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Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points
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Chapter6 Configuring Radio Settings
Configuring the Ethernet Encapsulation Transformation Method
Configuring the Ethernet Encapsulation Transformation Method
When the wireless device receives data packets that are not 802.3 packets, the wireless device must
format the packets to 802.3 using an encapsulation transformation method. These are the two
transformation methods:
•802.1H—This method provides good performance for Cisco Aironet wireless products.
•RFC 1042—Use this setting to ensure good interoperability with non-Cisco Aironet wireless
equipment. RFC 1042 is used by other manufacturers of wireless equipment and is the default
setting.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure the encapsulation transformation
method:
Enabling and Disabling Reliable Multicast to Workgroup Bridges
The Reliable multicast messages from the access point to workgroup bridges setting limits reliable
delivery of multicast messages to approximately 20 Cisco Aironet Workgroup Bridges that are
associated to the wireless device. The default setting, disabled, reduces the reliability of multicast
delivery to allow more workgroup bridges to associate to the wireless device.
Access points and bridges normally treat workgroup bridges not as client devices but as infrastructure
devices, like access points or bridges. Treating a workgroup bridge as an infrastructure device means that
the wireless device reliably delivers multicast packets, including Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
packets, to the workgroup bridge.
The performance cost of reliable multicast delivery—duplication of each multicast packet sent to each
workgroup bridge—limits the number of infrastructure devices, including workgroup bridges, that can
associate to the wireless device. To increase beyond 20 the number of workgroup bridges that can
maintain a radio link to the wireless device, the wireless device must reduce the delivery reliability of
multicast packets to workgroup bridges. With reduced reliability, the wireless device cannot confirm
whether multicast packets reach the intended workgroup bridge, so workgroup bridges at the edge of the
wireless device's coverage area might lose IP connectivity. When you treat workgroup bridges as client
devices, you increase performance but reduce reliability.
Command Purpose
Step1 configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step2 interface dot11radio {0 | 1} Enter interface configuration mode for the radio interface. The
2.4-GHz radio is radio 0, and the 5-GHz radio is radio 1.
The 802.11n 2.4-GHz radio is radio 0
The 802.11n 5-GHz radio is radio 1.
Step3 payload-encapsulation
rfc1042 | dot1h
Set the encapsulation transformation method to RFC 1042
(rfc1042, the default setting) or 802.1h (dot1h).
Step4 end Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step5 copy running-config startup-config (Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.