wifi: Add an attribute to StaWifiMac to disable channel scanning

CHANGES.md

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ This file is a best-effort approach to solving this issue; we will do our best b
 * (wifi) Added a new `EarlyTxopEndDetect` attribute to `EhtFrameExchangeManager` to control whether the Duration/ID value of the frame being transmitted or received by a device shall be used to early detect the end of an ongoing TXOP (held by another device).
 * (spectrum) Added the base `WraparoundModel`, which is retrieved from the associated objects of a spectrum channel, and then used to wraparound the transmitter mobility model during transmissions.
 * (spectrum) Added the `HexagonalWraparoundModel`, which implements the wraparound for a hexagonal cell deployment, typical of cellular networks.
+* (wifi) Added a new `DisableScanning` attribute to `StaWifiMac` to disable channel scanning; it can be useful to set this attribute to false when a static setup is performed.
 
 ### Changes to existing API
 

src/wifi/model/sta-wifi-mac.cc

@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ StaWifiMac::GetTypeId()
                           UintegerValue(10),
                           MakeUintegerAccessor(&StaWifiMac::m_maxMissedBeacons),
                           MakeUintegerChecker<uint32_t>())
+            .AddAttribute("EnableScanning",
+                          "If false, STA does not perform channel scanning. This may be useful in "
+                          "case of static configuration via the static setup helper.",
+                          BooleanValue(true),
+                          MakeBooleanAccessor(&StaWifiMac::m_enableScanning),
+                          MakeBooleanChecker())
             .AddAttribute(
                 "ActiveProbing",
                 "If true, we send probe requests. If false, we don't."
@@ -823,6 +829,11 @@ void
 StaWifiMac::StartScanning()
 {
     NS_LOG_FUNCTION(this);
+    if (!m_enableScanning)
+    {
+        NS_LOG_DEBUG("Scanning disabled");
+        return;
+    }
     SetState(SCANNING);
     NS_ASSERT(m_assocManager);
 

src/wifi/model/sta-wifi-mac.h

@@ -662,6 +662,7 @@ class StaWifiMac : public WifiMac
     uint32_t m_maxMissedBeacons;                  ///< maximum missed beacons
     EventId m_beaconWatchdog;                     //!< beacon watchdog
     Time m_beaconWatchdogEnd{0};                  //!< beacon watchdog end
+    bool m_enableScanning;                        //!< enable channel scanning
     bool m_activeProbing;                         ///< active probing
     Ptr<RandomVariableStream> m_probeDelay;       ///< RandomVariable used to randomize the time
                                                   ///< of the first Probe Response on each channel