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How does Cisco AI-Enhanced RRM Work

Written by IPTel Solutions | 2 October 2024 5:31:35 AM

In essence, Cisco AI-Enhanced RRM is making use of the normal RRM features.

These tools are essentially set to automatic mode, and AI-Enhanced RRM makes use of these to tune the network. Based upon the analysis of your anonymised data, AI-Enhanced RRM sends back instructions from the cloud to your Cisco DNA Center on how best to optimise these features.

In this blog we'll cover two key questions in relation to AI-Enhanced RRM:

  • How does AI-Enhanced RRM work?
  • How do I configure AI-Enhanced RRM?

Let's take a look!

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How does Cisco AI-Enhanced RRM Work?

The image just below shows the detail of how Cisco AI-Enhanced RRM works.

At the top of the image is the AI-Cloud. In the middle if Cisco DNA Center and the bottom is your network.

Overview of Cisco AI-Enhanced RRM

*Image copyright Cisco Systems

The sequence of events to operation AI-Enhanced RRM  is detailed with the numbered circles, and further explained as:

  1. RF Data: The base RF data is produced from your network - these are the the normal input data for RRM to operate. The data is sent to your Cisco DNA Center.
  2. Anonymised RF Data: The RRM data is anonymised from Cisco DNA Center and sent up to the Cisco AI cloud.
  3. AI-Based Data and Events: The AI-Cloud runs its algorithm on the data (collating data over a two week period to really get to grips with how your network works)
  4. RRM Control Center Populated: The decisions on the best settings are sent back from the AI cloud to your local Cisco DNA Center.
  5. Decisions Configured via Cisco DNA Center Automation: Your local Cisco DNA Center pushes these configuration updates through to your controller, for these to take effect
  6. Exceptional Wireless Experience: Well - you'll need to try it and see :-)

The image below provides a nice little graphic on how the whole process operates:

How Cisco AI-Enhanced RRM Works

*Image copyright Cisco Systems

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How to Deploy AI-Enhanced RRM

This is the simple bit - It’s a three step process!

The graphic below provides a quick summary: configure AI-Enhanced RRM, enable the relevant features - and then apply to one building (as described above, you need to do this for RRM to work properly):

The AI-Enhanced RRM Configuration Process

*Image copyright Cisco Systems

Worth noting that AI-Enhanced RRM is actually making use of the existing RRM features on the WLC (FRA, DCA, TPC and DBS), but making better (and dynamic) choices about how to configure each of these settings to best work in concert with each other.

Here's the quick process to enable AI-Enhanced RRM:

  1. Enable AI-Enhanced RRM:
    1. Go to the Assurance Menu -> Enhanced RRM
    2. Tick both sliders to enable Analytics and AI-Enhanced RRM
  2. Add the AI-Enhanced RRM Profile:
    1. Go to Network Settings Page - > Wireless -> AI-RF Profile -> Add
  3. Configure the AI RF Profile:
    1. Configure bands, busy hours, services and other details
    2. Assign this AI RF Profile to a building
  4. Apply the Profile:
    1. Provision your controller and APs to this building 

It’s important to note that the settings must be set on an entire building at once. This is because all APs in that building must be working on concert with each other.

The only exception to this rule is if APs cannot ‘see’ (or to put it more accurately), hear each other on either 2.4GHz or 5GHz band. Inter-floor bleed is common, unless there are thick concrete floors – so not only on a per-floor basis, but a per-building basis, is the overall settings required to be applied.

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How does AI-Enhanced RRM Work: Summary

In this blog we've had a run through on how AI-Enhanced RRM works - and how to quickly and simply configure AI-Enhanced RRM.

Click on the image on the left, if you wanted to take a look at the blog which details why you would want to deploy AI-Enhanced RRM.

The configuration of AI-Enhanced RRM is pretty simple, but it's the benefits that you should focus on - a better tuned RF environment means more throughput for clients, less client issues - and happier end users.

Many Wi-Fi networks go through periods of high and low usage and now your RF tuning can take into account these periodic changes in the network, bringing more stability and less headaches for you in operating your network.

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