SonicPoint > FairNet

This section details the Dell SonicWALL FairNet feature and provides configuration examples for easy deployment.

Topics:

•	Understanding SonicPoint FairNet

•	Configuring SonicPoint FairNet

Understanding SonicPoint FairNet

Topics:

•	What is SonicPoint FairNet?

•	Deployment Considerations

•	Supported Platforms

•	Features in SonicPoint FairNet

•	Management Interface Overview

What is SonicPoint FairNet?

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 12. Typical SonicPoint FairNet topology

Deployment Considerations

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.

Supported Platforms

The SonicPoint FairNet feature is currently supported on the following appliance models:

•	Dell SonicWALL TZ Series

•	Dell SonicWALL NSA Series

•	Dell SonicWALL E-Class NSA Series

•	Dell SonicWALL SuperMassive Series

Features in SonicPoint FairNet

Topics:

•	Distributed Coordination Function

•	Traffic Control

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.

Management Interface Overview

Topics:

•	SonicPoint > FairNet components

•	Add/Edit FairNet Policy window

SonicPoint > FairNet components

 

Table 28. SonicPoint FairNet management interface components

Name	Description
Buttons and checkboxes
Accept	Applies the latest configuration settings.
Cancel	Cancels any changed configuration settings.
Add…	Adds a SonicPoint FairNet policy for an IP address or range of addresses. Displays the Add Fairnet Policy window (see Add/Edit FairNet Policy window ).
Delete	Deletes the selected SonicPoint FairNet policies.
Checkboxes
Enable FairNet	Enables the SonicPoint FairNet feature.
FairNet Policies	In the FairNet Policies table header: Selects or deselects all the policies in the FairNet Polices table. Individual policies can also be selected in the policies list.
Fairnet Policies table columns
Direction	Displays the direction for each policy. The directions include: • Uplink • Downlink • Both
Start IP	Displays the start point for the IP address range.
End IP	Displays the end point for the IP address range.
Min Rate (kbps)	The minimum bandwidth that clients are guaranteed. Minimum rate is 1 Kbps.
Max Rate (kbps)	The maximum bandwidth that clients are guaranteed. Maximum rate is 54000 Kbps.
Interface	Displays the interface that the SonicPoint FairNet policy applies to. This is the interface on the managing firewall that the SonicPoint appliance is connected to.
Enable	Enables the selected SonicPoint FairNet policy when the checkbox is selected.
Configure	Edits existing SonicPoint FairNet policies when the Edit icon is clicked. Displays the Edit Fairnet Policy window (see Add/Edit FairNet Policy window ).

Add/Edit FairNet Policy window

 

Table 29. Add/Edit FairNet Policy settings

Name	Action
Enable Policy checkbox	Enables the FairNet policy. This option is checked by default.
Direction drop-down menu	Select whether the bandwidth limits for the policy apply to clients uploading content, downloading content, or in both directions. • Both Directions (default) • Downlink (AP to Client) • Uplink (Client to AP)
Start IP field	Enter the starting IP address that the FairNet policy applies to. The IP address must be on a subnet that is configured for a WLAN interface.
End IP field	Enter the ending IP address that the FairNet policy applies to. The IP address must be on a subnet that is configured for a WLAN interface.
Min Rate (kbps) field	Enter the minimum per-client bandwidth that clients are guaranteed. The minimum is 100Kbps, the maximum is 300Mbps (300,000Kbps), and the default is 100Kbps.
Max Rate (kbps) field	Enter the maximum per-client bandwidth that clients are guaranteed. The minimum is 100Kbps, the maximum is 300Mbps (300,000Kbps), and the default is 100Kbps, although 20Mbps is a more typical setting.
Interface drop-down menu	Selects the interface that the SonicPoint FairNet policy is applied to. NOTE: This is the interface on the managing firewall to which the SonicPoint appliance is connected.
OK button	Adds your policy to the FairNet Policies list and closes the Add/Edit FairNet Policy window.
Cancel button	Cancels the information entered into the Add/Edit FairNet Policy window and closes it.