802.11r WiFi roaming configuration example

Introduction

This article provides a basic configuration example of 802.11r WiFi roaming, which is suitable for setting up roaming WiFi network for small house or office.

Firmware

The information in this page is updated in accordance with 00.07.09 firmware version. .

Prerequisites

• Main gateway with WAN access (Any RUTOS router. RUTX50 is used in this example)
• Access Points (Any WiFi-capable RUTOS device. RUTX11 (Router 2) and RUTX11 (Router 3) are used in this example)

If you're having trouble finding this page or some of the parameters described here on your device's WebUI, you should turn on "Advanced WebUI" mode. You can do that by clicking the "Advanced" button, located at the top of the WebUI.

Configuration

Gateway router

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LAN Setting

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Login to the router's WebUI, navigate to the Network → Interfaces → Edit LAN page. Enter main gateway's IP address and save. We will leave it default (192.168.1.1) for this example. Enter IP address on the same subnet as main gateway. We will use 192.168.1.2 for Router 1 and 192.168.1.3 for Router 2 in this example.

1. Connect your AP/WiFi router to the gateway router using LAN to LAN connection.
2. Login to the router's WebUI, navigate to the Network → Interfaces → Edit LAN page. Configure as follows:
1. Enter IPv4 address. We will use our gateway router's IP - 192.168.1.1.

Enable 802.11r Fast Transition

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Navigate to the Network → Wireless → SSIDs page. Configures as follows:

1. Select radios to 2.4Ghz
2. Enter SSID: WiFi_Roaming
3. Enter Password
4. Enable 802.11r Fast Transition

Navigate to the Fast Transition section

1. Enter Mobile Domain: 4f57 (mobility domain is a cluster of APs forming a continuous radio frequency space, where thePairwise Master Key (PMK) can be synchronized)

• Note: 802.11v and 802.11k can be enabled in Network → Wireless → SSIDs → Edit SSID → Additional setting, which can improve performance of Fast transit. Please see the reference: 802.11k/v wireless roaming configuration guide

To reduce the posbility of interference between 2 AP/WiFi Router, Highly recommend that set radio channel manually. Navigate to the Network → Wireless → Radio → Edit 2.4GHz. Configures as follows:

1. Select Channel: 11

• Note: For the 2.4 GHz band, the best options are typically channels 1, 6, and 11. These channels are the most widely recommended because they don’t overlap with each other, reducing interference and improving overall performance.;

AP/WiFi Router

Config similar LAN and SSID setting on Router2 and Router3.

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LAN Setting

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Navigate to the Network → Interfaces → Edit LAN, Configures as follows:

1. Enter IPv4 address: 192.168.1.2 (On router 3, enter 192.168.1.3)

Navigate to the Network → DHCP → Sever Setting, configures as follows:

1. Select DHCPv4 Mode to Relay
2. Enter DHCP Server 192.168.1.1 (Gateway router is also the DHCP server for all internal devices)

Add default routing to gateway router

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Navigate to the Network → Routing → Static routes, add one default routing to gateway routing. Configures as follows:

1. Add one new static route
2. Set Target 0.0.0.0
3. Set IPv4-Netmask: 255.255.255.0
4. Set IPv4 Gateway: 192.168.1.1
5. Set matric: 1
6. Select Route Type: unicast
7. Save & Apply

Enable 802.11r Fast Transition

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Navigate to the Network → Wireless → SSIDs, configures as follows:

1. Select radios to 2.4Ghz
2. Enter SSID: WiFi_Roaming (Same as gateway's SSID)
3. Enter Password (Same as gateway's SSID password)
4. Enable 802.11r Fast Transition


Navigate to the Fast Transition section

1. Enter Mobile Domain: 4f57 (Keep same as gateway router's setting)


Result

SSID Search

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The single SSID should now be visible on your WiFi devices (an iOS phone is used in this example).



Log check

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Connect PC to gateway router via network cable, login webUI navigate to System → Maintenance → CLI. Open CLI then login by username root and login password. Do the following steps to check the result.

1. Stand close to Router 2 or Router 3.
2. Connect to SSID WiFi_Roaming
3. Check if the connected devices are showed on wireless clients page. (Status → Wireless → Interfaces)
4. Reboot the router 2 or router 3 (Simulate the devices is offline)
5. Check the gateway router's CLI, the log will show fast transit completed, do not start 4-way handshake.