Understanding Wireless Device Network Roles - Cisco C3201FESMIC-TP= - 3201 Fast EN Switch Mobile Interface Card Expansion Module Software Configuration Manual

Roles and the Associations of Wireless Devices
This document describes the roles Cisco wireless devices can be assigned and how the role of a device
affects its ability to associate or not associate with other wireless devices.

Understanding Wireless Device Network Roles

This section describes the roles a Cisco wireless network device can serve in common wireless network
configurations.
When designing or operating a wireless LAN, the hardware components capacity to form an association
with other elements of the network must be considered. In
association, there is an X where the selected column and row intersect. A blank space indicates an
inability to associate.
Table 1
Root Access Point
Root Access Point
Root Bridge
Non-root Bridge
without Wireless
Clients
Non-root Bridge with
Wireless Clients
Workgroup Bridge X
Universal Workgroup X
Bridge
To change the role of a wireless Cisco device, use the station-role command. For example, the following
command sets the wireless device in access point mode (the default mode of most Cisco wireless
devices):
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Role and Association Matrix
Root Bridge (without
Wireless Clients)
X
X
X
X
wd(config-in)#station-role root access-point
Table 1, if the two components can form an
Non-root Bridge Non-root Bridge with
Wireless Clients
X X
X
X
Workgroup Bridge
X
X