Avaya AP-5, AP-4, AP-6 manual Vlan Workgroups and Traffic Management

SSID, VLAN, and Security Modes

VLAN Workgroups and Traffic Management

Access Points that are not VLAN-capable typically transmit broadcast and multicast traffic to all wireless Network Interface Cards (NICs). This process wastes wireless bandwidth and degrades throughput performance. In comparison, VLAN-capable AP is designed to efficiently manage delivery of broadcast, multicast, and unicast traffic to wireless clients.

The AP assigns clients to a VLAN based on a Network Name (SSID). The AP can support up to 16 VLAN/SSID pairs per radio (based on model type).

NOTE:

The ability to configure up to 16 VLAN/SSID pairs and configure a security mode per SSID is available only for the AP-6, and APs that have an 802.11a/b/g or 802.11b/g Upgrade Kit installed.

The AP matches packets transmitted or received to a network name with the associated VLAN. Traffic received by a VLAN is only sent on the wireless interface associated with that same VLAN. This eliminates unnecessary traffic on the wireless LAN, conserving bandwidth and maximizing throughput.

Traffic Management

In addition to enhancing wireless traffic management, the VLAN-capable AP supports easy assignment of wireless users to workgroups. In a typical scenario, each user VLAN represents a workgroup; for example,

Avaya Wireless AP-4/5/6 User’s Guide 4-135