Wireless AP role

Understanding Access point role.

Table 1 Role and Association Matrix
	Root Access Point	Root Bridge (without Wireless Clients)	Non-root Bridge	Non-root Bridge with Wireless Clients	Workgroup Bridge
Root Access Point					X
Root Bridge			X	X	X
Non-root Bridge without Wireless Clients		X		X
Non-root Bridge with Wireless Clients		X	X
Workgroup Bridge	X	X
Universal Workgroup Bridge	X	X

Access Point Role:

·         In the access point role the router accepts associations from wireless clients and non-root devices, such as a non-root bridge

Root Access Point: If the access point provides its clients a connection to a wired network through a wired connection it is said to be a root access point.

·         A device in root mode accepts associations with non-root devices, such as a non-root bridge.

Bridge Role

Wireless bridges provide higher data rates and superior throughput for data-intensive and line of sight applications. High-speed links between the wireless bridges deliver throughput that is many times faster than the E1/T1 lines for a fraction of the cost. In this way, wireless bridges eliminate the need for expensive leased lines and fiber-optic cables.

The wireless bridge can link LANs either through the wired interface or through the wireless interface.

Wireless bridges can be configured for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications.

Root Bridge: The station-role root bridge mode accepts associations with non-root bridge devices and can be set to

accept wireless clients. For example:

wd(config)#interface dot11radio interfacenumber

wd(config-in)#station-role root bridge wireless-clients