Users Guide
Dell PowerConnect W-Series Instant Access Point 6.2.0.0-3.2.0.0 | User Guide 193 | Hierarchical Deployment
Chapter 21
Hierarchical Deployment
In earlier releases of DellW-Instant, aW-IAP could be connected to another W-IAP via the
uplink port through a wired switch. If there is no wired infrastructure (Ethernet connection with a
L3 NAT router), then multiple W-IAPs could not be deployed.
AW-IAP-130 series or W-IAP3WN AP (with more than one wired port) can now be connected to
the downlink wired port of another W-IAP (ethX). You can provision aW-IAP with a single
Ethernet port (like W-IAP-90 or W-IAP-100 series devices) to use enet0_bridging, so that Eth0 is
converted do a downlink wired port. In such single Ethernet port platform deployments, the root
AP must use the 3G uplink.
In this release of DellW-Instant, you can form aW-IAP network by connecting the downlink port
of an AP to other APs. Only one AP in the network uses its downlink port to connect to the other
APs. This AP (called the root AP) acts as the wired device for the network, provides DHCP service
and an L3 connection to the ISP uplink with NAT. The root AP is always the master of the
Instant network. On a single Ethernet port platform, you can use enet0_bridging so that Eth0 is
converted to a downlink wired port and the root AP must have the 3G uplink configured.
Deployment
A typical hierarchical deployment is comprised of the following:
l A direct wired ISP connection and/or wireless uplink.
l One or more DHCP pools for private VLANs.
l One downlink port configured on a private VLAN without authentication for connecting to
slave APs. This port should not be used for any wired client connection. Other downlink ports
can be used for connecting to wired clients.
Figure 139 - Hierarchical Deployment