Network Configuration for iPads
Please see below for our recommended network configuration settings to ensure a smooth testing experience on iPads.
ITS Network and Security Settings Snippet
To ensure an optimal delivery experience, Internet Testing Systems recommends the following for sites and institutions supporting group testing:
- Internet Connection – Broadband cable or fiber internet connection that supports 300 Mbps of download and upload speed. Gigabit symmetrical connections or better are encouraged. For large events of 100+ candidates, Gigabit connections should be considered a minimum. If your site or institution is delivering a single-day or high stakes event, a backup internet connection, such as dual ISP or LTE/5G internet, is highly recommended as a failover. This will ensure maximum up time.
- Network Infrastructure and Access Points – Ensure your site has enough wireless access points to accommodate the number of candidates. The number of devices per access point should be less than the vendor’s maximum recommendation. As a general rule, plan for no more than 25 active users per access point in high-density areas. Ensure the network has a minimal number of switches between the main internet router and the access points in the test location. Minimizing switches (the number of “hops” for data) ensures the lowest latency possible for connections.
- Network Segmentation – If you are using Wi-Fi for candidate machines, it is highly recommended that you segment the traffic for test delivery by using a separate SSID and that you prioritize traffic for test delivery in your router and firewall rules, if possible.
If you have access to firewall and network settings, Internet Testing Systems also recommends that you implement the following:
- Ensure the following ports are fully opened and can freely communicate: http (80) and https (443)
- Set these domains* to approved/allowed/unblocked and give them highest access and priority.
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Ensure that HTTPS Inspection is turned OFF. - This can be very resource intensive, as it decrypts and encrypts every packet. This setting is usually turned on by default with most firewalls, so it is important to check before testing.
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Check to see if there are any cap limitations on your HTTP and HTTPS communications. – If either or both of those are capped at a certain limit of MBs, then that limitation could affect testing.
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Verify your DHCP Lease Time is set to at least 1 day. – If this is set to renew its lease sooner, it can add unnecessary network traffic. NOTE: We typically recommend setting it to 1 day, as opposed to 24 hours.
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Ensure that any anti-virus, security programs, or other scans are not set to scan daily during testing times. – You do not have to completely disable auto-scan, but it would be beneficial to ensure you are not scanning during testing.
If you have implemented the recommendations above, your test delivery experience should work well. However, if you want to work on further optimizations, you can consider the following advanced techniques and settings for your network:
- Site Planning
- Ensure you have redundant/backup switches and access points in critical areas to ensure quick resolution to hardware issues
- Use site surveys and tools like Ekahau or NetSpot to optimize access point placement and channel planning
- Discourage candidates from running personal hot spots during testing events, as these can cause interference and degrade performance
- Network Configuration
- Use QoS (Quality of Service) to prioritize critical traffic
- Wireless Access Point Configuration
- Use band steering to push capable devices to 5 GHz or 6 GHz bands
- Deploy Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E access points
- Deploy PoE+ or PoE++ (Power over Ethernet) switches to power high-performance access points