Here are some real-world issues:
- Certain client devices struggle to hop across APs in <2.5 seconds, even while awake and in an unsecured network.
- Many applications don't function with hiccups due to roaming (e.g. VoIP).
Here's my ideal solution:
- As you connect to an AP, other APs nearby will also transmit/receive the same mirrored packets using the same MAC address.
- Client operating systems will have no technical capacity to discern when a hop occurs.
Thoughts? What is the closest we can get to that?
EDIT: Perhaps I wasn't explicit enough.
Think of a cell phone. The phone will have a shortlist of multiple connected towers.
When you make a phone call, it uses the strongest connection. When connection to said tower degrades, the call is transferred over to the next available tower with <1ms of Layer 7 hiccup. I want that end result over Wi-Fi.
Best Answer
It is mostly possible, by using solutions which speed-up association/authentication.
Those are often controller-based, where the central controller is what you're authenticated against, not the individual APs. It manages the APs and global authentication, so it knows you're already authenticated and that you're roaming, letting you associate with its APs much more quickly than if you were using stand-alone APs
Many vendors have such setup, but I'm only familiar with Cisco's and Aruba's
Aruba has a nice solution for small offices/networks, with their Instant AP, where a Stand-Alone AP can be used as a (limited) Controller for 15 other APs