[PATCH] hostapd: Add cell_density data rates option

[David Bauer]

Hi Nick,

On 10/2/20 5:26 PM, Nick Lowe wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> Please may I request any thoughts and feedback on this proposed patch
> to the hostapd config generation shell script to add a new
> cell_density configuration option?
> 
> This would subsequently allow for a LuCI-exposed option to then be
> added via a follow up patch for easy, less error prone configuration
> of data rates for normal, high and very high density deployments.

As briefly mentioned on IRC, I have concerns that this might interfere with
clients using buggy wireless implementations. I've noticed 802.11g clients
not connecting / listing networks which do not offer a 6 Mbit/s basic rate.

On the other hand, these kind of clients also show frequent issues when used
with FT or (god forbid) PSK2-SAE mixed mode.

Therefore I'm in favor of adding a brief notice to this option to LuCI, that
tampering with this setting might lead to issues with some clients.

That said, the proposed settings and rate sets look sensible to me, given they
are abstracted from easily explained toggles.

Best wishes
David

> 
> Currently, it is both easy to misunderstand basic/mandatory and
> optional rates and to misconfigure these, and the current basic_rate
> and supported_rates options are not exposed in Luci and are therefore
> not easily discoverable or accessible.
> I feel that the basic_rate and supported_rates options are best
> abstracted via a new setting for general use cases before being
> exposed to LuCI.
> 
> Where specified, the basic_rate and supported_rates options would
> override both the cell_density and legacy_rates options.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Nick
> 
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