Intel® IXP400 Software
Access-Layer Components: Ethernet Database (IxEthDB) API
Programmer’s Guide IXP400 Software Version 2.0 April 2005
Document Number: 252539, Revision: 007 173
Abbreviations:
FC - Frame Control
DID - Duration / ID
SC - Sequence Control
The usage of the 802.11 frame format depends heavily on the source and immediate destination for
the frame. There are four distinct possibilities:
From STA (station) to STA.
From STA to AP (access point).
From AP to STA.
From AP to AP.
The APIs in the IXP400 software focus on the two latter scenarios (AP STA, and AP AP).
Conceptually, the idea of the platform running IXP400 software to operate as a “Station” and also
take advantage of the 802.3 / 802.11 Frame Conversion feature has limited applicability. This
scenario would entail the platform sending or receiving 802.11 formatted frames via the Ethernet
NPE’s. Therefore the STA STA and STA AP modes are not discussed.
Table 31. IEEE802.11 Frame Control (FC) Field Format
1514131211109876563 2 1 0
subtype type protocol
version order WEP more
data pwr
mgr retry more
flag from
DS to DS
Figure 58. AP-STA and AP-AP Modes
IXP4XX
A
B
C
PCI
AP - STA
802.11
IXP4XX
A
B
C
PCI
802.11
AP
AP - AP
IXP4XX
NPE A
NPE B
N
PE C
PCI
AP - STA
802.11
IXP4XX
N
PE A
N
PE B
N
PE C
PCI
802.11
AP
AP - AP
B3848-001
IXP4XX
NPE A
NPE B
NPE C
PCI
802.3 AP - STA
802.11
IXP4XX
NPE A
NPE B
NPE C
PCI
802.3
802.11
AP
AP - AP
B3848-001