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Protocols and Filters
The RoamAbout Access Point has two types of filters:
•
Protocol filter
•
MAC address filter
Use the protocol filter to NOT forward specific protocol traffic to the wireless network,
which can reduce unnecessary traffic and increase the network response time. However,
filtering the wrong protocols can negatively affect the operation of the network. When
solving network problems, you should clear all filters.
Use the MAC address filter to NOT forward traffic being sent to a specific device. The
device can be on either side of the Access Point (wired or wireless). All traffic destined for
the device with the specific MAC address is not forwarded by the Access Point.
These filters are only available using the Access Point Manager program or a Network
Management Station that uses SNMP.
Spanning Tree Protocol
The RoamAbout Access Point uses 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol to prevent network
loops. A loop occurs when there are alternate routes between networks. A loop can cause
bridges to continually forward multicast traffic and degrade network performance.
You can enable or disable the Spanning Tree when in Endpoint bridge mode on Access
Points with the V5.01 or later firmware release. Spanning Tree is disabled when in
Workgroup bridge mode and enabled in Multipoint bridge mode.
In normal LAN-to-LAN operation, keep Spanning Tree ENABLED. You should only
disable Spanning Tree when using an application in a configuration that requires it, such as
using the SmartTrunk feature found on the Cabletron SmartSwitch product line for load
balancing.
Avoiding Bridge Loops in Point-to-Multipoint Configurations
It is important to avoid Point-to-Multipoint configurations that will cause bridge loops. A
bridge loop occurs when two parallel network paths are created between any two LANs,
causing packets to be continuously regenerated through both parallel paths. This situation
eventually renders the network unusable due to the excessive traffic that is being generated
by the loop. The Access Point spanning tree function corrects this type of problem by
shutting down the bridge and possibly shutting down a segment of the network.
Understanding Wireless Network Characteristics 2-15
Spanning Tree Protocol
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