6 GHz Radio

AOS-8 supports Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a WLAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. 6E standard that introduces a 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. for few APs. The 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. provides greater efficiency, higher throughput, and increased levels of security to address bandwidth challenges. In addition to the existing features available under IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 802.11ax (Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a WLAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. 6) standard (such as MU-MIMO Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output. MU-MIMO is a set of multiple-input and multiple-output technologies for wireless communication, in which users or wireless terminals with one or more antennas communicate with each other. , OFDMA, WPA3 and Enhanced Open, and TWT), Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a WLAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. 6E supports multiple BSSID Basic Service Set Identifier. The BSSID identifies a particular BSS within an area. In infrastructure BSS networks, the BSSID is the MAC address of the AP. In independent BSS or ad hoc networks, the BSSID is generated randomly. functionality, and provides more capacity in the 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. by providing wider channels up to 160 MHz Megahertz for dense environments and large number of IoT Internet of Things. IoT refers to the internetworking of devices that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity features allowing data exchange over the Internet. devices. The Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a WLAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. 6E APs support 2.4 GHz Gigahertz., 5 GHz Gigahertz., and 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio bands Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. simultaneously, allowing client devices to switch their radio seamlessly between the three radio bands Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation..

Important Points

• AOS-8 requires Hash-to-Element (H2E) for 6 GHz Gigahertz. WPA3-SAE connections. H2E is supported only on Windows 11, Linux wpa_supplicant version 2.10 and later versions. Hence, users must upgrade their Windows and Linux software for successful 6 GHz Gigahertz. WPA3-SAE connections.

• The 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. supports channel numbers from 1 to 233. The available 20 Mhz, 40 Mhz, 80 MHz Megahertz, and 160 MHz Megahertz channels are dependent on the country code entered in the regulatory domain profile.

• The virtual APs in 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. are disabled by default and must be enabled manually in the WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. SSID Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. settings on virtual APs.

• AOS-8 allows to create up to four 6 GHz Gigahertz. virtual AP profiles, and three 6 GHz Gigahertz. virtual AP profiles when mesh is enabled on the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation..

Multiple BSSID

Multiple BSSID Basic Service Set Identifier. The BSSID identifies a particular BSS within an area. In infrastructure BSS networks, the BSSID is the MAC address of the AP. In independent BSS or ad hoc networks, the BSSID is generated randomly. (MBSSID) is a 802.11ax feature for Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a WLAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. 6E APs which supports multiple virtual APs of a radio without the need for full beacons for each virtual AP (VAP). This feature advertises information for multiple BSSIDs Basic Service Set Identifier. The BSSID identifies a particular BSS within an area. In infrastructure BSS networks, the BSSID is the MAC address of the AP. In independent BSS or ad hoc networks, the BSSID is generated randomly. by using a single beacon or probe response frame instead of multiple beacon or probe response frames, each corresponding to a single BSSID Basic Service Set Identifier. The BSSID identifies a particular BSS within an area. In infrastructure BSS networks, the BSSID is the MAC address of the AP. In independent BSS or ad hoc networks, the BSSID is generated randomly.. MBSSID uses 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio profile and includes support for Multiband Operation (MBO) for 6 GHz Gigahertz. radios in addition to 802.11K profile, beacon rates, location and AP name advertisement (advertised in the transmitted virtual AP), 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio basic rates, and 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio transmit rates.

MBSSID Group Profiles for Campus APs

AOS-8 is capable of accommodating up to 8 virtual APs (VAPs) distributed across a maximum of 2 MBSSID groups. Each MBSSID group is capable of supporting 4 VAPs that operate on the 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.. Within each group, a designated VAP (Tx-VAP) broadcasts unique Information Elements (IEs) specific to that group, ensuring distinct network properties and configurations.

Consequently, network discovery is streamlined through the emission of 2 beacon frames: one for each MBSSID group. The first beacon frame advertises 4 WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. SSIDs Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. associated with the first MBSSID group, while the second beacon broadcasts another set of 4 WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. SSIDs Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. corresponding to the second MBSSID group. This structure facilitates efficient network identification and connection for client devices operating within the robust 6 GHz Gigahertz. spectrum.

Allow 6 GHz Band Supplement

The Allow band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. 6GHz supplement option allows users to configure up to eight 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs. This option is available under Configuration> System> Profiles > Virtual AP > Virtual AP Profile Name > RF Radio Frequency. RF refers to the electromagnetic wave frequencies within a range of 3 kHz to 300 GHz, including the frequencies used for communications or Radar signals.. It is important to note that if users revert to AOS-8.11.0.0 or earlier versions, the 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs will not be displayed as this functionality is unsupported in those versions.

Additionally, for the configuration of supplemental 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs numbered 5-8, the MBSSID Group option is required under Configuration > System > Profiles > MBSSID group, particularly if VAPs 1-4 are already utilizing the legacy Allow 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. option. This interface allows users to create and configure MBSSID profiles.

CLI Administration

This feature is fully configurable via CLI Command-Line Interface. A console interface with a command line shell that allows users to execute text input as commands and convert these commands to appropriate functions. commands. Below are the commands to set up MBSSID profiles:

• allow-band-6GHz-supplement: Within the VAP profile, this option enables the allocation of more than four 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs.

• wlan Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. virtual-ap <profile-name>: Configures a VAP profile.

• wlan Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. mbSSID-profile <profile-name>: Sets up MBSSID profiles, allowing the grouping of four 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs at a time. An AP group can have up to 2 MBSSID groups.

• mbssid-group: Required within the VAP profile, this parameter specifies the MBSSID group to which a 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAP will be assigned.

• show wlan Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. virtual-ap <profile-name>: Displays information for a specific VAP profile, including 3 new parameters: allow-band-6GHz-supplement and MBSSID group profile.

• show wlan Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. mbssid-profile <profile-name>: Shows the wireless 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio parameters for a group of 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs.

• show ap mbssid distribution: Utilized to view the distribution of 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs within an MBSSID group.

• show ap essid Extended Service Set Identifier. ESSID refers to the ID used for identifying an extended service set.: Reveals the number of APs featuring MBSSID Tx BSS Basic Service Set. A BSS is a set of interconnected stations that can communicate with each other. BSS can be an independent BSS or infrastructure BSS. An independent BSS is an ad hoc network that does not include APs, whereas the infrastructure BSS consists of an AP and all its associated clients. .

Backward Compatibility with Previous AOS-8 Versions

Earlier versions of AOS-8 were limited to supporting a single MBSSID group with up to four VAPs on the 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.. AOS-8 maintains compatibility with these configurations, meaning that 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs can still be operational after a downgrade to AOS-8.11.0.0 or earlier versions. For instance, 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs can be managed from an AOS-8.12.0.0 Mobility Conductor to a device managed by AOS-8.11.0.0 or earlier versions.

The legacy Allow 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. option remains available for selection under Configuration > System > Profiles > Virtual AP > Virtual AP Profile Name > RF Radio Frequency. RF refers to the electromagnetic wave frequencies within a range of 3 kHz to 300 GHz, including the frequencies used for communications or Radar signals.. However, there are several considerations to keep in mind when using this option: 

• The MBSSID group profile is not required when the Allow 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. is active because the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio profile is automatically applied to all 802.11 802.11 is an evolving family of specifications for wireless LANs developed by a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 802.11 standards use the Ethernet protocol and Carrier Sense Multiple Access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) for path sharing. settings.

• Should there be a need to allocate more than four VAPs, users must engage the Allow-band-6GHz-supplement option. The Allow 6 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. option can only facilitate a maximum of four 6 GHz Gigahertz. VAPs within an AP group.

• In scenarios where a 6 GHz Gigahertz. mesh link is enabled on the AP, one of the four VAPs must be used to accommodate the mesh functionality.

MultiZone Support for BSSID Groups

With the addition of support for 2 MBSSID groups, each with (up to) four VAPs in the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation., new MultiZone configurations are required. Refer to MultiZone Support for 8 VAPs in the 6 GHz Radio for additional details.

Channels in 6 GHz Radio

The 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio uses 59 new channels of 20 MHz Megahertz bandwidth and the channel numbers overlap with the current 2.4 GHz Gigahertz. and 5 GHz Gigahertz. band Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.. The regulatory domain file is used to build the channel scan list according to the current configuration and corresponding flags are assigned. A new flag, SCT_PSC, indicates if the channel is a Preferred Scan Channel (PSC). A PSC is spaced every 80 MHz Megahertz apart.

The following table lists the channel flags in 6 GHz Gigahertz. Radio.

Table 1: Channel Flags in 6 GHz Radio

Flag	Description
SCT_DOS	Channel marked to send containment frames.
SCT_CC	Valid channel for the country code (regulatory domain).
SCT_AP	Channels where wifi activity was detected.
SCT_DEFAULT	Channels valid in any country code.
SCT_RARE	Invalid or unused channel in most countries.
SCT_PSC	Scan preferred channels valid for country code.

The following table lists the 6 GHz Gigahertz. channel widths, valid channel numbers, number of PSC channels, and the PSC channel numbers.

Table 2: Valid Channel Numbers and PSC Channels in 6 GHz Radio

Channel Width	Valid Channel Numbers	Number of PSC Channels	PSC Channel Numbers
20 MHz Megahertz	1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129, 133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233	15	5, 21, 37, 53, 69, 85, 101, 117, 133, 149, 165, 181, 197, 213, 229
40 MHz Megahertz	1-5, 9-13, 17-21, 25-29, 33-37, 41-45, 49-53, 57-61, 65-69, 73-77, 81-85, 99-93, 97-101, 105-109, 113-117, 121-125, 129-133, 137-141, 145-149, 153-157, 161-165, 169-173, 177-181, 185-189, 193-197, 201-205, 209-213, 217-221, 225-229	15	5, 21, 37, 53, 69, 85, 101, 117, 133, 149, 165, 181, 197, 213, 229
80 MHz Megahertz	1-13, 17-29, 33-45, 49-61, 65-77, 81-93, 97-109, 113-125, 129-141, 145-157, 161-173, 177-189, 193-205, 209-221	14	5, 21, 37, 53, 69, 85, 101, 117, 133, 149, 165, 181, 197, 213
160 MHz Megahertz	1-29, 33-61, 65-93, 97-125, 129-157, 161-189, 193-221	7	5/21, 37/53, 69/85, 101/117, 133/149, 165/181, 197/213

For the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio, the group scanning mode is enabled. Group scanning uses the maximum scan channel width possible to scan. To cover each primary channel across each group, the scan algorithm reorders the channel scanning by group. After every scan group is completed the scanning algorithm starts on a new scan group. When all groups are completed, the scan algorithm will start scanning at the first element of the list.

Important Points to Note

• To support the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio profile, add the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio profile and link it to an AP group.

• Manually define the channels for the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio in the regulatory domain profile. The AOS-8 upgrade script does not fill channels by default. To manually configure the channels in the 6 GHz Gigahertz. radio, see Regulatory Domain Profile.

• If you want the clients to connect to the 6 GHz Gigahertz. WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. SSID Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network., Aruba recommends to have a WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. SSID Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. VAP on the 5 GHz Gigahertz. and 2.4 GHz Gigahertz. radios. The reduced neighbor report allows the 6 GHz Gigahertz. clients to scan on PSC channel.

• Always use the Preferred Scan Channel (PSC). The PSC are scanned more frequently.