Roamabout Ap - Enterasys 802.11 Networking Manual

RoamAbout AP

RoamAbout AP

This guide addresses the different RoamAbout AP hardware platforms: RoamAbout
Access Point (sometimes referred to as Classic), RoamAbout Access Point 2000, and
RoamAbout R2 Wireless Access Platform. Unless otherwise specified, AP refers to all the
RoamAbout AP platforms.
The RoamAbout Access Point Classic is no longer available; however, a number of the
Access Point 2000 reference information and procedures apply to the Classic platform.
The RoamAbout Access Point 2000 is a wired to wireless bridge. One port connects to an
Ethernet LAN. The other port connects to a wireless network. The wireless connection is
provided by a RoamAbout 802.11 DS compliant PC Card.
The RoamAbout R2 is an expandable wireless access platform designed to support
existing, and future, radio technologies and networking requirements.
The RoamAbout AP provides the following basic bridging services. See Chapter 2 for
descriptions of wireless LAN, security and management features.
Store-and-forward capability
The AP receives, checks, and transmits frames to other LANs, enabling the
configuration of extended LANs.
Frame filtering based on address
Using the address database and the source and destination addresses from incoming
frames, the AP isolates traffic that does not need to be forwarded to, or should not be
allowed on, other LANs. This action reduces the total data traffic on an extended LAN
and thus increases bandwidth efficiency.
Data Link layer relay
The AP operates at the Data Link layer of the Open System Interconnection (OSI)
model. Operation at this layer makes the AP transparent to the protocols that use the
LAN connectivity service. This protocol transparency is a key factor in the extended
LAN service.
1-2