Editing Location Server Properties

This chapter describes how to configure location server properties.

This chapter contains the following sections:

•"Editing General Properties" section

•"Editing Tracking Parameters" section

•"Editing Filtering Parameters" section

•"Editing History Parameters" section

•"Editing Advanced Parameters" section

•"Editing Location Parameters" section

•"Editing NMSP Parameters" section

Editing General Properties

You can use Cisco WCS to edit the general properties of location servers registered in the WCS database. You can edit the following general properties: contact name, user name, password and HTTPS.

To edit the general properties of a location server, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers to display the All Location Servers window.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server you want to edit.

Step 3 Modify the parameters as appropriate. A description of each of the features and possible values is summarized in Table 4-1.

Table 4-1 General Properties  

Parameter
Description

Contact Name

Enter a contact name for the location server.

User Name

Enter the login user name for the Cisco WCS server that manages the location server.

Password

Enter the login password for the Cisco WCS server that manages the location server.

Port

8001

HTTPS

Check the HTTPS enable check box to enable HTTPS.

Note When you have a non-default port or HTTPS turned on, you must pass the correct information along with the command. For example, getserverinfo must include -port <<port>> -protocol <<HTTP/HTTPS>>. Similarly, for stopping the server, stoplocserver - port <<port>> -protocol <HTTP/HTTPS>>.


Step 4 Click Save to update the Cisco WCS and location server databases.

Editing Tracking Parameters

The location appliance can track up to 2,500 elements. You can track the following elements: client stations, active asset tags and rogue clients and access points.Updates on the locations of elements being tracked are provided to the location server from the Cisco wireless LAN controller.

Only those elements designated for tracking by the controller are viewable in Cisco WCS maps, queries and reports. No events and alarms are collected for non-tracked elements and they are not used in calculating the 2,500 element limit.

You can modify the following tracking parameters using Cisco WCS:

•Enable and disable which element locations (client stations, active asset tags; and rogue clients and access points) you actively track

•Set limits on how many of a specific element you want to track

You can set limits on how many of a specific element you wish to track. For example, given a limit of 2,500 trackable units, you could set a limit to track only 1,500 client stations. Once the tracking limit is met, the number of elements not being tracked is summarized on the Tracking Parameters page.

•Disable tracking and reporting of ad hoc rogue clients and access points

To configure tracking parameters for a location appliance, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers. The All Servers window appears.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server whose properties you want to edit. The General Properties window appears.

Step 3 From the Administration menu (left panel), choose Tracking Parameters to display the configuration options.

Step 4 Modify the tracking parameters as appropriate. Table 4-2 lists each parameter and its description.

:

Table 4-2 Tracking Parameters  

Parameter
Description

Client Stations

1. Check the Enable check box to enable tracking of client stations by the location server.

2. Check the Enable Limiting check box to set a limit on the number of client stations to track.

3. Enter a Limit Value, if limiting is enabled. The limit entered can be any positive value up to 2,500 which is the maximum number of elements tracked by a location appliance.

Note Active Value (display only): Indicates the number of client stations currently being tracked

Note Not Tracking (display only): Indicates the number of client stations beyond the limit.

Asset Tags

1. Check the Enable check box to enable tracking of asset tags by the location server.

2. Check the Enable Limiting check box to set a limit on the number of asset tags stations to track.

3. Enter a Limit Value, if limiting is enabled. The limit entered can be any positive value up to 2,500 which is the maximum number of elements tracked by a location appliance.

Note Active Value (display only): Indicates the number of asset tags currently being tracked

Note Not Tracking (display only): Indicates the number of asset tags beyond the limit.

Rogue Clients and Access Points

1. Check the Enable check box to enable tracking of rogue clients and asset points by the location server.

2. Check the Enable Limiting check box to set a limit on the number of rogue clients and asset tags stations to track.

3. Enter a Limit Value, if limiting is enabled. The limit entered can be any positive value up to 2,500 which is the maximum number of elements tracked by a location appliance.

Note Active Value (display only): Indicates the number of rogue clients and asset tags currently being tracked

Note Not Tracking (display only): Indicates the number of rogue clients and asset tags beyond the limit.

Retry Count

Enter the number of times to retry a polling cycle. Default value is 3. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.(Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).

Timeout

Enter the number of seconds before a polling cycle times out. Default value is 5. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999. (Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).

Client Stations

Check the Enable check box to enable client station polling and enter the polling interval in seconds. Default value is 300. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999. (Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).

Asset Tags

Check the Enable check box to enable asset tag polling and enter the polling interval in seconds. Default value is 600. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999. (Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).

Note Before the location server can collect asset tag data from controllers, you must enable the detection of active RFID tags using the CLI command config rfid status enable on the controllers.

Statistics

Check the Enable check box to enable statistics polling for the location server, and enter the polling interval in seconds. Default value is 900. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.(Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).

Rogue Clients and Access Points

Check the Enable check box to enable rogue access point polling and enter the polling interval in seconds. Default value is 600. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.(Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).

Exclude Ad-Hoc Rogues

Check the check box to turn off the tracking and reporting of ad hoc rogues in the network. As a result, ad hoc rogues are not displayed on WCS maps or its events and alarms reported. (Configurable in controller release 4.1 and earlier and location server release 3.0 and earlier only).


Step 5 Click Save to store the new settings in the location server database.

Editing Filtering Parameters

In Cisco WCS, you can limit the number of elements whose location is tracked by filtering on:

•MAC addresses

Specific MAC addresses can be entered and labeled as allowed or disallowed from location tracking. You can import a file with the MAC addresses that are to be allowed or disallowed or you can enter them individually from the WCS GUI window.

The format for entering MAC addresses is xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx. If a file of MAC addresses is imported, the file must follow a specific format as noted below:

–Each MAC address should be listed in a single line.

–Allowed MAC addresses must be listed first and preceded by an "[Allowed]" line item. Disallowed MAC addresses must be preceded by "[Disallowed]."

–Wildcard listings can be used to represent a range of MAC addresses. For example, the first entry "00:11:22:33:*" in the Allowed listing below is a wildcard.

Note Allowed MAC addresses formats are viewable from the Filtering Parameters configuration window. See Table 4-3 for details.

EXAMPLE file listing:

[Allowed]
00:11:22:33:*
22:cd:34:ae:56:45
02:23:23:34:*
[Disallowed]
00:10:*
ae:bc:de:ea:45:23

•Probing clients

Probing clients are clients that are associated to another controller but whose probing activity causes them to be seen by another controller and counted as an element by the "probed" controller as well as its primary controller.

To configure filtering parameters for a location appliance, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers. The All Servers window appears.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server whose properties you want to edit. The General Properties window appears.

Step 3 From the Administration menu (left panel), choose Filtering Parameters to display the configuration options.

Step 4 Modify the filtering parameters as appropriate. Table 4-3 lists each parameter and its description.

Table 4-3 Filtering Parameters  

Parameter
Description

Exclude Probing Clients

Check the check box to prevent location calculation of probing clients.

Enable Location MAC Filtering

1. Check the check box to enable MAC filtering of specific elements by their MAC address.

2. To import a file of MAC addresses (Upload a file for Location MAC Filtering field), browse for the file name and click Save to load the file. The imported list of MAC addresses auto-populates the Allowed List and Disallowed List based on their designation in the file.

Note To view allowed MAC address formats, click on the red question mark next to the Upload a file for Location MAC Filtering text.

3. To add an individual MAC address, enter the MAC addresses (format is xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx) and click either Allow or Disallow. The address appears in the appropriate column.

Note To move an address between the Allow and Disallow columns, highlight the MAC address entry and click the button found under the columns.

Note To move multiple addresses, click the first MAC address and depress the Ctrl key to highlight additional MAC addresses. Click the Allow or Disallow button based on its desired destination.

Note If a MAC address is not listed in the Allow or Disallow column, by default, it appears in the Blocked MACs column. If you click the Unblock button, it automatically moves to the Allow column. You can move it to the Disallow column by selecting the Disallow button under the Allow column.


Step 5 Click Save to store the new settings in the location server database.

Editing History Parameters

You can use Cisco WCS to specify how often to collect client station, rogue access point, and asset tag histories from the controllers associated with a location server.

You can also program the location server to periodically prune (remove) duplicate data from its historical files to reduce the amount of data stored on its hard drive.

To configure location server history settings, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server whose properties you want to edit.

Step 3 Click Administration (left-hand side) to display the administrative configuration options.

Step 4 Click History Parameters.

Step 5 Modify the following history parameters as appropriate. Table 4-4 lists each parameter and its description.

:

Table 4-4 History Parameters  

Parameter
Description

Archive for

Enter the number of days for the location server to retain a history of each enabled category. Default value is 30. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.

Prune data starting at

Enter the number of hours and minutes at which the location server starts data pruning (between 0 and 23 hours, and between 1 and 59 minutes). Also enter the interval in minutes after which data pruning starts again (between 0, which means never, and 99900000). Default start time is 23 hours and 50 minutes, and the default interval is 1440 minutes.

Client Stations

Check the Enable check box to turn historical data collection on, and enter the number of minutes between data collection events. Default value is 120. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.

Asset Tags

Check the Enable check box to turn historical data collection on, and enter the number of minutes between data collection events. Default value is 180. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.

Note Before the location server can collect asset tag data from controllers, you must enable the detection of RFID tags using the CLI command config rfid status enable.

Rogue Clients and Access Points

Check the Enable check box to turn historical data collection on (disabled by default), and enter the number of minutes between data collection events. Default value is 360. Allowed values are from 1 to 99999.


Step 6 Click Save to store your selections in the location server database.

Editing Advanced Parameters

You can use Cisco WCS to modify troubleshooting parameters for a location appliance.

To edit location server advanced parameters, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server whose properties you want to edit.

Step 3 Click Advanced (left-hand side) to expand the advanced menu options.

Step 4 Click Advanced Parameters (left-hand side) and scroll to the bottom of that window to see the options that can be modified.

Step 5 Modify the advanced parameters as necessary. Table 4-5 lists each parameter and its description.

Table 4-5 Advanced Parameters

Parameter
Description

Advanced Debug

Check the check box to enable advanced debugging. Uncheck the check box to disable advanced debugging.

Caution Enable advanced debugging only under the guidance of TAC personnel because advanced debugging slows the location server down.

Number of Days to Keep Events

Enter the number of days to keep logs. Change this value as required for monitoring and troubleshooting.

Session Timeout

Enter the number of minutes before a session times out. Change this value as required for monitoring and troubleshooting.

Absent Data cleanup interval

Interval in minutes for data cleanup.


Step 6 Click Save to update the Cisco WCS and location server databases.

Editing Location Parameters

You can use Cisco WCS to specify whether the location server retains its calculation times and how soon the location server deletes its collected Receiver Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) measurement times. You can also apply varying smoothing rates to manage location movement of an element.

To configure location parameters, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server whose properties you want to edit.

Step 3 Click Advanced (left-hand side) to expand the advanced menu options.

Step 4 Click Location Parameters.

Step 5 Modify the location parameters as appropriate. Table 4-6 lists each parameter and its description.

Table 4-6 Location Parameters  

Parameter
Description

Calculation time

Check the corresponding check box to enable the calculation of the time required to compute location.

Caution Enable only under Cisco TAC personnel guidance because enabling this parameter slows down overall location calculations.

OW Location

Check the corresponding check box to enable Outer Wall (OW) calculation as part of location calculation.

Note The OW Location parameter is ignored by the location server.

Relative discard RSSI time

Enter the number of minutes since the most recent RSSI sample after which RSSI measurement should be considered stale and discarded. For example, if you set this parameter to 3 minutes and the location server receives two samples at 10 and 12 minutes, it keeps both samples. An additional sample received at 15 minutes is discarded. Default value is 3. Allowed values range from 0 to 99999. A value of less than 3 is not recommended.

Absolute discard RSSI time

Enter the number of minutes after which RSSI measurement should be considered stale and discarded, regardless of the most recent sample. Default value is 60. Allowed values range from 0 to 99999. A value of less than 60 is not recommended.

RSSI Cutoff

Enter the RSSI cutoff value, in decibels (dBs) with respect to one (1) mW (dBm), above which the location server will always use the access point measurement. Default value is -75.

Note When 3 or more measurements are available above the RSSI cutoff value, the location server will discard any weaker values and use the 3 (or more) strongest measurements for calculation; however, when only weak measurements below the RSSI cutoff value are available, those values are used for calculation.

Caution Modify only under Cisco TAC personnel guidance. Modifying this value can reduce the accuracy of location calculation.

Smooth Location Positions

Smoothing compares an elements prior location to its most recent reported location by applying a weighted average calculation to determine its current location. The specific weighted average calculation employed is tied to the given smoothing option selected. Default value is More Smoothing.

Options:

•None: Elements assumed to be in location indicated by most recent polling

•Less: Prior location weighted at 25% and New location weighted at 75%

•Average: Prior location weighted at 50% and New location weighted at 50%

•More: Prior location weighted at 75% and New location weighted at 25%

•Maximum: Prior location weighted at 90% and New location weighted at 10%


Step 6 Click Save to store your selections in the Cisco WCS and location server databases.

Editing NMSP Parameters

In releases 3.1 and later, the Network Mobility Services Protocol (NMSP) manages communication between the location server and the controller.

Note In location server release 3.0, the location protocol (LOCP), now identified as NMSP, transported telemetry, emergency and chokepoint information between the location server and the controller. All other information was transmitted using SNMP polling. Releases prior to 3.0 did not support LOCP and updates between the controller and the location server solely used SNMP polling.

Note•The NMSP parameter is supported in location servers installed with release 3.0 or greater.

•NMSP replaces the LOCP term introduced in release 3.0.

•Telemetry, emergency and chokepoint information is only seen on controllers and Cisco WCS installed with release 4.1 software or greater and on location servers running release 3.0 or greater software.

•The TCP port (16113) that the controller and location server communicate over MUST be open (not blocked) on any firewall that exists between the controller and location server for NMSP to function.

To configure NMSP parameters, follow these steps:

Step 1 In Cisco WCS, choose Location > Location Servers.

Step 2 Click the name of the location server whose properties you want to edit.

Step 3 Click Advanced (left-hand side) to expand the advanced menu options.

Step 4 Click NMSP Parameters.

Step 5 Modify the NMSP parameters as appropriate. Table 4-6 lists each parameter and its description.

Note No change in the default parameter values is recommended unless network is experiencing slow response or excessive latency.

Table 4-7 NMSP Parameters  

Parameter
Description

Echo Interval

Defines how frequently an echo request is sent from a location server to a controller. The default value is 15 seconds. Allowed values range from 1 to 120 seconds.

Note If a network is experiencing slow response, you can increase the values of the echo interval, neighbor dead interval and the response timeout values to limit the number of failed echo acknowledgements.

Neighbor Dead Interval

The number of seconds that the location server waits for a successful echo response from the controller before declaring the neighbor dead. This timer begins when the echo request is sent.

The default values is 30 seconds. Allowed values range from 1 to 240 seconds.

Note This value must be at least two times the echo interval value.

Response Timeout

Indicates how long the location server waits before considering the pending request as timed out. The default value is 1 second. Minimum value is one (1). There is no maximum value.

Retransmit Interval

Interval of time that the location server waits between notification of a response time out and initiation of a request retransmission. The default setting is 3 seconds. Allowed values range from 1 to 120 seconds.

Maximum Retransmits

Defines the maximum number of retransmits that are done in the absence of a response to any request. The default setting is 5. Allowed minimum value is zero (0). There is no maximum value.


Step 6 Click Save to update the Cisco WCS and location server databases.