Testing Mesh APs with automated Mesh scenario

Goal: Setup and run a series of tests in different mesh topologies using the LANforge CT523c or similar system..

In this test scenario, the LANforge CT523c is used to emulate a set of stations that move to different locations relative to a set of mesh APs. Throughput tests are run at each requested topology. A set of 4 chambers are used. One holds the station emulator, the other three hold the mesh APs. Programmable attenuators are used to adjust the signal strenght between APs and the station chamber to emulate different topologies. This example assumes you have some experience with Chamber View, and that you have an appropriate LANforge system, programmable attenuators like the CT714 and four isolation chambers like the CT820a. This feature requires LANforge version 5.4.1 or higher.

Configure Chamber View for Mesh and Similar Tests.
1. Open Chamber View by clicking on the 'Chamber View' button in the LANforge-GUI. If you have an appropriate scenario already created, then skip to the next section, otherwise you will need to build a scenario that matches your system. You can right-click in Chamber View to create various objects. In this example, the 'Mobilestations' chamber holds the LANforge, and the other chambers hold mesh APs and additional LANforge traffic generating systems. In this example, the LANforge systems in the AP chambers are not used. Your configuration should look like this when these steps are complete.
2. Create a Device Under Test (DUT) Profile that matches each of your APs. The BSSID is important to configured so that LANforge knows when it is connected to the correct AP.
3. Create chamber objects to hold the mobile stations and DUTs, and add the LANforge and DUTs to the chambers. If you have no chambers, you can create a fake chamber, but your test will not be isolated and may not function as desired. Here is an example of the mobile stations chamber. Please note we will auto-calibrate the Zero-Attenuation values for the station chamber.
4. Here is an example of the RootAP chamber
5. Here is an example of the Node-1 chamber
6. Here is an example of the Node-2 chamber
7. Configure a Chamber View Scenario. This is somewhat optional since the mesh automation logic will create it's own temporary scenario to run the automation tests.
Use Chamber View to start the Mesh test.
1. Open Chamber View by clicking on the 'Chamber View' button in the LANforge-GUI. Load appropriate scenario. Apply the Scenario, then Build the scenario.
2. Select the Mesh test and click Run Test. You should see the Mesh Test configuration window pop up. It will remember the last configuration for most fields. Select the resources, topologies and other test config to be used for this test. If you have not run the calibration step previously, run that test first:
3. Once the calibration step is complete, reconfigure to run the throughput tests. In this case, we are using the ABC topology where all three nodes are close to each other. The stations will do throughput tests at each of three positions: Close to Root AP, Close to Node 1, and Close to Node 2. We will generate UDP download traffic. No stations will be created on the LANforge systems inside the AP chambers in this test.:
4. Configure the appropriate settings on the Advanced tab. In this case, I am disbling 2.4Ghz and doing a 5Ghz only test.
5. When the configuration is complete, click the Start button (which will change to 'Stop' once start is clicked) to start the test. An interactive report tab will be created and will be updated as the test runs. For each topology, throughput graphs and topology snapshot will be generated.
6. When the test is complete, click the Save HTML button to save an HTML report and generate the PDF. The PDF file will be linked from the HTML page. You can also click 'Save PDF' and the browser will be directed to open the pdf file directly. Please see this example Mesh Test Report.

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