WESM zl Management and Configuration Guide Supplement 2007-09

Using zl Switch Features for the Module

A zl switch provides support for the Wireless Edge Services zl Module in three

major areas:

■ providing VLANs for network communication, critical for radio-port

adoption and control;

■ initial Module set up; and

■ Module management interfaces

These topics are covered in the following sections.

Configuring zl VLANs for Radio Port Adoption

The set up and configuration of VLANs used for communication between a

radio port and the downlink port of the Wireless Edge Services zl Module is

an essential element in providing wireless services in a network. This

connectivity enables radio port adoption, the foundation for supplying

wireless services. The zl switch software automates much of this VLAN set up

and configuration.

If infrastructure switches are used to connect radio ports to a wireless

services-enabled switch, some manual VLAN configuration is required. You

also may choose to do VLAN set up and configuration manually on the zl

switch as well.

On a zl switch, two methods for automating radio port VLAN set up and

configuration are available:

■ LLDP auto-provisioning (enabled by default), and

■ 802.1X RADIUS-assigned VLANs (disabled by default).

LLDP auto-provisioning and 802.1X RADIUS-assigned VLANs both

temporarily override a port's static configuration while the radio port

connection is active. A port’s static configuration is saved in the switch’s

configuration, but is not applied to the port until override control is

relinquished. Both of these methods can be used simultaneously in a zl switch.