Getting Started Guide 2007-07

Introduction

A wireless LAN system can provide these services:

■ Association—Mobile users must be able to locate and connect to the

wireless network.

■ Authentication—Typically, users and the wireless access provider should

authenticate each other so that each knows that it is connecting to the

correct peer.

■ Encryption—Wireless network traffic may be encrypted to protect it from

interception.

■ Bridging—Traffic crossing from the wireless network to the wired

network should be placed in the proper subnetwork, or virtual LAN

(VLAN), and appropriately controlled.

As the interface between the wireless and the wired network, the Module

manages these services. After bridging traffic to the wired network, the

Module can also provide Layer 3 capabilities, such as Dynamic Host Configu-

ration Protocol (DHCP) services, Network Address Translation (NAT), and

filtering with a firewall.

Wireless Services-Enabled Switch

A wireless services-enabled zl switch is a 5400zl/8200zl switch with a Module

installed. When used with a number of distributed radio ports (RP) providing

the desired wireless LAN coverage, all of the ProCurve Radio Ports are

centrally managed through the Module. With the addition of a Module, every

wired port in a 5400zl/8200zl switch can support both wired and wireless

network traffic.

VLANs

VLANs on the zl switch create paths between the Module, radio ports, and the

network. The Module requires two VLANs: Radio Port VLANs and Uplink

VLANs. The Radio Port VLAN sends and receives radio port traffic. Uplink

VLANs are used to send and receive traffic from the network.

The Radio Port VLAN provides connectivity to the radio ports and client

stations. Radio ports must be members of the Radio Port VLAN to be adopted

by and communicate with a Module. When software version K.12.40 (or later)

is loaded, the ProCurve zl switch uses LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol)

and auto-provisioning to create a default Radio Port VLAN (VID 2100) when

a radio port is connected directly to the switch. Auto-provisioning also creates

a default Radio Port VLAN when a Module is detected in a zl switch chassis.

If VLAN2100 is unavailable, the next available VLAN is used.