Cisco Systems 3.2 manual Interfaces, Management Interface

Chapter 3 Configuring Ports and Interfaces

Overview of Ports and Interfaces

Interfaces

An interface is a logical entity on the controller. An interface has multiple parameters associated with it, including an IP address, default-gateway (for the IP subnet), primary physical port, secondary physical port, VLAN identifier, and DHCP server.

These five types of interfaces are available on the controller. Four of these are static and are configured at setup time:

•Management interface (Static and configured at setup time; mandatory)

•AP-manager interface (When using Layer 3 LWAPP, static and configured at setup time; mandatory)

•Virtual interface (Static and configured at setup time; mandatory)

•Service-port interface (Static and configured at setup time; optional)

•Dynamic interface (User-defined)

Each interface is mapped to at least one primary port, and some interfaces (management and dynamic) can be mapped to an optional secondary (or backup) port. If the primary port for an interface fails, the interface automatically moves to the backup port. In addition, multiple interfaces can be mapped to a single controller port.

Note Refer to the “Enabling Link Aggregation” section on page 3-27if you want to configure the controller to dynamically map the interfaces to a single port channel rather than having to configure primary and secondary ports for each interface.

Management Interface

The management interface is the default interface for in-band management of the controller and connectivity to enterprise services such as AAA servers. The management interface has the only consistently “pingable” in-band interface IP address on the controller. You can access the controller’s GUI by entering the controller’s management interface IP address in Internet Explorer’s Address field.

The management interface is also used for Layer 2 communications between the controller and Cisco 1000 series lightweight access points. It must be assigned to distribution system port 1 but can also be mapped to a backup port and can be assigned to WLANs if desired. It may be on the same VLAN or IP subnet as the AP-manager interface. However, the management interface can also communicate through the other distribution system ports as follows:

•Sends messages through the Layer 2 network to autodiscover and communicate with other controllers through all distribution system ports.

•Listens across the Layer 2 network for Cisco 1000 series lightweight access point LWAPP polling messages to autodiscover, associate to, and communicate with as many Cisco 1000 series lightweight access points as possible.

When LWAPP communications are set to Layer 2 (same subnet) mode, the controller requires one management interface to control all inter-controller and all controller-to-access point communications, regardless of the number of ports. When LWAPP communications are set to Layer 3 (different subnet) mode, the controller requires one management interface to control all inter-controller communications and one AP-manager interface to control all controller-to-access point communications, regardless of the number of ports.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide

OL-8335-02 3-5