Intermec 6710 manual Ethernet Port Filters

SECTION 2 " Features and Functional Overview

The physical connections are on the bottom panel of the access point. The desired Ethernet medium is selectable through the device configuration menus. Section 3, “Installation,” has more information about connecting the access point to Ethernet media. Section 4, “Configuration,” describes how to set the medium through the configuration menus.

Ethernet Port Filters

The Ethernet port can be configured to support a variety of preconfigured and custom input filters. Access points are commonly installed on LANs that carry traffic for wired and wireless devices. Setting filters prevents unnecessary traffic from the wired LAN from being forwarded onto the wireless medium. This is important because common wireless technologies operate at data rates below Ethernet speeds.

Normally, filters are set to pass traffic known to be (or likely to be) destined for wireless stations, and drop traffic not destined for stations requiring wireless connectivity. Filtering occurs in the Ethernet driver software that controls low level operation of the Ethernet ports, minimizing involvement of other functions when unnecessary frames are received. In most installations, the predefined filters are used. The default access point configuration sets no filters. Filter setup is discussed in more detail in Section 4, “Configuration.”

Filtering and flooding control (described on page 2-6) are complimentary but have different functions. Filters allow frames to be eliminated based upon content of the frame, usually the network protocol header fields within the frame. For example, filters can be set to eliminate some or all IP traffic or Novell IPX traffic.

2-86710 Access Point User’s Guide