User's Manual

3/11/05 Management Interface
OL-7426-02
Series lightweight access point communications, regardless of the number of physical Distribution
System ports.
Also as described in Layer 2 and Layer 3 LWAPP Operation, when the LWAPP communications are set to
Layer 3 (different subnet) operation, the Distribution System must have one Management Interface to
control all inter-Cisco Wireless LAN Controller communications, and must have one AP-Manager
Interface to control all Cisco Wireless LAN Controller-to-Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point
communications, regardless of the number of physical Distribution System ports.
Each physical Distribution System port can also have between one and 512 Operator-Defined Interfaces
assigned to it. Each Operator-Defined Interface is individually configured, and allows VLAN communica-
tions to exist on the Distribution System port(s).
Refer to the Configuring the Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers section for configuration instructions.
About the Management InterfaceManagement Interface
The logical Management Interface controls Layer 2 communications between Cisco Wireless LAN
Controllers and Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points.
The Management Interface is assigned to one physical port (Cisco SWAN Wired Connections
), through
which it communicates with other network devices and other access points. However, the Management
Interface can also communicate through all other physical ports except the front-panel Service Port as
follows:
• Sends messages through the Layer 2 network to autodiscover and communicate with other
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers through all physical ports except the front-panel Service Port
.
• Listens across the Layer 2 network for Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point LWAPP polling
messages to autodiscover, associate with, and communicate with as many Cisco 1000 Series
lightweight access points as it can.
The Management Interface uses the burned-in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Distribution System MAC
address, and must be configured for the following:
• VLAN assignment.
• Fixed IP Address, IP netmask, and default gateway.
• Physical port assignment.
• Primary and Secondary DHCP Servers.
• Access Control List, if required.
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.
Note: Should a Cisco Wireless LAN Controller fail, its dropped Cisco 1000 Series
lightweight access points poll the network for another Cisco Wireless LAN Controller.
When an online Cisco Wireless LAN Controller has any remaining Cisco 1000 Series
lightweight access point ports, the Management Interface listens to the network for
Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point polling messages to autodiscover,
associate with, and communicate with as many Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access
points as it can. Refer to the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Failover Protection
section
for more information.
Note: The Management Interface cannot be assigned to the dedicated Cisco 4100
Series Wireless LAN Controller front-panel Service Port.