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Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points
OL-30644-01
Chapter19 Configuring Repeater and Standby Access Points and Workgroup Bridge Mode
Understanding Workgroup Bridge Mode
Use this command to check the standby configuration:
show iapp standby-parms
This command displays the MAC address of the standby access point, the standby timeout, and the
poll-frequency values. If no standby access point is configured, this message appears:
no iapp standby mac-address
If a standby access point takes over for the monitored access point, you can use the show iapp statistics
command to help determine the reason that the standby access point took over.
Understanding Workgroup Bridge Mode
You can configure access points as workgroup bridges. In workgroup bridge mode, the unit associates
to another access point as a client and provides a network connection for the devices connected to its
Ethernet port. For example, if you need to provide wireless connectivity for a group of network printers,
you can connect the printers to a hub or to a switch, connect the hub or switch to the access point Ethernet
port, and configure the access point as a workgroup bridge. The workgroup bridge associates to an access
point on your network.
If your access point has two radios, either the 2.4-GHz radio or the 5-GHz radio can function in
workgroup bridge mode. When you configure one radio interface as a workgroup bridge, the other radio
remains up. However, both radios cannot be configured to operate simultaneously as a workgroup bridge.
The other radio can either be disabled (shutdown), or be in root (access point or bridge), scanner, or
spectrum mode.
Caution An access point in workgroup bridge mode can introduce a bridge loop if you connect its Ethernet port
to your wired LAN. To avoid a bridge loop on your network, disconnect the workgroup bridge from your
wired LAN before or soon after you configure it as a workgroup bridge.
Note If multiple BSSIDs are configured on a root access point that is designated as the parent of a workgroup
bridge, the parent MAC address might change if a BSSID on the parent is added or deleted. If you use
multiple BSSIDs on your wireless LAN and a workgroup bridge on your wireless LAN is configured to
associate to a specific parent, check the association status of the workgroup bridge when you add or
delete BSSIDs on the parent access point. If necessary, reconfigure the workgroup bridge to use the
BSSID’s new MAC address.
Note Although it functions as a bridge, an access point in workgroup bridge mode has a limited radio range.
Workgroup bridges do not support the distance setting, which enables you to configure wireless bridges
to communicate across several kilometers.