SonicPoint_FairNet
This chapter details the SonicWALL FairNet feature and provides configuration examples for easy deployment. This chapter contains the following sections:
• Understanding SonicPoint FairNet
• Configuring SonicPoint FairNet
Understanding SonicPoint FairNet
This section is an overview of the SonicPoint FairNet feature and contains the following subsections:
• Features in SonicPoint FairNet
• Management Interface Overview
The SonicPoint FairNet feature provides an easy-to-use method for network administrators to control the bandwidth of associated wireless clients and make sure it is distributed fairly between them. Administrators can configure the SonicPoint FairNet bandwidth limits for all wireless clients, specific IP address ranges, or individual clients to provide fairness and network efficiency.
The illustration below is an example of a typical SonicPoint FairNet topology:
Figure 50:9 Typical FairNet Topology
Consider the following when deploying the SonicPoint FairNet feature:
• You must have a laptop or PC with a IEEE802.11b/g/n wireless network interface controller.
The SonicPoint FairNet feature is currently supported on the following appliance models:
• SonicWALL TZ Series
• SonicWALl NSA Series
• SonicWALL E-Class NSA Series
This section details the features in SonicPoint FairNet.
Distributed Coordination Function
The Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) provides timing fairness for each client to access a medium with equal opportunity. However it can not guarantee the per-station data traffic fairness among all wireless clients. The SonicPoint FairNet feature is implemented on top of the existing 802.11 DCF to guarantee fair bandwidth among wireless clients regardless of the number and direction of flows.
Traffic Control
The traffic control feature decides if packets are queued or dropped (e.g. if the queue has reached some length limit, or if the traffic exceeds some rate limit). It can also decide in which order packets are sent (e.g. to give priority to certain owns) and it can delay the sending of packets (e.g. to limit the rate of outbound traffic). Once traffic control has released a packet for sending, the device driver picks it up and emits it on the network.
This section describes the functions of the SonicPoint FairNet management interface.
Figure 50:10 SonicPoint > FairNet
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Configuring SonicPoint FairNet
This section contains an example FairNet configuration. To configure FairNet to provide more bandwidth in both directions, perform the following steps:
1. Navigate to the SonicPoint > FairNet page.
Figure 50:12 Configure SonicPoint > FairNet
2. Click the Add... button.
Figure 50:13 Add FairNet Policy
3. Make sure the Enable Policy checkbox is selected. This checkbox is enabled by default.
4. Click the Direction drop-down menu, then select Both Directions. This applies the policy to clients uploading content and downloading content.
5. Click the Start IP text-box, then enter the starting IP address (172.16.29.100) for the FairNet policy.
6. Click the End IP text-box, then enter the ending IP address (172.16.29.110) for the FairNet policy.
Tip The IP address range must be on a subnet that is configured for a WLAN interface.
7. Click the Min Rate(kbps) text-box, then enter the minimum bandwidth (1000 Kbps) for the FairNet policy.
8. Click the Max Rate(kbps) text-box, then enter the maximum bandwidth (2000 Kbps) for the FairNet policy.
9. Click the Interface drop-down, select the interface (X2) that the SonicPoint appliance is connected to.
10.Click the OK button.
11.Click the Enable Fairnet checkbox.
12.Click the Accept button.
Your SonicWALL FairNet policy is now configured.