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Configuring Access Point Bridging and Repeating (WLAP Mode)

21

5.3

Using the Ethernet Timeout Setting 4

Ethernet Timeout setting 4 on System Configuration screen is used in special network 
configurations such as the one shown in Figure 5-7. In this network, the Timeout setting 4 allows 
access point B to detect a missing WLAP-Alive BPDU message if the Ethernet connection is lost 
between the two network hubs. When this occurs, access point B resets and makes a wireless 
connection with access point A. If the Ethernet connection is restored, access point B resets and the 
wireless connection is terminated. 

As shown in Figure 5-7, Ethernet Timeout is set to 2 for access point A and to 4 for access point B. 
Both access points have the WLAP Mode set to Enabled, WLAP Priority set to 8000 (default), and 
WLAP Manual BSS ID set to zero (default). 

Hub 1

Hub 2

Ethernet Timeout = 2

WLAP Mode = Enabled

WLAP Priority = 8000

WLAP Manual BSS ID = 0

Hub 1

Hub 2

A

B

A

B

Ethernet Timeout = 4

WLAP Mode = Enabled

WLAP Priority = 8000

WLAP Manual BSS ID = 0

Ethernet Connection

Ethernet Connection is Lost

Wireless Connection is Made

Figure 5-7: Special Network Using Ethernet Timeout 4

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Summary of Contents for 2011B - PRO/Wireless LAN Enterprise Access Point

Page 1: ...Intel PRO Wireless 2011 2011B LAN Configuring Access Point Bridging and Repeating WLAP Mode ...

Page 2: ...eserved Intel Corporation 5200 N E Elam Young Parkway Hillsboro OR 97124 6497 Intel Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document Nor does Intel make any commitment to update the information contained herein Intel PRO Wireless 2011 2011B LAN is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation Other product and corporate names mentioned herein may be trademarks of other ...

Page 3: ... brackets for command line indicates available parameters in configuration files brackets act as separators for options GUI Screen text indicates the name of a control in a GUI based application Italics indicates the first use of a term book title variable or menu title Bold indicates important user information license provisions or warranty conditions Screen dialog indicates screen dialog and use...

Page 4: ...ollowing for certain conditions or information indicates tips or special requirements indicates conditions that can cause equipment damage or data loss indicates a potentially dangerous condition or procedure that only Intel PRO Wireless 2011 2011B LAN trained personnel should attempt to correct or perform ...

Page 5: ...Ethernet Link 11 4 2 Link Required for Backing Up Root Access Point 13 Chapter 5 Bridging Two Ethernet Networks 16 5 1 Verifying the Bridging Operation 16 5 2 Using the Ethernet Timeout Settings 2 3 17 5 2 1 Ethernet Timeouts and Access Point Settings 18 5 2 2 Sequence of Events in Special Network 20 5 3 Using the Ethernet Timeout Setting 4 21 Chapter 6 RF Link Test 22 6 1 Basic Setup for the RF L...

Page 6: ...Contents vi Configuring Access Point Bridging and Repeating WLAP Mode Other Equipment 35 Chapter 7 Regulatory Compliance Information 36 Index 37 ...

Page 7: ...of the Spanning Tree Protocol At the start of a wireless connection access points send out probe requests and probe responses to gather operating status of other access points Designated WLAPs also send out probes if they lose the beacon message from the root access point The beacon messages are broadcast by the access points to keep the network synchronized It contains information such as the acc...

Page 8: ...ter making these settings save them by pressing the F1 key Reset the access point Figure 1 2 Setting the ESS ID Network Name SSID 1 2 Recommended Settings for Root Access Point On the root access point pay attention to the following settings on the RF Configuration screen as shown on Figure 1 3 WLAP Priority WLAP Manual BSS ID WLAP Priority Set the root access point s WLAP Priority setting to a lo...

Page 9: ...ss Point Access Point A RF Configuration DTIM Interval 10 WLAP Mode Enabled BC MC Q Max 10 Max Retries d 15 WLAP Priority 7000 hex Max Retries v 5 WLAP Manual BSS ID 00 A0 F8 93 C5 B5 Multicast Mask d 09000E00 hex Multicast Mask v 01005E00 hex WLAP Hello Time 20 Beacon Interval 100 K us WLAP Max Age 100 Accept Broadcast ESSID Disabled WLAP Forward Delay 5 MU Inactivity Timeout 60 min WLAP MU Table...

Page 10: ... configure the one hop network set the WLAP Manual BSS ID on the root access point to its own MAC address In addition set the WLAP Manual BSS ID on access point B and C to the MAC address of access point A The RF Configuration screen for the root access point A is shown in Figure 2 3 2 2 Two Hop Wireless Network Example The example in Figure 2 2 extends a network s radio coverage with two hops In ...

Page 11: ... Interval 10 WLAP Mode Enabled BC MC Q Max 10 Max Retries d 15 WLAP Priority 8000 hex Max Retries v 5 WLAP Manual BSS ID 00 A0 F8 8B 71 45 Multicast Mask d 09000E00 hex Multicast Mask v 01005E00 hex WLAP Hello Time 20 Beacon Interval 100 K us WLAP Max Age 100 Accept Broadcast ESSID Disabled WLAP Forward Delay 5 MU Inactivity Timeout 60 min WLAP MU Table Aging Time 240 min Rate Control 11 Mb s Opti...

Page 12: ...ate heading The term FWD indicates the forwarding of data to the associated access point For a two hop network the statistics in the WLAP RF Statistics screen is shown in Figure 3 2 The WLAP RF Statistics screen for the root access point lists only one designated WLAP in the FWD state However the WLAP B lists both of the other two access points in the FWD state Other possible Itf states on the WLA...

Page 13: ...e 0 Root Priority 7000 hex Current State Functional Root MAC Addr 00 A0 F8 93 C5 B5 Priority 7000 hex Root Path Cost 0 Wireless AP Interface Table Itf WLAP Itf Itf Path Designated Designated ID MAC Addr State Cost Root ID Cost WLAP ID Itf ID 8001 00 A0 F8 8B 71 45 FWD 1 700000a0f893C5B5 0 700000a0f893C5B5 8001 8002 00 A0 F8 94 C3 64 FWD 1 700000a0f893C5B5 0 700000a0f893C5B5 8002 8003 00 00 00 00 0...

Page 14: ...t to observe the LED indicator status because the states exists for only a very short time During an abnormal operation the access point may remain in a particular state permanently or for a significant length of time In this situation you can easily determine abnormal operation from the status of the LED indicators The following subsections cover two of the wireless AP states that you can easily ...

Page 15: ... the FWD state refer to Figure 3 1 and Figure 3 2 3 3 2 Send Probe State Under certain conditions an access point may remain in the Send Probe state Figure 3 5 rather than continue on to the Functional state In this state the LED indicators display as follows Indicator Activity Power Remains on Wired LAN Activity Flashes if activity occurs Wireless LAN Activity Flickers rapidly Indicator Activity ...

Page 16: ...inue to display the Send Probe status until association with another access point occurs at which time the access point goes to the Functional state Preferred MAC Address For condition a if the WLAP Manual BSS ID is set to a preferred MAC address the access point remains in the Send Probe state for approximately 30 seconds and then goes to the Functional state To enter a preferred MAC address chan...

Page 17: ...s Ethernet connection An example network is shown in Figure 4 2 In this example when access point B loses its Ethernet connection it resets then makes a wireless link to the Ethernet through access point A Access Point A RF Configuration DTIM Interval 10 WLAP Mode Link Required BC MC Q Max 10 Max Retries d 15 WLAP Priority 8000 hex Max Retries v 5 WLAP Manual BSS ID 00 00 00 00 00 00 Multicast Mas...

Page 18: ...Functional the Itf State as DIS disabled and the WLAP Itf MAC Addr as zero If one of the access points in the network in Figure 4 2 loses its Ethernet connection it resets and initiates a wireless connection with the other access point When the process of making the wireless link is completed the WLAP RF Statistics screen Figure 4 4 shows the Itf State as FWD forward and the WLAP Itf MAC Addr as t...

Page 19: ...Designated ID MAC Addr State Cost Root ID Cost WLAP ID Itf ID 8001 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIS 1 800000a0f893C5B5 0 800000a0f893C5B5 8001 8002 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIS 1 800000a0f893C5B5 0 800000a0f893C5B5 8002 8003 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIS 1 800000a0f893C5B5 0 800000a0f893C5B5 8003 8004 00 00 00 00 00 00 DIS 1 800000a0f893C5B5 0 800000a0f893C5B5 8004 Refresh F1 Timed F2 Previous F4 Exit ESC Figure 4 3 No Wir...

Page 20: ...st two numbers of the MAC address from 00 to 01 for example 01 A0 F8 8D 25 F2 Using a preferred MAC address not only causes WLAPs B and C to associate with the root access point A it also allows them to roam to another access point if the Ethernet connection to access point A is lost Ethernet Timeout on System Configuration Screen Set the Ethernet Timeout to 1 on the two access points connected to...

Page 21: ...e Ethernet Timeout to 1 Access Point A System Configuration Channel 3 Access Control Disabled Auto Channel Select Disabled Type Filtering Disabled Ethernet Timeout 1 WNMP Functions Enabled Telnet Logins Enabled AP AP State Xchg Enabled Encryption Admin Any Ethernet Interface On RF Interface On Agent Ad Interval 0 Default Interface S24 Mobile IP Disabled Ethernet Mobile Home MD5 key MU MU Disallowe...

Page 22: ... zero and access points C and D have their WLAP Mode disabled 5 1 Verifying the Bridging Operation As in the other wireless AP configurations you can verify the network bridging operating by viewing the WLAP RF Statistics screen and the Known Access Points screen To determine which access points are operating in the wireless AP mode view the WLAP RF Statistics screen The example screen in Figure 5...

Page 23: ...ess point settings and sequence of events for the special network Figure 5 2 Verifying Wireless AP for Bridging Networks Access Point A WLAP RF Statistics Current WLAP Itf 1 Root Interface 1 Root Priority 8000 hex Current State Functional Root MAC Addr 00 A0 F8 8B 71 45 Priority 8000 hex Root Path Cost 1 Wireless AP Interface Table Itf WLAP Itf Itf Path Designated Designated ID MAC Addr State Cost...

Page 24: ...ts a broken Ethernet connection and then turns off its radio The Wireless LAN Activity indicator turns off When the Ethernet connection is restored the radio is turned on again Timeout 2 Access point sends WLAP Alive BPDU messages on the Ethernet line as well as over wireless network This allows other access points on the same Ethernet line to detect its presence Figure 5 4 Special Network Using T...

Page 25: ...f access point E Access Point G Timeout 3 Priority 8000 default WLAP Manual BSS ID its own MAC address Access Point H Timeout 0 Priority 9000 WLAP Manual BSS ID MAC address of access point G Timeout 3 Access point monitors WLAP Alive BPDU messages on the Ethernet line as well as over the wireless network If the BPDU message is missing on the Ethernet line the access point turns off its radio and f...

Page 26: ...xample screen is shown in Figure 5 6 Access Point D loses the beacon message from access point C but keeps probing access point C Send Probe state Mobile unit loses beacon message from access point D then roams to access point H 1 2 3 6 1 2 3 6 Transmit Transmit Receive Receive Pins 4 5 7 and 8 are not used Transmit Transmit Receive Receive Figure 5 5 Wiring Connections of Cross Over 10BaseT Cable...

Page 27: ...ion with access point A If the Ethernet connection is restored access point B resets and the wireless connection is terminated As shown in Figure 5 7 Ethernet Timeout is set to 2 for access point A and to 4 for access point B Both access points have the WLAP Mode set to Enabled WLAP Priority set to 8000 default and WLAP Manual BSS ID set to zero default Hub 1 Hub 2 Ethernet Timeout 2 WLAP Mode Ena...

Page 28: ...ptimum signal transmission This operation is covered later in 6 6 Using RF Link Test to Align Directional Antennas 6 1 Basic Setup for the RF Link Test The basic setup for running the RF Link Test is shown in Figure 6 2 It consists of two access points communicating through a wireless access point link with one access point connected to a computer through a serial connection The RF Link Test displ...

Page 29: ...remote access point The higher the bar the better the signal quality Tx Rate Shows the transmitted data rate of the local access point in Megabits per second Mbps One of four rates may be displayed 11 5 5 2 or 1 Mbps Rx Rate Received data rate from remote access point in Mbps One of four rates may be displayed 11 5 5 2 or 1 Mbps Tx Retries Number of times packets are retransmitted from the local a...

Page 30: ... zero If the letter X is continuously displayed the access points may be either out of radio range or their wireless access point link is broken For information on verifying the wireless access point operation refer to 6 3 Preparing for the RF Link Test Figure 6 3 is an example of a screen showing the X s and underscores Figure 6 3 Connection Quality Test Screen Showing Low RSSI Local Access Point...

Page 31: ...tatistics screen is shown in Figure 6 4 6 4 Running the RF Link Test To run the RF Link Test 1 Set up the two access points as described in the previous section 2 From the access point Main menu select Show RF Statistics Figure 6 4 Verifying the Wireless AP Operation Local Access Point WLAP RF Statistics Current WLAP Itf 1 Root Interface 0 Root Priority 7000 hex Current State Functional Root MAC A...

Page 32: ...t screen As a new bar is displayed its signal strength number is displayed as the RSSI number at the bottom of the screen The higher the bar the higher the RSSI number Maximum signal strength is an RSSI number of 31 An example screen showing the maximum signal strength is shown in Figure 6 6 6 To stop the RF Link Test press the Esc key This returns you to the Main Menu Local Access Point Connectio...

Page 33: ...ng a Telnet connection In this case you must connect the local access point and computer running the RF Link Test to the same Ethernet network Figure 6 6 Test Screen Showing Maximum Quality of 31 Local Access Point Connection Quality Test Remote Device MAC Address 00 A0 F8 94 C2 04 max Signal Quality min Tx Rate 11 Mb s Tx Retries 0 Rx Rate 11 Mb s RSSI 31 Exit ESC Local Access Point MAC Addr 00 A...

Page 34: ...uter are appropriate for the network and access point An example Telnet setup is shown in Figure 6 8 and the associated RF Link Test screen shown in Figure 6 9 IP Address 157 235 55 199 MAC Addr 00 A0 F8 93 C5 B5 IP Address 157 235 55 53 MAC Addr 00 A0 F8 94 C2 04 Ethernet Network IP Address 157 235 55 50 Portable Computer Running the RF Link Test Wireless AP Link LAPTOPLITE2 CDR AP11MB3DSHADED CD...

Page 35: ...oes not have to be operating in the wireless access point mode The only requirements are that the mobile units have the same ESS ID as the access point and that they support the WNMP Figure 6 10 shows an access point associating with mobile units In this example you can use the RF Link Test to check the wireless path of a remote printer linked to a network through a client bridge Figure 6 9 Test S...

Page 36: ... Using RF Link Test to Align Directional Antennas The RF Link Test is useful for aligning directional antennas connected to access points that are used for bridging separate Ethernet networks located one quarter mile or more from each other An example setup for this type of operation is shown in Figure 6 12 Client Bridge 00 A0 F8 30 D6 88 Printer Local Access Point Portable Data Termi nal Portable...

Page 37: ...on a pole on an elevated location such as the roof of a building An example of a directional antenna is shown in Figure 6 13 2 Connect the antenna cable to the access point s Antenna 1 connector sometimes referred to as the Primary connector As shown in Figure 6 14 this is the connector on the right as you face the rear of the access point If the standard antenna cable is not long enough use a spe...

Page 38: ...her using two way radios or cell phones Other equipment you may need is covered in 6 6 3 Additional Suggestions on Antenna Alignment 1 Attempt to point the antennas toward each other so that the access points communicate with each other through a wireless access point operation Information on verifying the wireless access point operation is covered in 6 3 Preparing for the RF Link Test 2 Make sure...

Page 39: ...nly If both access points show an RSSI reading of 31 they should both have their radio power reduced at the same time After changing the power settings remember to save the setting by pressing F1 and then resetting the access point 6 If the RSSI reading is less than 31 bring it up to maximum by slowly positioning one of the antennas left and right then up and down Because the positioning of one an...

Page 40: ...ectional antenna does not work over long distances Local Access Point RF Configuration DTIM Interval 10 WLAP Mode Enabled BC MC Q Max 10 Max Retries d 15 WLAP Priority 7000 hex Max Retries v 5 WLAP Manual BSS ID 00 00 00 00 00 00 Multicast Mask d 09000E00 hex Multicast Mask v 01005E00 hex WLAP Hello Time 20 Beacon Interval 100 K us WLAP Max Age 100 Accept Broadcast ESSID Disabled WLAP Forward Dela...

Page 41: ...om the local site You should use the compass in conjunction with a topographic map that shows relative positions and elevations of the area Remember to use a compass only in areas away from metal objects or structures You can use Global Positioning System GPS tools to pinpoint locations of the two antenna sites GPS tools are especially useful when sites are not within visible range They can be use...

Page 42: ... LAN see the Regulatory Specifications posted on the Intel customer support website at http support intel com Important Regulatory Compliance Instructions If your country is listed on the regulatory labels included with the Intel PRO Wireless 2011 2011B LAN hardware remove the label for your country and attach it to the bottom of the device in the space provided Failure to apply the label for the ...

Page 43: ...overage 34 DIS 6 E Echo test 8 ESS ID 1 Ethernet 10BaseT cross over cable 19 Ethernet Timeout setting 14 Ethernet Timeout setting 4 21 Ethernet Timeout settings 2 and 3 17 Extended Range setting 32 Extended Service Set Identifer 1 Extended Service Set Identifier 1 Extending radio coverage 4 F Firmware version 1 Functional state 6 9 FWD 6 G Global Positioning System 35 GPS 35 H Hop 4 I Itf State 6 ...

Page 44: ...ess points basic 1 Short RF Preamble setting 2 Signal quality 23 Signal strength 23 Site survey tool 22 Special network settings 19 System Configuration screen 15 T Telnet connection 27 Telnet test screen 29 Timeout settings 18 21 Two hop network 4 Tx Power Control setting 33 Tx rate 23 Tx retries 23 U Underscores RSSI reading 24 V Verify a wireless AP operation 6 Viewing known access points 7 Vie...

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