Nortel Networks 2300 Dual-Homed Distributed Connections to WSSs on One AP Port, AP Boot Process

Configuring AP access points 231

Dual-Homed Distributed Connections to WSSs on One AP Port

Figure 11 shows an example of an AP with a single physical link to a network containing three WSSs.

Figure 11. Single-homed Connection to Multiple WSSs on One AP Port

WSS

WSS

WSS

Network

backbone

In this configuration, the AP sends a boot request on its connected port. WSS switches that are in the same subnet respond to the AP. Switches with high bias for the AP respond immediately, whereas switches with low bias for the AP respond after a brief delay.

If the switches are in another subnet, the AP uses DNS to locate one of the switches, and asks the switch to send the IP address of the best WSS switch to use, based on the bias settings on each switch and the capacity of each switch to add new active AP connections. The AP then requests its image and configuration files from the best WSS switch.

AP Boot Process

An AP access point brings up the link on the AP’s port 1 and attempts the boot process outlined below.

If you want the AP to boot from a specific WSS, you must ensure that only one WSS can respond through the AP’s port 1 with a high bias under normal operation. If the boot process fails to locate any WSS, the AP then attempts the boot process on the AP’s port 2.

Note. The steps below describe the network behavior of a Distributed AP when booting. These steps do not apply to a directly connected AP. The boot process for a directly connected AP occurs strictly between the AP and WSS and makes no use of the network’s DHCP or DNS services.

1The AP sends a DHCP Discover message from the AP’s port 1 to the broadcast address.

2If a DHCP server is present on the subnet or through a router configured to relay DHCP, the server replies with a unicast DHCP Offer message. The Offer message must contain the following parameters:

Nortel WLAN Security Switch 2300 Series Configuration Guide