Chapter 8 Wireless Configuration
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 other access points on the LAN about the change. An example is shown in Figure 80 on page 142.
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 80 Roaming Example
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Y
The steps below describe the roaming process.
1Wireless station Y moves from the coverage area of access point AP 1 to that of access point AP 2.
2Wireless station Y scans and detects the signal of access point AP 2.
3Wireless station Y sends an association request to access point AP 2.
4Access point AP 2 acknowledges the presence of wireless station Y and relays this information to access point AP 1 through the wired LAN.
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