User's Manual

Draft Copy - CISCO CONFIDENTIAL
1-7
Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point Hardware Installation Guide
OL-2155-02
Chapter 1 Overview
Network Configuration Examples
Network Configuration Examples
This section describes the access point’s role in three common wireless network configurations. The
access point’s default configuration is as a root unit on a wired LAN. The other two possible roles,
repeater unit and central unit in an all-wireless network, require specific changes to the default
configuration.
Note The following network configuration examples apply to both 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz wireless LANs.
Root Unit on a Wired LAN
An access point connected directly to a wired LAN provides a connection point for wireless users. If
more than one access point is connected to the LAN, users can roam from one area of a facility to another
without losing their connection to the network. As users move out of range of one access point, they
automatically connect to the network (associate) through another access point. The roaming process is
seamless and transparent to the user. Figure 1-3 shows access points acting as root units on a wired LAN.
Figure 1-3 Access Points as Root Units on a Wired LAN
Access Point
(Root Unit)
Access Point
(Root Unit)
65999
Wired LAN