Description: This MIB is intended to be implemented on all those devices operating as Central controllers, that terminate the Light Weight Access Point Protocol tunnel from Cisco Light-weight LWAPP Access Points.

Information provided by this MIB is about the configuration and monitoring of 802.11 wireless clients in the network.

The relationship between CC and the LWAPP APs can be depicted as follows:

+......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ + + + + + + + + + CC + + CC + + CC + + CC + + + + + + + + + +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ + + + + + + + + + + + AP + + AP + + AP + + AP + + AP + + + + + + + + + + + +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ + + + + + + + + + + + MN + + MN + + MN + + MN + + MN + + + + + + + + + + + +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+ +......+

The LWAPP tunnel exists between the controller and the APs. The MNs communicate with the APs through the protocol defined by the 802.11 standard.

LWAPP APs, upon bootup, discover and join one of the controllers and the controller pushes the configuration, that includes the WLAN parameters, to the LWAPP APs. The APs then encapsulate all the 802.11 frames from wireless clients inside LWAPP frames and forward the LWAPP frames to the controller.

GLOSSARY

Access Point ( AP )

An entity that contains an 802.11 medium access control ( MAC ) and physical layer ( PHY ) interface and provides access to the distribution services via the wireless medium for associated clients.

LWAPP APs encapsulate all the 802.11 frames in LWAPP frames and sends them to the controller to which it is logically connected.

Basic Service Set ( BSS )

Coverage area of one access point is called a BSS. An access point (AP) acts as a master to control the clients within that BSS.

Clear To Send (CTS)

Refer to the description of RTS.

Light Weight Access Point Protocol ( LWAPP )

This is a generic protocol that defines the communication between the Access Points and the Central Controller.

MAC Service Data Units ( MSDU )

The MSDU is that unit of data received from the logical link control ( LLC ) sub-layer which lies above the medium access control ( MAC ) sub-layer in a protocol stack.

Message Integrity Code ( MIC )

A value generated by a symmetric key cryptographic function. If the input data are changed, a new value cannot be correctly computed without knowledge of the symmetric key. Thus, the secret key protects the input data from undetectable alteration.

Mobile Node ( MN )

A roaming 802.11 wireless device in a wireless network associated with an access point. Mobile Node, Mobile Station(Ms) and client are used interchangeably.

Request To Send ( RTS )

A client wishing to send data initiates the process by sending a Request To Send (RTS) frame. The destination client replies with a Clear To Send (CTS) frame.

Wireless local-area network ( WLAN ) A local-area network that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate between nodes.

Service Set Identifier (SSID) A service set identifier is a name that identifies a particular 802.11 wireless LAN. A client device receives broadcast messages from all access points within range advertising their SSIDs. The client device can then either manually or automatically based on configuration select the network with which to associate. The SSID can be up to 32 characters long.

Hybrid Remote Edge Access Point (HREAP) HREAP is a wireless solution for branch office and remote office deployments. It enables customers to configure and control access points in a branch or remote office from the corporate office through a wide area network (WAN) link without deploying a controller in each office. HREAP is also known as flexconnect.

Workgroup Bridge ( WGB ) A WGB can provide a wireless infrastructure connection for a Ethernet-enabled devices. Devices that do not have a wireless client adapter in order to connect to the wireless network can be connected to a WGB through Ethernet port.

KTS (Key Telephone System)

Key Telephone System is an alternative to a private branch exchange (PBX) phone system. A KTS is equipped with several buttons that allow a caller to directly select outgoing lines or incoming calls, and use intercom and conference facilities.

REFERENCE

[1] Wireless LAN Medium Access Control ( MAC ) and Physical Layer ( PHY ) Specifications

[2] Draft-obara-capwap-lwapp-00.txt, IETF Light Weight Access Point Protocol