Wireless/Redundant Edge Services xl Module Management and Configuration Guide WS.02.xx and greater

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Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
Configuration Options: Normal Versus Advanced Mode
Configuration Options: Normal Versus
Advanced Mode
When the Wireless Edge Services xl Module deploys a WLAN’s configuration
to an RP, it assigns the SSID associated with that WLAN to a BSSID on the RP’s
radio (or radios). You can configure the module to assign WLANs to RPs in
one of two modes: normal or advanced. In normal configuration mode, the
Wireless Edge Services xl Module handles mapping WLANs to BSSIDs on all
RP radios. In advanced mode, you must manually assign WLANs to radios and
to BSSIDs.
Normal configuration is the generally recommended option. However, you can
use advanced configuration to restrict certain WLANs to certain areas, to
select which WLANs the RPs announce, or to increase the number of WLANs
supported by your network.
The following sections describe how to use normal mode and advanced mode
configuration. The instructions assume that you have already configured all
of the WLANs for your network and that you are ready to enable them.
Normal Mode Configuration
You almost always use normal mode configuration. In this mode, the Wireless
Edge Services xl Module OS automatically adds enabled WLANs to the default
configuration for adopted radios, matching each WLAN’s SSID to a particular
BSSID. Whenever the module adopts an RP, it deploys this configuration to
the RP.
In normal mode configuration, a Wireless Edge Services xl Module (and its
RPs) can support up to 16 WLANs.
Why Use Normal Mode
Normal mode configuration is simple to use and suitable for most environ-
ments. The deployment is entirely transparent: you simply enable WLANs, and
as soon as an RP is adopted by the module, that RP begins to support those
WLANs.
Unless you need more than 16 WLANs or have a pressing reason to force
certain RPs to support certain WLANs only, you should not deviate from
normal mode.