Appendix K Roaming; Roaming Overview - ZyXEL Communications ZyAir G-2000 PlusV2 User Manual

ZyXEL G-2000 Plus v2 User's Guide
A K
P P E N D I X
Roaming

Roaming Overview

A wireless station is a device with an IEEE 802.11mode compliant wireless adapter. An access
point (AP) acts as a bridge between the wireless and wired networks. An AP creates its own
wireless coverage area. A wireless station can associate with a particular access point only if it
is within the access point's coverage area.
In a network environment with multiple access points, wireless stations are able to switch from
one access point to another as they move between the coverage areas. This is roaming. As the
wireless station moves from place to place, it is responsible for choosing the most appropriate
access point depending on the signal strength, network utilization or other factors.
The roaming feature on the access points allows the access points to relay information about
the wireless stations to each other. When a wireless station moves from a coverage area to
another, it scans and uses the 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 see Figure 233.
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.
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