Automated neighbor discovery techniques for hybrid environments

A wireless controller, comprising one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless controller to perform an operation, the operation comprising:

• grouping access points (APs) into a first group of more flexible APs and a second group of less flexible APs;
• querying the second group of less flexible APs for a corresponding broadcast interval;
• identifying when the second group of less flexible APs is scheduled to broadcast parameters, and a broadcast interval for each AP of the second group of less flexible APs, on corresponding default channels;
• generating a schedule based on the scheduled broadcast of the parameters and the broadcast interval for each AP of the second group of less flexible APs with visits to the corresponding default channels by the first group of more flexible APs, wherein the first group of more flexible APs are present on the corresponding default channels when the second group of less flexible APs are scheduled to broadcast the parameters;
• and
• providing the generated schedule to the first group of more flexible APs and the second group of less flexible APs.

A system for discovering neighbor access points (APs), the system comprising:

• a plurality of APs configured to manage communications on one or more channels;
• a controller circuit configured to:
• identify a first set of APs from the plurality of APs, each AP of the first set of APs having a main radio and an auxiliary radio;
• identify a second set of APs from the plurality of APs, each AP of the second set of APs having only a main radio;
• identify a broadcast message schedule for the second set of APs, where the broadcast message schedule identifies when the second set of APs broadcasts corresponding neighbor discovery (ND) messages;
• generate an ND schedule, where the ND schedule indicates to the first set of APs and the second set of APs when to monitor one or more home channels on which the second set of APs broadcasts the corresponding ND messages according to the generated ND schedule;
• provide the generated ND schedule to the first set of APs and the second set of APs;
• and
• monitor receipt of received ND messages from the first set of APs and the second set of APs according to the ND schedule.