We present to you a brief overview of Huawei's new architecture — HiCampus, which is based on fully wireless access for users, IP + POL, and an intelligent platform over physical infrastructure.
In early 2020, we introduced two new architectures that were previously used exclusively in China. An article on HiDC, primarily designed for data center infrastructure deployment, was published on Habr in the spring. Now let’s discuss, in general terms, HiCampus — an architecture with a broader profile.
What is the purpose of HiCampus?
The barrage of events caused by the pandemic and the response to it has, whether we like it or not, compelled many to quickly come to an understanding that campuses are the foundation of a new intelligent world. The term 'campus' encompasses not only office areas but also research institutes, laboratories, universities along with student campuses, and more.
In Russia alone, Huawei has over a thousand developers as of mid-2020. Moreover, in two to three years, their number will approximately increase fivefold. They are concentrated precisely in campuses, where we must provide them with seamless on-demand service without making them wait.
For the end user, HiCampus is primarily a more convenient working environment than before. For businesses, it helps increase production efficiency and is also easier to operate.
Meanwhile, the campuses are seeing an increasing number of users, each with more devices. Fortunately, not every jacket is equipped with a Wi-Fi module yet: "smart clothing" is still a rarity, but it's possible that it will soon become commonplace. As a result, without radical technological changes, the quality of service on the network is declining. This is not surprising: traffic consumption is increasing, energy consumption is rising, and new services require more and more various resources. Meanwhile, business owners and boards of directors, often inspired by the pace of digital transformation around them, including that of competitors, are seeking new opportunities—quickly and cheaply ("What, we don’t have face recognition surveillance in our office? Why?!"). Additionally, the network infrastructure is now expected to deliver a synergistic effect: deploying a network just for the sake of having a network is no longer customary and is out of sync with modern times.
These problems are what HiCampus aims to solve. We highlight three dimensions, each of which brings its advantages to the architecture. Let's list them from the lowest to the highest level:
- completely wireless;
- fully optical;
- intelligent.
Completely Wireless Dimension
The foundation of the completely wireless dimension is Huawei's product solution based on Wi-Fi 6. Compared to Wi-Fi 5, it allows fourfold increases in the number of simultaneously connected users and frees the campus inhabitants from having to connect to the network "by wires" anywhere.
The new AirEngine product line, on which the wireless environment of HiCampus is built, includes access points (APs) for various scenarios: whether for industrial use with IoT or for outdoor applications. The design, dimensions, and mounting options for the devices also allow for all conceivable use cases.
We owe the innovations in the access points, such as the increased number of antennas for reception (now there are 16), to our development center in Tel Aviv: our colleagues working there brought a lot of their previous experience in improving WiMAX and 5G networks into Wi-Fi 6, allowing them to seriously optimize the latency and throughput of AirEngine access points. As a result, we are able to guarantee a throughput of no less than the specified threshold for each client: the phrase "100 Mbps everywhere" is not just an empty promise in our case.
How did this happen? Let's briefly turn to the theory. According to Shannon's theorem, the throughput of an access point is determined by (a) the number of spatial streams, (b) the bandwidth, and (c) the signal-to-noise ratio. In comparison to previous products, Huawei's modifications have been made across all three points. Thus, our access points can form up to 12 spatial streams — one and a half times more than the top models of other vendors. In addition, they can support eight spatial streams with a bandwidth of 160 MHz compared to the best case of eight streams at 80 MHz from competitors. Finally, thanks to Smart Antenna technology, our access points demonstrate significantly greater tolerance to interference and a higher level of RSSI at client reception.
As of the end of 2019, our colleagues in Tel Aviv received the highest internal company award precisely for achieving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on a Wi-Fi 802.11ax supporting chip that surpassed that of another well-known American manufacturer. This result was achieved both through the use of new materials and through a more advanced algorithmic base embedded in the processor. Hence, other advantageous features of Wi-Fi 6 "according to Huawei" have emerged. In particular, a multi-user MIMO mechanism has been implemented, allowing up to eight spatial streams to be allocated to a single user; MU-MIMO is designed to utilize the entire antenna resource of the access point in transmitting information to clients. Of course, eight streams will not be directed simultaneously to some smartphone, but to a next-generation laptop or an industrial VR complex—definitely.
Thus, with 16 spatial streams at the physical level, it is possible to achieve a threshold of 10 Gbps per point. At the application traffic level, the data transmission efficiency will be around 78–80%, or about 8 Gbps. It should be noted that this applies when using 160 MHz channels. Of course, Wi-Fi 6 is primarily designed for mass connections, and if there are dozens of them, each individual connection will not be as extraordinarily fast.
In laboratory conditions, we have repeatedly conducted tests using the iPerf load utility — and recorded that two hi-end Huawei points from the AirEngine series, using eight spatial streams each at 160 MHz, exchange data at the application level at a speed of about 8.37 Gbps. It is worth mentioning: yes, their firmware is specialized, designed to unlock the potential of the equipment during testing, however, the fact remains.
By the way, Huawei has a Joint Validation Lab in Russia with an extensive lineup of Wi-Fi equipment. Previously, we used devices with M.2 chips from other manufacturers in it, now we showcase the performance of Wi-Fi 6 on our own production phones, such as the P40.
In the illustrations above, it can be seen that in a single structural block, of which there are four in the access point, there are also four elements — a total of 16 transmit-receive antennas operating in dynamic mode. Regarding beamforming, due to the use of a larger number of antennas per element, it is possible to create a narrower and longer beam, and more reliably 'track' the client, ensuring an improved user experience.
By using additional patented materials, high electrical performance of the antenna itself is achieved. Hence, there is a lower percentage of signal loss and significantly better signal reflection parameters.
In our laboratories, we have conducted tests comparing the signal strength of access points at the same coverage distance multiple times. In the illustration above, there are two access points mounted on tripods that support Wi-Fi 6: one (in red) with smart antennas from Huawei, and the other without them. The distance from the access point to the phone in both cases is 13 meters. Under equal conditions — the same frequency band of 5 GHz, channel frequency of 20 MHz, etc. — the average difference in signal strength between the devices is approximately 3 dBm, favoring the Huawei access point.
In the second test, the same Wi-Fi 6 access points are used, the same 20 MHz band, and the same 5 GHz slice. At a distance of 13 meters, there is no significant difference observed, but as soon as we double the distance, the metrics diverge by nearly an order (7 dBm) — in favor of our AirEngine.
By utilizing 5G technologies like DynamicTurbo, which prioritize traffic from VIP users over a wireless medium, we achieve a level of service that wasn't previously available in the Wi-Fi environment (for instance, a top company executive won't have to constantly ask why their connection is so weak). Previously, such capabilities were almost exclusively a feature of wired networks — either TDM or IP Hard Pipe, with dedicated MPLS tunnels.
Wi-Fi 6 also realizes the concept of seamless roaming. This is made possible by a modified migration mechanism between access points: the user first connects to the new point and only then disconnects from the old one. This innovation positively impacts operations in scenarios such as Wi-Fi telephony, telemedicine, and automotive applications, particularly in the functioning of autonomous robots, drones, etc., where maintaining a stable connection with the control center is critically important.
The mini-clip above reflects a modern case of using Wi-Fi 6 from Huawei in a playful way. The dog in the red jumpsuit has VR goggles connected to an AirEngine point, which quickly switches and ensures minimal latency in data transmission. The other dog wasn't as lucky: similar goggles placed on its head are connected to a device from another vendor (for ethical reasons, we won't name it), and while the interruptions and lags are not critical, they hinder overlaying the virtual environment onto the real-world space in real time.
Inside China, this architecture is being widely applied. Approximately 600 campuses have been built using its solutions, with a good half adhering to the HiCampus principles from start to finish.
As practice shows, the application of HiCampus is most effective for collaborative work in office spaces, in 'smart factories' with their mobile autonomous robots — AGVs, and in places with large crowds. For example, in the Beijing International Airport, where a Wi-Fi 6 network has been deployed to provide wireless services for passengers throughout the area; among other things, thanks to the campus infrastructure, the airport has managed to reduce waiting time in queues by 15% and save 20% on staff costs.
Fully optical cut
We are increasingly building campuses based on a new model — IP + POL, and not simply obeying the whims of technological fashion. The previous approach, where we deployed network infrastructure in a building by running fiber to the floor and then distributing copper, imposed harsh limitations on the architecture. It was problematic enough that, when an upgrade was needed, we had to change nearly the entire environment at the floor level. The material itself, copper, is also not ideal: in terms of bandwidth, lifecycle, and further development of the environment. Certainly, copper was well understood and allowed for quick and inexpensive creation of simple network solutions. However, when considering total cost of ownership and potential for upgrading the network, copper loses to fiber optics in 2020.
The superiority of optical technology is particularly evident when considering a long lifecycle for infrastructure (and evaluating costs over time), as well as in scenarios anticipating significant evolution. For instance, environments requiring continuous operation of 4K cameras and 8K televisions or other high-resolution digital signage. In such situations, the most sensible solution would be to implement a fully optical network using optical switches. Previously, a limitation in choosing this model for campus construction was the limited number of end terminals—optical network units (ONU). Today, however, not only user machines are expected to connect through terminals to the optical network. A transceiver that works with a POL network can be inserted into the same Wi-Fi point, providing wireless service through a high-speed optical network.
Thus, fully deploying Wi-Fi 6 can be achieved with minimal effort: set up an IP + POL network, connect Wi-Fi to it, and seamlessly increase performance. The only requirement for Wi-Fi points is local power supply. Otherwise, nothing hinders us from scaling the network to 10 or 50 Gbps.
Deploying fully optical networks is advisable in various scenarios. For example, it is hard to imagine an alternative in old buildings with long spans. If you have never undertaken a building rebuild in the center of Moscow, consider yourself fortunate: typically, all cable pathways in such structures are congested, and organizing a local network effectively often requires starting from scratch. However, with a POL solution, you can lay optical cable, connect it with splitters, and create a modern network.
The same applies to educational institutions with older architecture, hotel complexes, and large buildings, including airports.
Guided by the principle of practice what you preach, in the organization of network environments based on the IP LAN + POL model, we started with ourselves. The massive Huawei campus on Lake Sunshan in China, completed a year and a half ago and covering more than 1.4 million square meters, is one of the first cases of implementing the HiCampus architecture; its buildings, by the way, resemble well-known European architectural landmarks. Inside, however, everything is as modern as it can possibly be.
From the central building, optical lines extend to adjacent, 'subject' campuses, where they are further distributed across floors, etc. The Wi-Fi 6 access points, which cover the entire area, are therefore 'anchored' in the optical network.
The campus implements a wide range of services that require stable high-speed connectivity, including video surveillance with high-resolution cameras. These cameras serve not only for monitoring. At the entrance to the campus, the digital platform uses these very cameras to identify employees by their faces; then, they scan their RFID badge at the access terminal, and only after successful authentication based on two criteria will the doors open and access to the wireless network and campus digital services be granted. It will not be possible to sneak in with someone else's badge. Additionally, VDI services (cloud desktop), a conference communication system, and many other services connected to Wi-Fi 6 with optical connectivity are available throughout the complex.
The use of fully networked optical solutions, among other things, saves a lot of space, and much fewer people are needed to maintain them. Thus, according to our statistics, infrastructure investment costs are, on average, reduced by 40% thanks to the optical layer.
Completely intelligent slice
On top of the physical solutions related to optical and wireless data transmission environments, the HiCampus employs the Horizon intelligent platform, which serves digital transformation goals and allows for greater benefits from the infrastructure.
For tasks related to the infrastructure itself, a managed layer is used on the .
Its primary purpose is to leverage machine learning technologies for network monitoring. In particular, ML algorithms have enabled the implementation of the CampusInsight O&M 1-3-5 module in iMaster NCE: information about errors is received within a minute, three minutes are spent on handling them, and the issue is resolved in five minutes (for more details, see our article ""). This way, 75-90% of emerging errors are corrected.
The second task is more intelligent - to integrate various services related to the 'smart campus' (such as network monitoring, video surveillance, etc.).
When a network infrastructure has several dozen access points and a couple of controllers, there’s nothing stopping one from capturing traffic from them and analyzing it manually using Wireshark. But when there are thousands of access points, dozens of controllers, and all this is distributed over a large area, finding malfunctions becomes exponentially more challenging. To simplify the task, we have developed the iMaster NCE CampusInsight solution (for which we had a separate ). With its help, by accumulating information from devices—Level 1 / Level 4 packets—one can quickly identify malfunctions in the network environment.
The process looks like this. The platform, for example, shows us that a user is having issues with radio authentication. It conducts an analysis and indicates at which step the problem occurred. If it is related to the environment, the platform will suggest a solution (a Resolve button appears in the interface). The video below shows how the system notifies that there has been a reject RADIUS: most likely, either the user entered the password incorrectly, or the password has changed. Thus, without frantic attempts to understand what the issue is, it is possible to save a great deal of time, especially since all data is stored and the history of any conflict can be easily studied.
A common scenario: a company owner or CTO approaches you, lamenting that some important person was unable to connect to the wireless network yesterday in your office. You need to resolve the issue, potentially at the risk of losing a quarterly bonus. Normally, you can't solve the problem without finding that VIP user. But what if it’s a top manager or a deputy minister, who’s not easy to approach, let alone ask for their smartphone to troubleshoot? Avoiding such situations is possible with Huawei’s product, which utilizes our FusionInsight big data distribution, storing all the accumulated knowledge about network incidents, allowing you to trace any malfunction through retrospective analysis.
Devices and their connectivity are important. However, to build a truly 'smart' campus, a software layer is necessary.
First and foremost, in HiCampus, a cloud platform is employed above the physical layer. It can be private, public, or hybrid. On top of it, services for data handling are layered. This entire software suite constitutes the digital platform. Conceptually, it relies on the principles of Relationship, Open, Multi-Ecosystem, Any-Connect — abbreviated as ROMA (which will also have a separate webinar and post to follow). By ensuring connectivity between environmental components, Horizon creates a more cohesive environment, which is later validated by business metrics and user comfort.
In turn, the Huawei IOC (Intelligent Operation Center) serves to monitor the 'health' of the campus, energy efficiency, and security, and importantly, provides an overall overview of what is happening on campus. For example, thanks to a clear visualization scheme (see ) you can see that a camera reacted to a suspicious factor, and you can instantly get a feed from it. If a fire occurs, RFID sensors can easily verify whether all individuals have evacuated the premises.
Thanks to the ability to connect additional modules that operate on RFID, ZigBee, or Bluetooth to Huawei access points, it's easy to create an environment that closely monitors the situation on campus and signals various problems. Additionally, IOC allows for real-time asset inventory, and generally, treating the campus as an intelligent unit opens up numerous possibilities.
Of course, individual vendors in the market may offer some solutions similar to those included in HiCampus, such as fully optical access. However, no one has a comprehensive architecture that reflects the main advantages we've tried to highlight in this post.
Lastly, we’d like to add that you can learn more about our smart campus solutions and even try some on our project website. .
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And don’t forget about our numerous webinars, held not only in the Russian-speaking segment but also on a global level. A list of upcoming webinars is available at .
Source: habr.com
