Juniper Networks RingMaster Software
Management suite for planning, configuring, deploying, monitoring, and optimizing, single or multi-site enterprise wireless LAN network

Predictive RF Planning

RingMaster provides unparalleled radio frequency (RF) planning capabilities and automates coverage, capacity, voice, and location services planning for indoor and outdoor areas. Through easy to use wizards, network managers can specify coverage and capacity requirements, including the number of users, concurrent voice calls, per-user bandwidth minimums, and many other serviceoriented details.

RingMaster also factors in the RF characteristics of common building materials, including many types of doors, walls, ceilings, and other physical obstructions, and it uses this information to develop an accurate RF plan for the building.

In addition, a wide variety non-802.11 sources of interference that share the unlicensed spectrum can be added as predefined objects to the 3D RF plan. With each addition, the plan inherits the RF footprint and energy signature exhibited by that type of device. Drag and drop a microwave oven here, a wireless movement sensor there, and so on. This allows RingMaster Planning to calculate an optimal RF channel and power plan that avoids known RF interferers and ensures maximum signal to noise ratio over the entire coverage area.

Based on this data, RingMaster automatically determines how many access points are needed and where they should be located, with an intuitive visual graphic display that shows signal strength and coverage holes, as well as high interference and high utilization areas.

By taking into account RF obstacles, interference sources and neighboring networks in a three-dimensional space, RingMaster automates channel assignment and power level settings for every access point to avoid channel conflicts and maximize coverage and capacity.

Enhanced CAD integration

Three-dimensional building models can be created for building interiors and outdoor areas with imported floor plan graphic files. This is particularly helpful in larger deployments, where RingMaster can be used with layered CAD files to achieve greater accuracy in predicting RF behavior under a variety of conditions. Different layers in the CAD files can be used to classify different types of RF obstacles such as doors and windows, each with its own attenuation properties. RingMaster can further calibrate these properties with real RF attenuation data collected on site.

Coverage and Capacity

When deploying for maximum coverage and capacity, RingMaster takes into account the range, performance, and other characteristics of the various types of installed access points such as multiple input, multiple output (2x2 MIMO, 2x3 MIMO, 3x3 MIMO, and 802.11a/b/g).

This allows network managers to optimize performance and cost savings based on expected demands and required access point density, while ensuring complete compatibility with existing 802.11a/b/g networks and legacy devices. RingMaster also eases planning for high-density traffic areas such as auditoriums and large conference rooms, where greater capacity is needed.

Outdoor Planning

RingMaster plans for outdoor coverage areas and sets up mesh portals, mesh links, and bridge links. RingMaster can define outdoor obstacles, set up link margins, and dynamically adjust each link for type, height, tilt, and directionality of the antenna. RingMaster also graphically displays Fresnel zones, and it provides the ability to adjust every parameter to see its effect on a Fresnel zone and its link status.

Services Planning

Services such as voice and location need consistent RF coverage and signal strength across the campus for best results. But optimal settings can vary from one device vendor to the next. RingMaster planning wizards provide the option to select a target received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for larger areas such as an entire office or school campus, for more consistent RF coverage and signal strength.

In-Service and Offline Configuration

RingMaster configuration wizards provide an easy and error-free way to set up wireless services such as Wi-Fi Protected Access and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA/ WPA2) 802.1X-based secure wireless access, voice, location, mesh, and guest access, as well as customizable service profiles. RingMaster can configure a single WLAN controller or create common configurations for hundreds of controllers.

To improve operational efficiency and speed of deployment, the administrator can use centralized Web portal profiles to easily distribute or update Web portal pages across multiple controllers as needed. Similarly, distribution of certificates to controllers can also be centrally managed.

RingMaster provides the ability to make configuration changes live or offline, providing the network administrator with the ability to review, deploy, accept, reject, or even roll back configuration changes across the entire network. RingMaster tests and validates all configuration parameters and changes before deployment, automatically detecting inconsistencies and recommending industry best practices for wireless configuration and security enforcement. For each error notice, RingMaster provides a contextual, single-click resolution to allow for easy troubleshooting. RingMaster also automatically synchronizes configurations that are created by different users independent of each other.

Application Server Configuration

In addition to configuring access points and controllers, RingMaster can also be used to set up and configure mobility services appliances such as the Juniper Networks WLM1200 Management Appliance, or third-party servers such as AirTight Networks SpectraGuard Enterprise Server.

Safe, Accurate Deployment

RingMaster makes deployment easy and accurate, with simple clicks that automatically configure WLAN controllers and access points simultaneously. RingMaster uses a transactional protocol which ensures that deployment is precisely orchestrated from one state of network operation to the next desired state. This increases productivity as partial updates, troubleshooting, and potential outages are avoided or minimized. Deployment can be scheduled when convenient for IT, with varied times for different sites around the world.

In-Service Maintenance

RingMaster makes it easy to upgrade controller and access point images with minimal effort. Upgrades can be scheduled in specified maintenance windows, with automatic status reports on the upgrades. All upgrades can be implemented while the network is in service, without disrupting any sessions.

Spectrum Analysis

Another valuable troubleshooting capability comes with the spectrum intelligence features of RingMaster. When new unknown sources of interference are detected, it triggers appropriate alarms. For complex troubleshooting cases, a network manager can enable Spectrum Analysis on more of the APs nearer the source- converting them into dedicated sensors. Since RingMaster knows exactly where all the APs are on the plan, it can use the combined information from multiple sensors to visualize the approximate location of newly detected interferers. Once the new interference source has been evaluated, the network manager can add it to the plan, re-calibrate the settings for the affected access points, and push a new configuration out to the controller and access points- all with a few mouse clicks, and virtually zero RF know-how. After which, the APs being used temporarily as sensors, return to their previous mode of operation.

In addition, RingMaster provides a selection of graphical displays on the RF spectrum health on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands as seen by the access points.

Flexible Monitoring

RingMaster simplifies the ongoing operation of even the most complex Wi-Fi networks. With a centralized, intuitive, and visually graphic dashboard for monitoring real-time information, RingMaster tracks the status of the network, traffic patterns, service set identifier (SSID), voice usage, location, user connectivity, access points, and controllers. With particular ability to find users and track sessions in detail, RingMaster eases wireless network management from a session visibility perspective to provide detailed session information, including IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, associated RF metrics, device type(s), voice call information and other metadata to help the administrator effectively find and troubleshoot specific user sessions.