10/10/03
Distribution System Port
90-100584-004
Airespace Product Guide
34
About the Distribution System Port
Distribution System Port
As described in
Switched Network Connection to an Airespace Switch or Appliance
, the 4012 and 4024
Airespace Wireless Switch and 4101 Airespace WLAN Appliance logical Distribution System port can be
assigned to only one physical port (
), and can communicate with the
switched network through one physical port. The 4102 Airespace WLAN Appliance uses two redundant
physical ports to ensure continued communications through the switched network in case part of the
switched network fails.
Note:
The Distribution System Port cannot be assigned to the dedicated Airespace Switch or
.
The Distribution System port provides an uplink to the switched network. As such, it:
•
Sends messages through the switched network to autodiscover and communicate with other
Airespace Switches and Appliances.
•
Listens across the switched network for Airespace AP polling messages to autodiscover,
associate with, and communicate with as many Airespace APs as it is configured to allow.
Note:
Should another Airespace WLAN Appliance or Airespace Wireless Switch in Appliance
Mode fail, its dropped Airespace APs poll the switched network for another Airespace Switch or
Appliance. When an online Airespace Switch or Appliance has any remaining primary or
emergency Ethernet ports, it listens to the switched network for Airespace AP polling
messages to autodiscover, associate with, and communicate with as many Airespace APs as it
is configured to allow. Refer to the
Airespace Switch and Appliance Failover Protection
section
for more information.
The Distribution System port is the logical port through which the Airespace Switch or Appliance talks to
the switched network, and must be configured for the following:
•
Airespace Switch or Appliance statically set IP address, IP netmask, and default router.
•
Physical port assignment.
•
If required, VLAN assignment.
•
Web and Secure Web modes.
•
Spanning Tree Protocol, if required.
Refer to the
Configuring the Airespace Switch or Appliance
section for configuration instructions.
