Access Port Adoption Process; Quality Of Service - Symbol WS5000 Series System Reference Manual

Figure 1.1 Principal Policies of a WS5000 Series Switch

1.3.3 Access Port Adoption Process

The process in which the WS5000 Series Switch takes on a 802.11 access port and configures it is called
adoption. It includes configuring adoption lists, loading the firmware image on the access port, and configuring
the access port radios according to the switch policy.
The adoption process works as follows:
1. The access port sends a packet to the wireless switch to provide a way for the switch to declare its
intention to adopt.
2. If the switch can adopt the access port, it replies with a message indicating its intention to adopt.
3. After the access port receives the message, it requests a firmware image download.
4. After the firmware image downloads, the access port sends a configuration request packet from the
MAC address of each of its radios. The configuration request informs the switch of the radio
capabilities, including the radio MAC address, radio type, radio serial number, and whether the radio is
equipped with an internal or external antenna.
5. The switch checks the adoption list for policies and configures the radios accordingly. The power,
channel (or if Automatic Channel Selection is enabled—a set of legal channels), BSS IDs, ESSIDs, and
data rates are configured.

1.3.4 Quality of Service

QoS is used to give a user or an application relative precedence or priority over another. QoS applies in the
case of congestion that may occur from excessive traffic or different data rates and link speeds—10Mbps
Ethernet, 100 Mbps Ethernet, 11Mbps Wireless, and so on—that exist in the same network.
If there is enough bandwidth for all users and applications (unlikely because excessive bandwidth comes at a
very high cost), then applying QoS has very little value. When total bandwidth is shared by different users and
applications, QoS is required to provide policy enforcement for mission-critical applications and/or users that
have critical bandwidth requirements.
WS5000 Series Switch Overview
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