User's Manual

3/11/05 Cisco SWAN Wired Connections
OL-7426-02
About Cisco SWAN Wired ConnectionsCisco SWAN Wired Connections
The Cisco SWAN components communicate with each other using industry-standard Ethernet cables
and connectors. The following sections contain details of the Cisco SWAN wired connections.
Between Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and Cisco 1000 Series Lightweight Access PointsBetween Cisco Wireless LAN
Controllers and Cisco 1000 Series Lightweight Access Points
The Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controller connects to the network using two fiber-optic GigE
cables: two redundant GigE connections to bypass single network failures. At any given time one of the
Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controller GigE connections is active and the other is passive. Upon a
network failure, the active connection becomes passive, and the passive connection becomes active.
Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controllers operate in Appliance Mode
, and do not connect directly to
any access points. The Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points communicate with the Cisco 4100
Series Wireless LAN Controller through the network.
The standard CAT-5 cable can also be used to conduct power for the Cisco 1000 Series lightweight
access points from a network device equipped with Power Over Ethernet
(PoE) capability. This power
distribution plan can be used to reduce the cost of individual AP power supplies and related cabling.
Between Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controllers and Other Network DevicesBetween Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controllers and Other Network Devices
The Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controller connects to the network using two front-panel fiber-optic
GigE cables: two redundant GigE connections to bypass single network failures. At any given time one
of the Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controller GigE connections is active and the other is passive.
Upon a network failure, the active connection becomes passive, and the passive connection becomes
active.
About Cisco SWAN WLANsCisco SWAN WLANs
The Cisco SWAN can control up to 16 Wireless LANs for Cisco 1000 Series IEEE 802.11a/b/g Light-
weight Access Points. Each WLAN has a separate WLAN ID (1 through 16), a separate WLAN SSID
(WLAN Name), and can be assigned unique security policies.
The Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points broadcast all active Cisco SWAN WLAN SSIDs and
enforce the policies defined for each WLAN.
Note that many enterprises use different WLANs to separate traffic for different sections or
departments.
CAUTION: Cisco recommends that you assign one set of VLANs for WLANs and a
different set of VLANs for Management Interfaces to ensure that Cisco Wireless LAN
Controllers properly route VLAN traffic.