Flexible Mode; Roaming Between Access Points - Proxim Harmony 8550 Manual

Flexible Mode

When configured to Flexible, an Access Point will attempt to partner with an AP
Controller during boot-up.
If an AP Controller is found, the Access Point will operate in Dependent mode and
partner with the AP Controller. The Access Point will remain in Dependent mode until
it is rebooted.
If an AP Controller is not found within one minute, the Access Point will operate in
Independent mode and monitor to the network to see if an AP Controller joins the
network. If an AP Controller is then added to the network, the Access Point will partner
with the AP Controller and switch to Dependent mode. The Access Point will remain in
Dependent mode until it is rebooted.
By default, AP Controller Dependence is set to Flexible.

Roaming Between Access Points

If there are multiple Harmony 802.11b Access Points on the network, then a mobile
client may seamlessly roam from one Access Point to another.
Each Access Point creates its own wireless cell or coverage area. This is also known as
a Basic Service Set (BSS). A mobile device can communicate with a particular Access
Point if it is within the Access Point's coverage area.
If the cells of multiple Access Points overlap, then the mobile client may switch from one
Access Point to another as it travels throughout the facility. During the hand-off from
one Access Point to another, the mobile client maintains an uninterrupted connection to
the network. This is known as "roaming."
Multiple Access Points connected to a common Ethernet network form an Extended
Service Set (ESS). All members of an Extended Service Set are configured with an ID,
known as the SSID or ESSID. Mobile clients must be configured with the same SSID
as the Access Points on the network; a client can only roam between Access Points that
share the same SSID.
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