Extreme Networks Altitude 3500 Series, Product Reference Manual

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Network Management
Altitude 3500 Series Access Point Product Reference Guide
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6 Click Apply to save any changes to the LAN Configuration screen. Navigating away from the screen
without clicking the Apply button results in all changes to the screen being lost if the prompts are
ignored.
7 Click Undo Changes (if necessary) to undo any changes made. Undo Changes reverts the settings
displayed on the LAN configuration screen to the last saved configuration.
8 Click Logout to securely exit the Altitude 35xx Access Point applet. A prompt displays confirming the
logout before the applet is closed.
Configuring VLAN Support
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a means to electronically separate data on the same Altitude
35xx from a single broadcast domain into separate broadcast domains. The Altitude 35xx can group
devices on one or more WLANs so that they can communicate as if they were attached to the same
wire, when in fact they are located on a different LAN segment. Because VLANs are based on logical
instead of physical connections, they are extremely flexible. By using a VLAN, you can group by logical
function instead of physical location. A maximum of 16 VLANs can be supported on the access point
(regardless of the access point being single or dual-radio model). An administrator can map 16 WLANs
to 16 VLANs and enable or disable dynamic VLAN assignment.
VLANs enable organizations to share network resources in various network segments within large areas
(airports, shopping malls, etc.). A VLAN is a group of clients with a common set of requirements
independent of their physical location. VLANs have the same attributes as physical LANs, but they
enable system administrators to group MUs even when they are not members of the same network
segment.
NOTE
A WLAN supporting a mesh network does not need to be assigned to a particular VLAN, as all the traffic
proliferating the mesh network is already trunked. However, if MUs are to be connected to the Mesh WLAN, the
WLAN will need to be tied to a VLAN.
The Altitude 35xx assignment of VLANs can be implemented using Static or Dynamic assignments
(often referred to as memberships) for individual WLANs. Both methods have their advantages and
disadvantages. Static VLAN membership is perhaps the most widely used method because of the
relatively small administration overhead and security it provides. With Static VLANs, you manually
assign individual WLANs to individual VLANs.
Although static VLANs are the most common form of VLAN assignments, dynamic VLAN assignment
is possible per WLAN. Configuring dynamic VLANs entail the Altitude 35xx sending a DHCP request
for device information (such as an IP address). Additional information (such as device MAC address
information) is sent to the Altitude 35xx. The Altitude 35xx sends this MAC address to a host housing a
half duplex Select this option to transmit data to and from the access
point, but not at the same time. Using a half duplex
transmission, the access point can send data over its LAN
port then immediately receive data from the same direction
in which the data was transmitted. Like a full-duplex
transmission, a half-duplex transmission can carry data in
both directions, just not at the same time.
full duplex Select this option to transmit data to and from the access
point at the same time. Using full duplex, the access point
can send data over its LAN port while receiving data as
well.