Symbol Technologies AP-5131 - Manual (Page 128)

AP-5131 Access Point Product Reference Guide 5-4
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5.1.1 Configuring VLAN Support
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a means to electronically separate data on the same AP-5131
from a single broadcast domain into separate broadcast domains. The AP-5131 can group devices on
one or more WLANs so that they can communicate as if they were attached to the same wire, when
in fact they are located on a different LAN segment. Because VLANs are based on logical instead of
physical connections, they are extremely flexible. By using a VLAN, you can group by logical function
instead of physical location. A maximum of 16 VLANs can be supported on the AP-5131 (regardless
of the AP-5131 being single or dual-radio model). An administrator can map 16 WLANs to 16 VLANs
and enable or disable dynamic VLAN assignment.
VLANs enable organizations to share network resources in various network segments within large
areas (airports, shopping malls, etc.). A VLAN is a group of clients with a common set of requirements
independent of their physical location. VLANs have the same attributes as physical LANs, but they
enable system administrators to group MUs even when they are not members of the same network
segment.
The AP-5131 assignment of VLANs can be implemented using Static or Dynamic assignments (often
referred to as memberships) for individual WLANs. Both methods have their advantages and
disadvantages. Static VLAN membership is perhaps the most widely used method because of the
relatively small administration overhead and security it provides. With Static VLANs, you manually
assign individual WLANs to individual VLANs.
Although static VLANs are the most common form of VLAN assignments, dynamic VLAN assignment
is possible per WLAN. Configuring dynamic VLANs entail the AP-5131 sending a DHCP request for
device information (such as an IP address). Additional information (such as device MAC address
information) is sent to the AP-5131. The AP-5131 sends this MAC address to a host housing a copy
of the Dynamic VLAN database. This database houses the records of MAC addresses and VLAN
assignments. The VLAN database looks up the MAC to determine what VLAN is assigned to it. If it is
not in the database, it simply uses a default VLAN assignment. The VLAN assignment is sent to the
NOTE A WLAN supporting a mesh network does not need to be assigned to a
particular VLAN, as all the traffic proliferating the mesh network is
already trunked. However, if MUs are to be connected to the Mesh WLAN,
the WLAN will need to be tied to a VLAN.