User's Manual

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Cisco 3200 Series Wireless MIC Software Configuration Guide

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Chapter 1 Overview

Understanding the Cisco Mobile Wireless Network

This section provides basic wireless network configuration descriptions and an example of a metro

mobile network. The 2.4-GHz WMIC has a fixed channel spacing and bandwidth of 20-MHz. The

4.9-GHz WMIC can be configured for different channel spacings or bandwidths of 5-MHz, 10-MHz, or

20-MHz. These channels are designed to be non overlapping and non-interfering.

Network Configuration Descriptions

This section describes the role of a Cisco 3200 Series Mobile Access Router in common wireless

configurations: access point mode, point-to-point bridging, point-to-multipoint bridging, redundant

bridging, and workgroup bridge mode.

Root Bridge–accepts associations from workgroup bridges, non-root bridges, and clients

Root Access Point–accepts assocations from workgroup bridge and clients

Workgroup Bridge–associates to root access points or root bridges

Non-Root Bridge–associates to root bridges

Access Point Mode

You can configure the WMIC as an access point. In the access point mode, the WMIC accepts

associations from local client devices. See Chapter 4, “Configuring Radio Settings,” for instructions on

configuring the WMIC as an access point.

Figure 1-1 shows a typical scenario where the WMIC functions as an access point.

Figure 1-1 Access Point Mode

Point-to-Point Bridging

In a point-to-point configuration, a non-root bridge associates to a root bridge. The WMIC listens for

another bridge. If it does not recognize another bridge, the WMIC becomes a root bridge. If it recognizes

another bridge, it becomes a non-root bridge associated to the bridge it recognizes.

Figure 1-2 shows bridges in a point-to-point configuration.

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