The roaming feature on the access points allows the access points to relay information about the wireless stations to each other. When a wireless station moves from a coverage area to another, it scans and uses the channel of a new access point, which then informs the access points on the LAN about the change. The new information is then propagated to the other access points on the LAN. An example is shown in Figure 52.
With roaming, a wireless LAN mobile user enjoys a continuous connection to the wired network through an access point while moving around the wireless LAN.
Enable roaming to exchange the latest bridge information of all wireless stations between APs when a wireless station moves between coverage areas. Wireless stations can still associate with other APs even if you disable roaming. Enabling roaming ensures correct traffic forwarding (bridge tables are updated) and maximum AP efficiency. The AP deletes records of wireless stations that associate with other APs
Figure 52 Roaming Example
The steps below describe the roaming process.
1As wireless station Y moves from the coverage area of access point AP 1 to that of access point
2AP 2, it scans and uses the signal of access point AP 2.
3Access point AP 2 acknowledges the presence of wireless station Y and relays this information to access point AP 1 through the wired LAN.
4Access point AP 1 updates the new position of wireless station.
5Wireless station Y sends a request to access point AP 2 for reauthentication.
110 | Chapter 8 Other Wireless Configurations |