Requirements For Roaming; Figure 5-6 Roaming Example - ZyXEL Communications ZYAIR G-1000 User Manual

channel of a new access point, which then informs the access points on the LAN about the change. The new
information is then propagated to the other access points on the LAN. An example is shown in Figure 5-6.
With roaming, a wireless LAN mobile user enjoys a continuous connection to the wired network through an
access point while moving around the wireless LAN.
If the roaming feature is not enabled on the access points, information is not communicated between the
access points when a wireless station moves between coverage areas. The wireless station may not be able to
communicate with other wireless stations on the network and vice versa.
The steps below describe the roaming process.
Step 1.
As wireless station Y moves from the coverage area of access point AP 1 to that of access point
AP 2, it scans and uses the signal of access point AP 2.
Step 2. Access point AP 2 acknowledges the presence of wireless station Y and relays this information
to access point AP 1 through the wired LAN.
Step 3. Access point AP 1 updates the new position of wireless station.
Step 4. Wireless station Y sends a request to access point AP 2 for reauthentication.

5.4.1 Requirements for Roaming

The following requirements must be met in order for wireless stations to roam between the coverage areas.
1. All the access points must be on the same subnet and configured with the same ESSID.
2. If IEEE 802.1x user authentication is enabled and to be done locally on the access point, the new
access point must have the user profile for the wireless station.
Wireless Configuration and Roaming

Figure 5-6 Roaming Example

ZyAIR G-1000 Access Point User's Guide
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