Vlan Capability; Terminal Server Capability; Store And Forward Capability; Peer-To-Peer Capability - GE MDS SD Series Technical Manual

VLAN Capability

A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is essentially a limited broadcast domain, meaning that
all members of a VLAN receive broadcast frames sent by members of the same network, but not
frames sent by members of a different network.
The radio supports port-based VLAN at the Ethernet interface and over the air, in accordance
with the IEEE 802.1Q standard. When VLAN Mode is enabled, the wireless ports of both AP
and Remote radios act as a "trunk port" to carry data.

Terminal Server Capability

The unit's Terminal Server option allows serial port data to be sent over the air in the form of IP
packets. It works by encapsulating data from the serial ( / ) ports as IP packets, then
COM1 COM2
transmitting it over the air. At the receiving end, the data is decapsulated and delivered to the ap-
propriate COM port. The Terminal Server option provides a front-end RTU conversion for TCP
MODBUS Data. See "Terminal Server COM1/2 Configuration" on Page 56 for more infor-
mation.

Store and Forward Capability

Store and Forward (SAF) capability is only available in Packet w/MAC mode. It allows a radio
to store incoming data and retransmit it a short time later to other stations. This can be used to
link outlying Remote stations to the AP when direct communication is not possible due to ter-
rain, distance, or other obstructions.
Communication routes are automatically discovered and traffic is intelligently filtered such that
only store and forward traffic is sent through the SAF unit, conserving critical bandwidth in the
network.

Peer-to-Peer Capability

Peer to Peer capability is available in Packet w/MAC mode only. It allows Remote radios in the
same radio network to pass data indirectly between each other via the AP. When the Peer-to-Peer
functionality is enabled on the Remote, both the Remote and the AP will be able to pass data in
the system. The AP will route data to and from the enabled peers without disrupting AP-to-
Remote specific communications.

Tail End Network Capability

This feature allows the user to send DLINK messages across networks when two radios are con-
nected via the COM1 port (Note that a special cable wiring is required to connect the radios in
the tail-end link). This feature allows Network Monitoring to extend to the Tail end link Network
when operating in Packet w/MAC mode.

Frequency Re-use (System ID)

Frequency Re-use is possible in some applications. SysID (or System ID as it is referred to in the
Device Manager) offers approximately 20 dB of additional co-channel isolation when operating
networks on the same frequency (see Page 41 for more information). Note that proper system
design is required. SysID offers nine unique choices including the default value of . Master
NONE
and Remote radios in the same network must use the same value.
MDS 05-4864A01, Rev. I SD Series Technical Manual 5