User's Manual

9-2
Cisco 3200 Series Wireless MIC Software Configuration Guide
OL-7734-02
Chapter 9 Configuring WDS, Fast Secure Roaming, and Radio Management
Understanding WDS
Understanding WDS
The following sections describe WDS even though the WMIC cannot be configured as a WDS server
even when it is configured as an access point. However, when configured as an access point, the WMIC
can use a WDS server and can act as a WDS authenticator (client).
When you configure an access point to provide WDS, other access points (such as your WMIC if it is
configured as an access point) on your wireless LAN use the WDS access point to provide fast, secure
roaming for client devices and to participate in radio management.
Fast, secure roaming provides rapid reauthentication when a client device roams from one access point
to another, preventing delays in voice and other time-sensitive applications.
Access points participating in radio management forward information about the radio environment (such
as possible rogue access points and client associations and disassociations) to the WDS access point. The
WDS access point aggregates the information and forwards it to a wireless LAN solution engine (WLSE)
device on your network.
Role of the WDS Access Point
The WDS access point performs several tasks on your wireless LAN:
• Advertises its WDS capability and participates in electing the best WDS access point for your
wireless LAN. When you configure your wireless LAN for WDS, you set up one access point as the
main WDS access point candidate and one or more additional access points as backup WDS access
point candidates.
• Authenticates all access points in the subnet and establishes a secure communication channel with
each of them.
• Collects radio data from access points in the subnet, aggregates the data, and forwards it to the
WLSE device on your network.
• Registers all client devices in the subnet, establishes session keys for them, and caches their security
credentials. When a client roams to another access point, the WDS access point forwards the client’s
security credentials to the new access point.
Role of Access Points Using the WDS Access Point
The access points on your wireless LAN interact with the WDS access point in these activities:
• Discover and track the current WDS access point and relay WDS advertisements to the wireless
LAN.
• Authenticate with the WDS access point and establish a secure communication channel to the WDS
access point.
• Register associated client devices with the WDS access point.
• Report radio data to the WDS access point.