Load balancing for a cloud-based Wi-Fi controller based on local conditions
Load balancing for cloud-based monitoring of Wi-Fi devices on local access networks is based on local conditions. Requests for connection are received from Wi-Fi devices of the plurality of WLANs exceed a threshold. An indication of at least one condition for each of the WLANs is also received either with the connection request or separately. Example conditions include, without limitation, a number of local connections, network security breaches, guaranteed service levels, local latency or congestion, power outages or reboots, and the like. In response, at least one Wi-Fi device is prioritized and scheduled based on a corresponding at least one condition.
1. A computer-implemented method for load balancing in a cloud-based Wi-Fi controller device that remotely monitors access points for a plurality of WLANs (wireless local access networks) on a data communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a network interface of the cloud-based controller device coupled in communication to the data communication network, requests for connection from the access points of the plurality of WLANs, wherein the number of connection requests within a time period exceeds a threshold and wherein the connection requests concern monitoring data being reported upstream;
receiving an indication of at least one condition for each of the WLANs;
prioritizing at least one access point based on a corresponding at least one condition;
scheduling future connections for the access points based on the prioritizing;
receiving monitoring data from the access point in accordance with the scheduling; and
performing at least one action with respect to operation of the access point don a corresponding WLAN based on the monitoring data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the number of connection requests within a time period exceeds a total capacity of connection requests.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local conditions comprise at least one from the group of: a number of local connections, type of Wi-Fi device, a vulnerability detection, an intrusion detection, a rogue device detection, a power outage, a reboot, local latency, local congestion, and a change in a local condition surpassing a threshold.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prioritizing is based on a service tier of an entity associated with the access point.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a local time of the Wi-Fi device;
receiving a flight time between the access point and the cloud-based Wi-Fi controller;
calculating a dispatch time for a connection request using the local time and the flight time; and
sending the dispatch time to the Wi-Fi device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received monitoring data is used as the indication of at least one condition for scheduling latter connections.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating a load balancing mode responsive to the number of requests within the time period exceeding the threshold.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
spawning more than one cloud-based Wi-Fi controller instance, wherein load balancing considers available connects across the more than one cloud-based Wi-Fi controller instance.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point operates according to at least one of IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11 ac wave 2, and a Wi-Fi protocol that supports beamforming.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing source code that, when executed by a processor, performs a method load for balancing in a cloud-based Wi-Fi controller device that remotely monitors Wi-Fi devices for a plurality of WLANs (wireless local access networks), the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a network interface of the cloud-based controller device coupled in communication to the data communication network, requests for connection from the access points of the plurality of WLANs, wherein the number of connection requests within a time period exceeds a threshold and wherein the connection requests concern monitoring data being reported upstream;
receiving an indication of at least one condition for each of the WLANs;
prioritizing at least one access point based on a corresponding at least one condition;
scheduling future connections for the access points based on the prioritizing;
receiving monitoring data from the access point in accordance with the scheduling; and
performing at least one action with respect to operation of the access point on a corresponding WLAN based on the monitoring data.
11. A cloud-based Wi-Fi controller device that load balances while remotely Wi-Fi devices for a plurality of WLANs (wireless local access networks), the cloud-based Wi-Fi controller comprising:
a processor; and
a memory, storing:
a first module to receive, at a network interface of the cloud-based controller device coupled in communication to the data communication network, requests for connection from the access points of the plurality of WLANs, wherein the number of connection requests within a time period exceeds a threshold and wherein the connection requests concern monitoring data being reported upstream;
a second module to receive an indication of at least one condition for each of the WLANs;
a third module to receive at least one access point based on a corresponding at least one condition;
a fourth module to schedule future connections for the access points based on the prioritizing;
a fifth module to monitor data from the access point in accordance with the scheduling; and
a sixth module to perform at least one action with respect to operation of the access point on a corresponding WLAN based on the monitoring data.