Understanding clusteringA key feature of the Gateway 7001 Series self-managed AP is the ability to form a dynamic, configuration-aware group (called a cluster) with other Gateway access points in a network in the same subnet.
Access points can participate in a peer-to-peer cluster which makes it easier for you to deploy, administer, and secure your wireless network. The cluster provides a single point of administration and lets you view the deployment of access points as a single wireless network rather than a series of separate wireless devices.
What is a cluster?A cluster is a group of access points which are coordinated as a single group through Gateway 7001 Series self-managed AP administration. You cannot create multiple clusters on a single wireless network (SSID).
Only one cluster per wireless network is supported.
How many APs can a cluster support?The Gateway 7001 Series self-managed AP can support up to eight access points in a cluster at any one time. If a new AP is added to a network with a cluster that is already at full capacity, the new AP is added in stand-alone mode. Note that when the cluster is full, extra APs are added in stand-alone mode regardless of the configuration policy in effect for new access points.
For related information, see “Cluster mode” on page 44, “Standalone mode” on page 44, and “Setting configuration policy for new access points” on page 34.
What kinds of APs can cluster together?A Gateway 7001 Series self-managed AP can form a cluster with itself (a “cluster of one”) and with other Gateway 7001 Series self-managed APs that share some basic characteristics. In order to be members of the same cluster, access points must be Gateway 7001 Series self-managed APs:
■Of the same radio configuration (all dual-band APs or all single-band APs)
■On the same LAN
A dual-band and a single-band AP cannot be members of the same cluster. Therefore, a Gateway 7001 802.11 A+G Wireless Access Point (dual-band) cannot cluster with a Gateway 7001 802.11 G Wireless Access Point (single-band). Also, Gateway 7001 Series self-managed APs will not cluster with non Gateway APs.