Throttle Ipad bandwidth on Ruckus/Mosyle

[mikkydoos]

Hi all,

 

I'm hitting an issue where by our Ipads are absolutely hammering our Internet connection whilst I think they're either looking for updates, updating apps or syncing with the MDM.

External Smoothwall traffic graphs get maxed and all the top use IP's are all Ipads.

 

Our Ruckus has bandwidth throttling on the WAN they're connected to but even at 0.5mbs per device (per station in Ruckus speak), there's so many of them they're hogging the connection.

Any lower bandwidth and the device is pretty unuseable.

 

Has anyone any tips on shaping the network traffic for these things.

Currently the network is pretty flat, but being VLAN'd this summer so I'll have more control over each subnet.

 

Connection is 100mb/s leased line.

We've 400 Ipads across about 15 Ruckus AP's.

ZoneDirector 1100.

 

MDM is Mosyle - is there somewhere in there to configure scheduling for updates/checking in ?

 

Smoothwall - Bandwidth limited subnets ?

 

 

 

Idea's anyone ??

 

 

Cheers in advance

[tmoon-mint]

If it is your iPads downloading apps and updates you might want to look at setting up a content cache.

 

What is content caching on Mac? - Apple Support

[tg12]

I had a similar problem at one of my schools recently, I ended up setting up a Mac mini they had unused as a cache server, so they download from that rather than hammer the internet connection.

 

Obviously not an ideal solution for everyone but I’m not sure I’ve seen a way to schedule these things!

[atcoates]

Prior to implementing the Mac Cache, there is a setting within our Meraki MDM to only allow Ipads to update apps and profiles outside of school hours. We used to have it set so the Ipads did all downloading from 0100-0500 every morning.

 

[k-strider]

we have about 700 iPads and a Mac Mini caching server definatley helps an awful lot... but it doesnt make it imune we sometimes (not often anymore) get our bandwitdth maxed out 200mbps (going up to 300 soon)

we have our iPads on a separate VLan and im inclined to ask our isp to cap trafic fromt that vlan as a whole at maybe 250 of our 300 pipe...

[atcoates]

we have about 700 iPads and a Mac Mini caching server definatley helps an awful lot... but it doesnt make it imune we sometimes (not often anymore) get our bandwitdth maxed out 200mbps (going up to 300 soon)

we have our iPads on a separate VLan and im inclined to ask our isp to cap trafic fromt that vlan as a whole at maybe 250 of our 300 pipe...

You can add other Mac Minis as well to create a bigger system as well. We considered this at one of my sites to keep the link between two buildings free of unnecessary traffic.

 

Set up content cache clients, peers or parents on Mac https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchl9b56e1cf/mac

[DalekSec]

+1 For caching server, saved us a real headache when we had our old slower line!

[Brimstone]

One other important point to make, you should have a back up drive for your content cache, ideally an external Usb4 or Thunderbolt.

[mikkydoos]

Cache server works a charm so far. Bandwidth hit is now much reduced.

 

Thanks all

[slugshead]

There's two things you can do, cache server and limit bandwidth to the appstore during core hours on the smoothwall. They have a predefined category for software updates where you can place the bandwidth limiting rules on

[mikkydoos]

There's two things you can do, cache server and limit bandwidth to the appstore during core hours on the smoothwall. They have a predefined category for software updates where you can place the bandwidth limiting rules on

 

Ahh. Nice one. Didn't know that was there.

[Michael]

I'd also say that a 100Mb/s LL is too slow for that many devices, as I'm speculating you have Windows clients on site too.

 

200Mb/s and 300Mb/s+ connections have come down a lot and do make a huge difference.

[slugshead]

300Mb/s+ connections have come down a lot and do make a huge difference.

 

This is very true, 4 years ago we were 100Mb and the pains of BYOD, software updates and video conferencing was real.

 

I've currently got 2 x 1000mb connections in place that costs less than a single 100mb did four years ago

[mikkydoos]

Tbh, its only these devices updating that max the connection. Cache has made a big difference.

 

I'm currently monitoring the stats for when the contract is up.We're on a 100mb bearer too!

[tg12]

Glad to hear the cache server is helping! It's surprising what a difference that does make, especially with a high number of devices.

[DalekSec]

Made a huge difference on our old line, very very useful when rebuilding the mac suite and needing to download 90GB for logic on every mac!

 

Old Mac mini, stuck in a 1TB ssd and partitioned it. Jobs a gooden!