LANCOM WLC
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4006 - LANCOM WLC
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4025
Chapter 1: Introduction
14
EN
LAN, data can also be directly routed into special VLANs, which makes it very
easy to set up closed networks, such as for guest access accounts.
1.1.3
Communication between the Access Point and the WLAN
Controller
As of firmware version LCOS 7.20 there is a difference between
LANCOM Access Points (e. g. the LANCOM L-54ag) and LANCOM
Wireless Routers (e. g. the LANCOM 1811 Wireless) with regard to the
ex-factory standard settings in the WLAN modules. In the following
specifications, the general term Access Point will be used for the most
part.
Communication between an Access Point and the WLAN Controller is always
initiated by the Access Point. In the following cases, the devices search for a
WLAN Controller that can assign a configuration to them:
A LANCOM Access Point has the factory settings and is not yet configured.
In these settings the WLAN modules are deactivated; the Access Point
searches for a WLAN Controller in the LAN.
A LANCOM Access Point is already configured; at least one WLAN module
is manually set to operate as 'managed' (’Configuring the Access Points’
Page 79). The Access Point searches for a WLAN Controller in the LAN
on behalf of the one or more corresponding WLAN modules.
A LANCOM Wireless Router is already configured; the operating mode is
manually set to 'managed' for at least one WLAN module. The wireless
router searches for a WLAN Controller in the LAN on behalf of the one or
more corresponding WLAN modules.
CAPWAP tunneling and layer- 3 roaming
From one of the later LCOS versions, LANCOM WLAN Controllers also support transfer of the
payload data through a CAPWAP tunnel.
This allows selected applications such as VoIP to be routed via the central WLAN
Controller, for example. If WLAN clients change to a different radio cell, the underlying IP
connection will not be interrupted because it continues to be managed by the central
WLAN Controller (layer-3 roaming). In this way, mobile SIP telephones can easily roam
even during a call.
Managing data streams centrally can also make configuring VLANs at the switch ports
unnecessary in environments with numerous VLANs because all CAPWAP tunnels are cen-
trally managed on the WLAN Controller.