MSM7xx Controllers Configuration Guide v6.4.0

Team control channel
The team control channel is a connection that is established between each team member and the
team manager. The control channel is used to exchange team management information. On the
MSM720, it is HP recommends that you use a dedicated port for the control channel.
Firmware updates
The team manager is responsible for enforcing and updating the firmware of team members. An
update to the team manager firmware triggers an update of all members and their controlled APs,
ensuring that the entire network is running the same firmware. The synchronization of firmware
between controllers and APs alleviates any potential issue regarding compatibility.
Centralized monitoring and operation
The team manager is responsible for handling the addition and deletion of controlled APs, including
newly discovered APs. It also displays status information for all team members and their APs, as
well as APs directly connected to the manager. For more information, see “Viewing team members”
(page 266).
Redundancy and failover support
The team provides for service redundancy in case of failure. If one of the controllers in a team
becomes inoperative (due to hardware failure, etc.), its APs will automatically migrate to another
controller in the team allowing for continuation of services. For this to work, sufficient capacity
must be available on the remaining controllers in the team to support the APs from the inoperative
controller. For more information, see “Failover” (page 271).
IMPORTANT:
• When a controller becomes inoperative and failover occurs, all services provided by the
controller are temporarily interrupted. Once failover is complete and services return, users
that were connected to an access-controlled VSC must login again.
• Once failover is complete, APs may not reestablish a control channel with the controller to
which they were connected before failover occurred. They may connect to the same controller,
or another controller in the team.
Scalability
Scalability does not apply to MSM720 controller teams.
Controller teaming enables you to scale up your wireless network as your needs increase. Simply
add additional APs, controllers, and licenses to meet the required demand. Up to 800 APs are
supported per team in its maximum configuration (four controllers x 200 APs per controller plus
one additional controller for backup/redundancy).
Deployment considerations
Controllers/APs
• A controller can only be a member of one team at a time.
• All controllers in a team must be the same model.
• Up to five MSM760, MSM765 zl, or MSM775 zl controllers can be combined into a team,
supporting up to 800 APs (four controllers x 200 APs per controller + one controller reserved
for backup purposes).
• Only two MSM720 controllers can be combined into a team supporting up to 40 APs.
Key concepts 247