Additionally, the beam width specified
in antenna data sheets is the angle at which power is within 3 dB of than the main
focal point. This highlights why capacity and coverage planning must be performed in
parallel and in an iterative process.
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Note: In high-density environments, additional configuration tuning such as a low

RSSI association cutoff threshold, low RSSI client disassociation, and receiver
sensitivity adjustments (e.g. RX-SOP) may be used to reduce the effects of co-channel
interference if it cannot be eliminated. Use these settings with caution and only in
consultation with the vendor.
The supporting worksheets define the underlying capabilities of the network
infrastructure and client devices, application bandwidth requirements, RF
environment characteristics, and RF coverage design objectives. These supporting
worksheets provide the ability to customize attributes to match your unique
environment and to provide flexibility in accommodating the release of new products.
The Capacity Planner does not directly integrate with existing predictive RF coverage
planning tools or site survey software. Therefore, it is important that you use this
tool in conjunction with other software applications that perform RF coverage
planning to accurately design a WLAN that meets both coverage and capacity
requirements.
Navigating the Tool
The following conventions are used within the Capacity Planner to help you navigate
the tool, input data, and adjust variables to analyze different what-if scenarios
quickly and efficiently.
Cell Shading
Data on each worksheet is organized in tables that logically reflect various WLAN
components, such as access points, clients, applications, etc. These tables contain a
mix of informational descriptions, default data values that cannot be edited by the
user, and data values that may be edited by the user. Cell shading is used throughout
these tables in order to identify which cells the user may edit and which ones may not.
Cells within tables that are shaded (dark and light blue) contain informational
descriptions and default values and cannot be edited. Cells within tables that are left
without any shading may be edited by the user to input data.
Here is an example using the Network Design table on the main Capacity Plan
worksheet. The cells shaded blue for the labels in the left column indicate that these
cells may not be edited. The cells without shading for the selections in the middle
column indicate that the user may edit this data to make different list selections or
enter new values.
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Figure 6 - Cell Shading Indicates Locked Cells
Similar cell shading is used throughout all of the worksheets. Many of the worksheets
contain default data entries that cannot be modified and represent common WLAN
device or environment characteristics. For instance, the access points, clients,
applications, RF environments, and RF coverage design tables all contain default
entries that represent capabilities typical of many WLANs. However, placeholders
have been created to allow users to enter custom data entries into each of these tables
to reflect their unique environments, if necessary.
Data Entry Methods
Capacity Planner uses multiple methods of data entry, each best suited to the type of
information that must be entered. Familiarity with each of these methods will aid you
in using this tool.
Data entry methods include:
Manual Data Entry some cells require manual data entry where the user
must type in a value. These cells may be string-based informational fields, such
as the name of a custom access point, client device, or application, or they may
be numerical, such as the band steering ratio expressed as percentage value.
Selection Lists many cells are pre-populated with lists created from entries
in other tables within the spreadsheet. When these cells are selected, a dropdown arrow appears to the right of the cell indicating that a drop-down list is
available. Click the drop-down arrow to view the list and select a value.
Checkboxes the main Capacity Plan worksheet contains checkboxes next to
each of the device entries in the Capacity Demand section, beginning with the
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second device entry. These checkboxes are used to indicate the corresponding
entry is an additional application on the same device as the previous entry, and
some device entry values are automatically copied from the previous entry
when checked (and cleared when unchecked). Checkboxes are also present in
the Capacity Distribution section in order to enable 2.4 GHz radio limits and
restrict future growth to the 5 GHz band where more spectrum is available.
Option Buttons the main Capacity Plan worksheet contains option buttons
to allow the user to select the Capacity Distribution method and AP FormFactor that will be used. This allows the capacity results to be displayed in the
correct format for the WLAN deployment.
Calculation Button the main Capacity Plan worksheet contains a
calculation button in the Capacity Distribution section that automatically
adjusts the client distribution between bands in order to distribute capacity in
two different ways, either equally between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency
bands or based on the number of channels in each band.
Note Data validation exists on most table cells to automatically verify that data
values entered are valid based on the type of data expected in each cell. If you enter a
value outside of the valid range, an error message is displayed that indicates what the
valid value or range is for the selected cell.
Cell Comments
Some cells and data values are complex or they are not easily understood subjects.
Therefore, in some of the cells that contain more complex data values comments have
been inserted to provide a more detailed description of the feature and how to
correctly determine data values for your deployment. Comments are indicated by a
small arrow in the upper right corner of the cell. When the cursor hovers over the cell
the comment will appear. Alternatively, all cell comments may be viewed at once by
selecting Review Show All Comments from the menu bar in Excel 2013 on
Windows, or by selecting View Comments from the menu bar in Excel 2011 for
Mac.
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Developing a Capacity Forecast
The development of a WLAN capacity forecast requires using the main Capacity Plan
worksheet at a minimum. If no custom Network, Client, or Application characteristics
need to be defined, then you may simply enter data into the Capacity Plan worksheet
to generate a capacity forecast for your WLAN environment. If you have unique
devices or applications that the built-in categories do not accommodate, then use the
additional worksheets to define custom attributes.
Tying Capacity Planning to a Physical Area

Capacity planning should be performed for a single physical coverage area. The area
should be large enough to account for frequency and channel re-use requirements in
order to minimize co-channel interference when the capacity forecast is input into the
RF predictive modeling. However, the physical area should not be so large that
inflection points, which are areas of higher than average user density and capacity
demand, are abstracted within the larger area resulting in insufficient capacity in those
inflection points once deployed. Therefore, you will need to balance the size of
physical area that you are planning for in order to account for both scenarios.
If no inflection points exist, then base the capacity plan on the entire physical area in
order to forecast the total amount of APs required, which will then allow you to
properly account for frequency re-use requirements in the RF predictive modeling.
If inflection points do exist within the larger area, you may need to create two capacity
forecasts, one for the entire area (including the inflection point) and one for the
smaller inflection point. When you perform the RF predictive modeling, follow these
steps to add APs into the RF modeling tool:
1. Create and place APs for the entire area, including placing APs within the
inflection point, based on the capacity forecast. This provides the baseline
capacity to meet user demand across the entire coverage area.
2. Determine how many APs provide service for the inflection point in the RF
predictive model from step 1.
3. Subtract the AP quantity from step 2 from the capacity forecast for the
inflection point. This is the amount of additional APs that need to be deployed
within the inflection point to handle the higher peak capacity demand.
4. Create the required quantity of additional APs from step 3 in the RF predictive
model and place the APs within the inflection point.
Examples of a single physical coverage area that can be used for capacity planning
purposes include: one university auditorium if isolated, multiple university
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auditoriums if adjacent to one another, one to three office building floors (to account
for multi-floor RF signal propagation), one wing of an elementary school building (412 classrooms). These are examples only and not strict guidelines. Use your judgment
to determine the proper physical space for capacity planning in your environment.
Requirements Gathering
The process of requirements gathering should be the first step in designing and
implementing a WLAN once network goals and objectives have been established.
Through the process of requirements gathering, you identify network design
characteristics, allowing the Wi-Fi network to align with business objectives and meet
desired performance levels. Proper planning requires an understanding of the client
device categories that will be supported and their capabilities, client density in each
physical coverage area, and applications that rely on the WLAN and their associated
throughput requirements.
Through this process, identify the following variables:
Network infrastructure capabilities
Client device types, quantities, and capabilities
Applications and throughput requirements
Note The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner includes a list of many common
client device categories and capabilities. Leveraging this built-in list of devices when
creating your capacity plan can reduce the amount of time it takes to research client
device capabilities.
The process of requirements gathering does not need to be perfect. Accurate
results (~80-90% accurate) can be obtained by simply having an informed
approximation regarding the quantities and generic categories of devices that will be
used on the WLAN. For instance, you dont need to know the exact models of
tablets, smartphones, or laptops that will be used on the WLAN; having an informed
approximation based on expected price ranges and ages of devices provide you with
information on device categories and capabilities that will yield results with sufficient
accuracy for planning purposes. If you are re-designing or updating an existing
WLAN deployment, having historical data from a network management system
(NMS) will yield additional valuable data that can be used to determine the unique mix
of devices and applications on your WLAN. Additional information on the client
device types, models, and capabilities can be gathered from corporate inventory
systems, such as SCCM, KACE, Altiris, LANDesk, MDM solutions, etc. If you are
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designing a new WLAN or do not have information on client devices that will be
used, then you can base your design on the number of users that will be present in the
environment, the expected device categories and quantities that they will use, and the
applications that are anticipated to be used most frequently. This may involve
identifying key stakeholders, such as line of business managers and systems
administrators, to determine the use-cases for the WLAN and types of devices that
will be used. Use all available data to you to increase the accuracy of data used during
the predictive capacity planning process.
Once you have gathered a list of these requirements and reviewed them, you can
forecast the required AP capacity for use during network planning and design. Only
through proper requirements gathering, network design, configuration, and continual
optimization can you deploy a Wi-Fi network that meets the demands of a modern
user population.
Note A more detailed discussion of the requirements gathering process can be
found in the Designing WLANs for Capacity presentation, video, and worksheets
available at http://www.revolutionwifi.net
Creating a Capacity Plan
Once you have gathered information on the network infrastructure capabilities, client
device capabilities, and applications that will be used on the WLAN, you are ready to
begin creating a capacity plan using the Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner. Open
the Excel spreadsheet to the main Capacity Plan worksheet.
The main Capacity Plan worksheet is comprised of four main sections:
1. Network Design
2. Capacity Demand
3. Capacity Calculation Options
4. Capacity Results
Network Design
The network design section provides the ability for the user to identify several design
and operational characteristics of the WLAN that affect network capacity.
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Figure 7 - Capacity Plan Network Design Section
Select or enter the appropriate values for your WLAN infrastructure in this section.
Project Name Enter the project, venue, or location name to identify this
capacity plan and report.
Date Enter the current date on which this capacity plan was created.
Access Point Type select the access point type that will be used in your
WLAN. The list is populated from the access point table in the Network
worksheet. Use a built-in AP type or create a custom AP type. The AP type
determines several capabilities that will impact the capacity of your WLAN,
including: 802.11 protocol version, channel width, transmit and receive antenna
chains, spatial streams, client association limits, transmit beamforming, and
antenna array gain.
5 GHz Channel Width select the channel width that will be used in the 5
GHz frequency band. The list is populated based on the capabilities of the
access point selected. 20 MHz channel width is always used for 2.4 GHz
capacity calculations since there is not enough spectrum to provide multiple
non-overlapping channels at greater channel widths.
Client Distribution between Bands - define the percentage of all client
devices that should be associated to the 5 GHz frequency band. This value
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takes into account 2.4 GHz-only capable client devices that may be added to
the Capacity Demand section. Also note that the calculation button for capacity
distribution will modify the client distribution between bands in order to
achieve the selected result; these automatic calculations will override any
manual client distribution value that is present.
Association Limit Per AP Radio define a limit for the number of client
devices that are desired on any single AP radio. The upper limit is determined
by the capabilities of the access point selected, typically 128-256 associations.
By artificially limiting the association limit per AP radio, your capacity forecast
may determine a greater number of access point radios are required to handle
client associations than are required for device throughput and airtime demand.
In practice, the association limit per radio would have to be set to a fairly low
value in order for this to occur.
Concurrent Associated Client % - define the percentage of all client devices
that are concurrently associated to the WLAN. Devices that are associated to
an access point consume a portion of the APs association capacity limit, but
may not be actively passing traffic or consuming much airtime capacity.
Therefore, there are two different concurrent percentages, one for association
and one for active clients.
There are many reasons why the total number of client devices are not all
associated to the WLAN at the same time. Workers are often mobile in the
environment and may not be within coverage range, devices may enter a sleep
state, mobile devices may have Wi-Fi turned off to conserve battery power, or
workstations may be plugged into the network on a wired Ethernet cable drop
and automatically disable the Wi-Fi connection. Reviewing historical NMS
reports is the best way to determine the appropriate percentage of users that
are concurrently associated to your WLAN. For example, in an office area you
may know that the physical space accommodates up to 150 workers, but your
NMS reports indicate that only 100 devices are connected in the area at any
one time. The concurrent associated percentage would be 66.67%.
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Note It is often cited within the WLAN industry that the average user carries
up to three Wi-Fi enabled devices. While this is likely true, understand that
most users only use one device, perhaps two, at the same time. When creating a
capacity plan for your WLAN, it is best to plan for all of the different device
types and quantities that will be present in the environment. Then utilize the
concurrent associated and active device percentage settings to plan for realistic
peak usage. It is not recommended to plan for all devices being connected all
the time unless you are certain that is true.
Concurrent Active Client % - define the percentage of all client devices that
are concurrently active, meaning they are passing traffic and consuming airtime
on the WLAN. In order for a client device to be active it must also be
associated. Therefore, the percentage of concurrently active client devices must
be smaller than, or equal to, the percentage of concurrently associated client
devices.
Client devices may idle for various reasons, including users who have left their
workstations, laptop or tablet carts in classrooms that are charging in their
docks, voice over IP phones that are not on an active call, or wireless printers,
projectors, and media displays (e.g. Apple TV) that are not always being used.
Number of Enabled SSIDs define the number of SSIDs that are enabled
and serving clients in the WLAN infrastructure. The number of SSIDs
contributes to network overhead with beacon and probe response frames. The
number of enabled SSIDs is carried over into the SSID Overhead worksheet in
order to calculate the percentage of airtime overhead caused by SSIDs in the
environment, which is then subtracted from the available airtime that can be
used by clients to transmit and receive data.
Minimum Basic Data Rate (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) select the 802.11b/g data
rate (2.4 GHz) or the 802.11a data rate (5 GHz) that is the lowest mandatory
data rate on the WLAN. This data rate must be supported by all clients in order
to associate to the WLAN, and defines the data rate at which beacons and
broadcast traffic are sent out by access points.
The minimum basic data rate must be an 802.11a/b/g rate, even on
802.11n/ac WLANs. Some vendor solutions include a feature that restricts an
SSID or WLAN to 802.11n-only clients, and typically enforces this by denying
20
legacy client associations based on the supported data rates communicated by

the client during the association process. However, the minimum basic rate for
beacons and broadcast traffic will still be an 802.11a/b/g rate.
Note The Capacity Planner assumes that all lower data rates than the
minimum basic data rate are disabled. If it appears that a specific client device
type, on average, will not have a strong enough SNR to achieve the minimum
basic data rate then it is likely that those devices will have intermittent
connection issues. An error is shown below the Capacity Demand section
indicating this condition.
RF Coverage Design select the RF coverage design that will be used for the
WLAN, which describes the minimum RSSI that will be guaranteed for client
devices during RF predictive modeling and RF verification with a site survey.
This RSSI signal strength will be available in all coverage locations for client
devices and is the starting point for estimating what signal strength and SNR
client devices will be able to achieve on the WLAN.
The list is populated from the RF Coverage Level table in the Network
worksheet. Built-in options include the most common RF design goals that are
used when performing site surveys:
o Capacity / Voice / Location Oriented designs typically attempt to
achieve a minimum RSSI of -67 dBm in all locations.
o Data Coverage designs typically attempt to achieve a minimum RSSI of
-75 dBm in all locations.
o Basic Connectivity designs typically attempt to achieve a minimum RSSI
of -80 dBm in all locations.
Custom RF coverage designs may also be defined in the table and used in
the capacity plan.
RF Environment select the RF environment type from the list that most
accurately represents the environment the WLAN will operate in. The RF
environment type describes two very important variables for accurate capacity
planning noise floor and available airtime.
The noise floor of the environment in each frequency band directly impacts the
signal quality, data rates, throughput, and ultimately airtime utilization of client
21
devices. Some environments have a low noise floor, close to the thermal noise
level based on the bandwidth of the channel at room temperature. Other
environments may have a higher noise floor if the temperature is warmer than
20 C or interference exists in the environment (either non-Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi).
Available airtime represents the amount of airtime that is available for clients to
use after subtracting the ambient channel utilization (e.g. duty cycle) from
external neighboring WLANs, client and AP probing traffic, ad-hoc networks,
other Wi-Fi traffic from direct links such as Wi-Fi Direct or Apple AirDrop,
and channel utilization from non-Wi-Fi RF transmitters that is above the Clear
Channel Assessment (CCA) Energy Detection (ED) Busy threshold.
Note - Even in isolated environments with no ambient channel utilization,
Wi-Fi clients can often only utilize 80-90% of airtime due to contention related
overhead.
Available airtime and noise floor can be determined through spectrum analysis
by looking at the duty cycle of the channel or frequency band at a threshold of
around -85 dBm for Wi-Fi signals, and around -65 dBm for non-Wi-Fi signals.
Many enterprise WLAN vendors also provide the ability to monitor channel
utilization and noise on the current operating channel of deployed APs. The
channel utilization should account for noise, Wi-Fi interference, and non-Wi-Fi
interference sources. However, it should not include channel utilization from
your own WLAN. Therefore, ensure that the AP used is capable of reporting
separate statistics for Tx/Rx airtime utilization of the WLAN versus overall
channel utilization including outside sources of interference. If it is not capable
of distinguishing between these values, then attempt to measure the channel
utilization on a relatively idle AP and channel, or on an AP not serving WLAN
clients (e.g. monitor mode AP) and set to a channel that is not used by
neighboring APs. Be sure to measure the duty cycle or channel utilization
during a time period that is representative of normal operating conditions for
the environment. The available airtime of the frequency band is the inverse of
the duty cycle or channel utilization observed.
22
Figure 8 Example AP Noise and Channel Utilization Measurements
Custom RF environment types can be defined in the Network worksheet. The

built-in types are representative of many common environments, but cannot
cover all conditions in which WLANs operate. If you have a unique
environment, it is recommended that you actively measure the noise floor and
channel utilization and create a custom RF environment.
Note If you define custom RF environment types in the Network worksheet,
enter the noise floor as measured for a 20 MHz wide channel. The lowest noise
floor that should be entered is -101 dBm. Larger channel widths increase the
noise power for Wi-Fi receivers by 3 dB for every doubling of the channel
bandwidth, but the Capacity Planner takes this into account.
Capacity for Growth define the percentage of the total WLAN capacity that
should remain unused and available to accommodate future growth. Since
WLAN capacity is reported as the quantity of AP radios to deploy on nonoverlapping channels, and you cannot deploy a fractional AP radio, the actual
capacity available for growth will not exactly match the desired percentage. The
Capacity Planner adds the fractional amount of AP radios required to achieve
the desired room for growth and rounds the AP radio estimate up to the next
whole number. Therefore, think of this value logically as the minimum
guaranteed capacity for growth and define the percentage accordingly.
Growth capacity may be restricted to the 5 GHz band in the Capacity
23
Distribution section. This may be desirable because 2.4 GHz provides much
less spectrum, non-overlapping channels, and capacity than 5 GHz. In many
environments it is not possible to add any 2.4 GHz radios for additional
capacity because overlapping channels will share capacity, not add capacity. In
these instances the capacity for growth in the 2.4 GHz band is effectively 0%
and all growth should be planned for in the 5 GHz band.
Device Sub-Total to Display select the metric to display for the per-device
sub-totals in the Capacity Demand table below. Options include:
o Airtime Per-Device displays the airtime utilization for each client
device to achieve the throughput level of one or multiple applications
running on the device.
o AP Radios Required (Airtime) displays the number of AP radios
required based on client and application airtime demand in order to
successfully handle the traffic load of all active devices of a given type.
o AP Radios Required (Association) displays the number of AP radios
required based on client association count and AP radio association
limits in order to successfully allow all client devices to associate to the
network.
o Max Devices Per-Radio displays the maximum number of client
devices of a given type that can be served by a single AP radio. This
value is rounded down to the nearest whole number of devices.
24
Capacity Demand
The Capacity Demand section identifies the capacity demand placed on the WLAN
by the unique mix of devices, each running one or multiple applications.
Figure 9 Capacity Demand Section
Each line item in the table represents a client device running a defined application (or
requiring a defined throughput SLA), and placing a given load on the WLAN in terms
of airtime utilization required to achieve the throughput requirement.
Each device entry includes the following fields that must be populated by the user:
Client Device select a client device from the list, which is populated from
the Client Device Type table in the Clients worksheet. The client device type
determines the underlying radio capabilities of the device, such as 802.11
protocol version, channel width, frequency band restrictions, number of
antenna chains, antenna gain in each band, number of spatial streams, and
maximal ratio combining (MRC) capability.
These capabilities are then compared to the selected access point capabilities
and network design selections to determine the operational link characteristics
that the device could be expected to achieve when connected to the WLAN,
which is shown for each client on the Client worksheet in the Connection
Details section. This results in an estimation of an average SNR that this client
device can expect on the WLAN and resulting data rate that can be achieved.
25
Note When clients are actually connected to a live WLAN, they will have
varying SNR levels and achieve varying data rates. The Capacity Planner
attempts to determine what the average signal quality and achievable data
rate of these clients will be as whole based on the AP, environment, and client
variables. Remember, this is a predictive capacity plan. While not 100%
accurate, it can provide a reasonably accurate prediction of performance that is
useful as an initial starting point for WLAN design and project scoping for a
Bill of Materials (BOM).
Several built-in categories of client device types exist to cover the most
common devices seen in the market today. If custom client device types need
to be created, navigate to the Clients worksheet and define them in the table.
Application or Throughput SLA select an application or throughput SLA
level from the list, which is populated from the Applications table in the
Applications worksheet. The application selected determines the throughput
level the client device attempts to achieve on the WLAN. Built-in entries are
defined for many common applications used in enterprise and education
environments. If the built-in applications do not include an application that is
used on your WLAN, you may alternatively select one of the throughput SLA
levels or define your own custom applications in the Applications worksheet.
Device Quantity enter the total quantity of devices of the selected type that
are present on your WLAN in the physical area that you are planning. The
device quantity should reflect all associated and unassociated, as well as active
and idle devices. The Concurrent Limits values, if enabled for the device entry,
can be used to reduce the total device quantities accordingly.
Concurrent Limits select which concurrent device limits should apply to
this device entry. The concurrent limits were configured in the Network Design
section, and define the percentage of devices that are concurrently associated
and active on the WLAN. These limits may or may not apply differently to
each client device entry. Therefore, the Concurrent Limits selection list
controls which limits apply to this client device.
26
Selection options include:

o (Blank) the default value, this applies both concurrent limits for
association and active client device quantities.
o Both applies concurrent limits for both association and active client
device quantities. This is useful for interactive user-based devices that are
portable or mobile, such as laptops and tablets.
o Association applies a limit only on the association quantity for this
client device. Clients that are associated are assumed to also be active.
Therefore, the active quantity is equal to the association quantity because
client devices must be associated in order to be active passing traffic on
the WLAN. This is useful for clients that may not always be online, but
are always transmitting traffic if they are online, such as mobile video
conferencing carts or devices that are only powered on and connected
while in-use.
o Active applies a limit only on the active quantity for this client device.
No limit is applied on the association quantity. This results in the total
device quantity being associated to the WLAN and consuming
association capacity of the access points, but only a subset of these
devices are actively passing traffic at the selected application throughput
level and consuming airtime capacity of the access points. This situation
is typical in many environments where many devices remain connected
to the WLAN when idle and not being used, such as laptop or tablet
carts in education, wireless VoIP phones, and mobile inventory scanners
in retail and warehousing.
o None no concurrent limits are applied. The total quantity of client
devices are associated and actively passing traffic on the WLAN. This is
useful for non-user interactive devices such as dedicated IP video
cameras for security.
Background Application Checkbox this checkbox, located to the left of
the client device entry, controls whether the current device entry defines an
additional application on the same device as the previous entry. The check box
is available starting with the second device entry, since the initial device entry
must define the first client device type used on the WLAN. Modern devices are
27
rarely dedicated to running a single-application, but are smart devices that run
multiple applications at once. In order to accurately forecast capacity, it may be
necessary to account for multiple applications running at the same time and
consuming bandwidth on a device.
When you check this box, values from the previous device entry are populated
for the current entry except for the application or throughput SLA, which
should be defined by the user. The data entry values for the client device,
device quantity, and concurrent limits are restricted to match the previous
entry. The airtime demand from the background application is calculated and
added to the overall demand placed on the WLAN. However, these are not
additional separate devices and are not duplicated when calculating association
and active device quantities. Therefore, the values in these fields are greyed out,
indicating that they are the same as the previous device entry, but are not
counted again.
Multiple successive device entries may be checked to define multiple
applications running on the same device.
Each device entry also includes the following informational fields:
Application Throughput the throughput required by the selected
application is shown here for quick reference so you dont have to navigate
over to the Applications worksheet to look it up.
Association Quantity (per-band) the number of client devices that will be
concurrently associated to the WLAN in each frequency band, based on the
total device quantity multiplied by the concurrent associated device percentage
(if applied).
Active Quantity (per-band) the number of client devices that will be
concurrently active on the WLAN in each frequency band, based on the total
device quantity multiplied by the concurrent active device percentage (if
applied).
Airtime per-device (per-band, per-device) the resulting airtime consumed
on the WLAN by each individual client device of this type when running the
selected application(s) and requiring the corresponding throughput level. The
28
airtime consumed is determined by dividing the device throughput capability by

the required application throughput.
The device throughput capability is determined on a per-device entry basis, and

is based on the SNR of the link between the client and AP, achievable data rate
based on the SNR, and the amount of overhead required to transmit and
receive the required application throughput. The amount of overhead is
calculated individually for each device and application combination because the
application characteristics (such as TCP vs. UDP, low latency requirements for
VoIP and real-time streaming media, and average frame size) determine
framing overhead, frame aggregation, and frame acknowledgement. Therefore,
the device throughput capability is not always assumed to be the same for any
single device type, but varies based on the application selected.
An example that highlights this reality is the use of VoIP on the WLAN. VoIP
requires very little bandwidth but requires fairly low latency handling and is
comprised of very small frame sizes. This results in much smaller frames
transmitted over the WLAN, a higher ratio of framing overhead from
preambles and MAC headers, and the lower likelihood of frame aggregation
due to low latency requirements. The overhead experienced by a client device
when running a VoIP application is higher than when running a bursty data
application. Therefore, the small amount of throughput required for a VoIP
application results in higher than expected airtime utilization.
For example, consider a Cisco 792x phone (802.11a/g) running VoIP with a
G.711 codec. The bi-directional application throughput is only 128 Kbps. If
you were to assume a device throughput capability of 20 Mbps (typical of
802.11a/g devices) then the resulting airtime utilization would be 0.64%.
However, due to actual overhead based on the VoIP application characteristics,
actual airtime utilization is 1.68%, over 2.5x higher than the assumption!
29
Figure 10 - Cisco VoIP Airtime Utilization
Even though both airtime utilization figures appear low, the difference between
the two value results in dramatically different aggregate WLAN capacity
requirements when a significant number of VoIP phones are deployed
instead of a single AP radio being able to support ~72 voice calls concurrently,
it can only support ~27 voice calls concurrently (also based on keeping AP
channel utilization below 50% for high voice quality). This is also confirmed by
Cisco Systems, Inc., see the following document:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/srnd/collab
10/collab10/mobilapp.html - pgfId-1236767
Note The Association quantity, Active quantity, or Airtime values may be shaded
grey to indicate one of two conditions: 1) the device entrys background application
checkbox is checked and the Association and Active quantities will not be counted
again toward the total (but the Airtime will be counted), or 2) the device is frequency
band restricted and the Association, Active, and Airtime values are all zero since the
device cannot operate in one of the frequency bands due to device capability
limitations or SSID restrictions on the WLAN. The frequency band restrictions for
each client device type can be configured by the user in the Clients worksheet.
30
Capacity Calculation Options

There are a few final settings that can be used to influence the way the capacity results
are calculated in order to better align to your intended WLAN deployment: the
capacity distribution method and the AP form-factor.
Figure 11 - Capacity Calculation Options
Capacity Distribution these settings automatically adjust the client distribution

between bands in order to distribute WLAN load and AP radio capacity between
frequency bands using various methods to tailor the WLAN deployment to your
environment needs. Be sure to click the Calculate button after you have changed any
of these settings to update the Capacity Results.
Set a limit on the number of 2.4 GHz radios to deploy check this box and
enter a numerical value to the right to enforce a limit on the total number of
2.4 GHz radios that should be deployed for the physical coverage area being
planned. This is useful when the RF coverage design can only accommodate a
fixed number of 2.4 GHz radios on non-overlapping channels. Any additional
radios will increase CCI and share capacity with existing radios, proving
ineffective. The radio limit is applied to the total number of 2.4 GHz radios,
including both the required number of radios to handle traffic and the capacity
available for growth.
If the number of 2.4 GHz radios required to achieve the capacity distribution
method selected exceeds the defined limit, then the client distribution between
bands is increased until the number of 2.4 GHz radios falls below the limit. If
single-band client devices have been defined and the radio count still exceeds
the limit even when all dual-band capable clients are steered to 5 GHz, then the
capacity for growth in 2.4 GHz is reduced and shifted over to 5 GHz in order
31
to reduce the 2.4 GHz radio count below the limit. If the resulting radio count
still exceeds the limit then an error message is displayed because the radio limit
cannot be achieved.
Plan for all capacity growth to be in the 5 GHz frequency band check
this box to restrict all capacity for growth to the 5 GHz frequency band. This
may be desirable because 2.4 GHz provides much less spectrum, nonoverlapping channels, and capacity than 5 GHz. In many environments it is not
possible to add any 2.4 GHz radios for additional capacity because overlapping
channels will share capacity, not add capacity. In these instances the capacity
for growth in the 2.4 GHz band is effectively 0% and all growth should be
planned for in the 5 GHz band.
Three capacity distribution methods are available:
1. Distribute capacity manually using the client distribution value select
this option to manually define the percentage of all client devices that should
be on 5 GHz versus 2.4 GHz in the Network Design section (above). This is
the default method.
2. Distribute capacity evenly between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz select this
option to distribute WLAN load and provide AP radio capacity equally
between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Distributing capacity in this
fashion is most appropriate when dual-radio APs are used in the deployment
and no radios will be disabled. However, due to the high likelihood of different
quantities of non-overlapping channels being available between 2.4 GHz and 5
GHz frequency bands, care must be taken when using these capacity results to
ensure that no co-channel interference (CCI) exists when performing RF
coverage planning, especially for the 2.4 GHz band. This may dictate the use of
external directional antennas, lower transmit power output, or vendor-specific
methods to reduce co-channel interference levels.
Distributing capacity in this fashion is most appropriate when the AP formfactor chosen is Dual-radio APs (no radios disabled).
3. Distribute capacity based on the number of available channels select
this option to distribute WLAN load and AP radio capacity based on the
available number of non-overlapping channels in each frequency band. The
number of available channels in 5 GHz is determined by the channel width
32
value selected in the Network Design section (above) and the channel plan
selections on the Network worksheet. The channel plan settings on the
Network worksheet allow you to configure which 5 GHz frequency bands are
available in your regulatory domain and will be used in the WLAN deployment,
such as U-NII 1, 2, 2e, and 3. The channel ratio is also displayed, which is the
ratio of available non-overlapping channels between the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz
band.
When this method is selected, the channel ratio is used to distribute capacity
equally across all enabled non-overlapping channels and results in the most
effective and efficient use of spectrum. Capacity is spread out across all
available channels before any individual channel must be re-used. This aids the
network architect in developing an RF coverage plan that reduces or eliminates
co-channel interference. However, it does typically result in a heavier 5 GHz
radio deployment.
Distributing capacity in this fashion is most appropriate with the following AP
form-factors: Dual-radio APs (some radios disabled), Mix of dual and singleradio APs, or Other (calculate radio quantities only).
AP Form-Factor select the intended AP form-factor that will be deployed for the
WLAN. The AP form-factor setting dictates how the AP radio quantities are
displayed, what AP recommendation is provided, and how the average values perradio and per-AP are calculated. Select from the following options:
1. Dual-Radio APs (all radios enabled) select this value to indicate that dualradio APs consisting of one 2.4 GHz radio and one 5 GHz radio will be
deployed, and that the deployment intention is to use all radios without
disabling any.
This option is not valid when there is a 2.4 GHz radio limit applied or the
capacity distribution method is based on the number of channels available in
each frequency band because those selections imply a difference between the
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio quantities. When either of those options are
selected, the AP Form-Factor is changed to Dual-Radio APs (some radios
disabled) the next time capacity is calculated.
2. Dual-Radio APs (some radios disabled) select this value to indicate that
dual-radio APs consisting of one 2.4 GHz radio and one 5 GHz radio will be
33
deployed, and that the deployment intention is to disable some radios if they
are not required for capacity or to prevent co-channel interference which will
degrade capacity.
3. Mix of Dual and Single-Radio APs select this value to indicate that dualradio APs will be used to provide coverage in all locations and will be
augmented with single-radio APs (typically in 5 GHz) to provide additional
required capacity without causing co-channel interference.
4. Other (radio quantities only) select this value to only provide the estimated
AP radio quantities and to not provide any recommendation of AP quantity.
This value is most appropriate when an AP form-factor that consists of 3 or
more radios will be used in the deployment.
Capacity Results
The Capacity Results section provides the final capacity forecast, in terms of the
number of AP radios in order to meet the capacity demand. The AP radios must be
operating on non-overlapping channels or have coverage areas that do not overlap
when operating on the same channel in order to deliver the stated capacity.
Figure 12 - Capacity Results
34
The Capacity Results section displays the final capacity results based on the data input
into the tool, including:
Total the number of client devices
Associated number of devices, per-band
Active number of devices, per-band
Required number of AP radios to meet the capacity demand, per-band
Capacity for growth as the number of additional AP radios, per-band
Total AP radios (demand plus growth), per-band
Total throughput required for backhaul (LAN, WAN, or Internet)
Band Steering ratio required for dual-band APs with both radios enabled
AP deployment recommendation, based on the AP form-factor chosen
Note If only one client device type is defined, then the number of AP radios
required to meet airtime demand is calculated based on the maximum number of
client devices per-radio since any fractional remaining airtime cannot successfully
accommodate any additional devices.
Additionally, the Capacity Breakdown section displays frequency band characteristics
and the average capacity results for each 2.4 GHz radio, 5 GHz radio, and dual-band
AP (when both radios are enabled). This can provide you with a baseline expectation
for the number of devices and capacity load on any single radio or access point.
Remember that capacity on any radio is determined by available airtime, and the mix
of clients and applications used on the network will likely result in much lower
achievable throughput than peak throughput advertised in vendor marketing material.
The frequency band characteristics include:
Available Channels displays the number of non-overlapping channels at the
selected channel width and using the channel plan defined on the Network
worksheet. This provides an overview of the number of channels that can be
used in RF planning for frequency re-use.
Available Airtime (per-channel) displays the final percentage of airtime that is
available to client devices to transmit and receive data after network overhead
and external channel utilization are subtracted. These values are independent
for each frequency band and are based on the available airtime of the RF
environment minus the SSID overhead. This field is informational only so that
35
users can better understand how the final AP radio capacity is determined: the
airtime required by each client device, in each frequency band, is multiplied by
the active device quantity in each band, summed, then divided by the available
airtime per-AP radio value to determine the quantity of AP radios required.
The average capacity results per-AP / radio include:
Associated Devices, per-radio and per-AP (when both radios are enabled)
Active Devices, per-radio and per-AP (when both radios are enabled)
Throughput, per-radio and per-AP (when both radios are enabled)
36
Appendix
Preparing Microsoft Excel
Capacity Planner requires Microsoft Excel to be installed on the workstation in order

to use the tool. Excel 2013 for Windows and Excel for Mac 2011 are supported.
Earlier versions of Excel may work, but have not been tested.
Capacity Planner leverages several advanced features of Excel that requires a few
preference settings to be enabled. Most of these settings are enabled by default, but
are listed here for your reference in case you have previously changed these settings.
Macros
Capacity Planner includes a few macros that use VBA scripting in order to perform
some calculations. The features that use macros include defining multiple applications
on a single client device and automatic capacity distribution calculations. If you do not
plan on using these features then you may disable macros. By default, Excel will
prompt you about using macros contained within the spreadsheet when you open the
Capacity Planner.
When prompted on a Mac, select Enable Macros in order to enable the use of the
aforementioned features, or select Disable Macros in order to prevent their use.
Figure 13 - Macro Prompt on Excel for Mac 2011
When prompted on Windows, select Enable Content from the menu bar that
appears just below the ribbon menu to enable the use of these features, or click the
X button on the right hand side of the menu bar to leave macros disabled and close
the security warning message.
37
Figure 14 - Macro Prompt on Excel 2013 in Windows
If you are not prompted with the security menu bar in Excel 2013 for Windows, you
may need to make sure the message bar is enabled to warn you about blocked
content. Navigate to File Options Trust Center Message Bar and in the
Showing the message bar section select Show the message bar...
Figure 15 - Show the Message Bar in Excel 2013 on Windows
You can also change the way macros are handled within Excel preferences in order to
prevent this prompt from appearing in the future. On a Mac, navigate to Excel
Preferences Security and set the macro security check box.
Figure 16 - Macro Security on Excel for Mac 2011
38
On Windows, navigate to File Options Trust Center Macro Settings and

configure the security to the desired level.
Figure 17 - Macro Settings on Excel 2013 on Windows
Automatically Calculate Formulas

Capacity Planner relies on formulas throughout the spreadsheet in order to accurately
calculate the capacity forecast. These formulas need to automatically update as data is
input into the tool. By default, Excel automatically calculates all formulas in the
spreadsheet and updates the data values. If data values are not being updated properly,
please verify that automatic formula calculation is enabled.
On a Mac, navigate to Excel Preferences Calculation and in the Calculate Sheets
section select the option to Automatically calculate.
Figure 18 - Automatically Calculate Formulas in Excel for Mac 2011
On Windows, navigate to File Options Formulas and in the Calculation Options

section select Automatic as the Workbook Calculation type.
39
Figure 19 - Automatically Calculate Formulas in Excel 2013 on Windows
Show All Objects

Capacity Planner contains a few embedded objects that need to be displayed for
proper operation of the tool. These include checkboxes, option boxes, and buttons.
By default Excel displays all objects. If objects are not properly being displayed, verify
that Excel is configured to show all objects.
On a Mac, navigate to Excel Preferences View and in the For objects, show:
section select All.
Figure 20 - Show All Object in Excel for Mac 2011
On Windows, navigate to File Options Advanced and in the For all objects,
show: section select All.
40
Figure 21 - Show All Object in Excel 2013 on Windows
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Capacity Planner

Approaches to WLAN Design .......................................................................... 1

The Revolution Wi-Fi Capacity Planner ........................................ 11

Preparing Microsoft Excel .............................................................................. 37