Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Access Point Product Reference Guide (Supporting software release 4.0.0.0-35GRN and later) - Manual (Page 114)

102 Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Product Reference Guide
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Configuring the LAN interface
5
6. Click Apply to save any changes to the LAN Configuration screen. Navigating away from the
screen without clicking the Apply button results in all changes to the screen being lost if the
prompts are ignored.
7. Click Undo Changes (if necessary) to undo any changes made. Undo Changes reverts the
settings displayed on the LAN configuration screen to the last saved configuration.
8. Click Logout to securely exit the Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Access Point Access Point
applet. A prompt displays confirming the logout before the applet is closed.
Configuring VLAN support
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a means to electronically separate data on the same
Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Access Point from a single broadcast domain into separate
broadcast domains. The Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Access Point 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 access
point. 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.
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.
The Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Access Point 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 Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR Access
Point sending a DHCP request for device information (such as an IP address). Additional
information (such as device MAC address information) is sent to the Brocade Mobility 7131N-FGR
half duplex Select this option to transmit data to and from the access point,
but not at the same time. Using a half duplex transmission, the
access point can send data over its LAN port then immediately
receive data from the same direction in which the data was
transmitted. Like a full-duplex transmission, a half-duplex
transmission can carry data in both directions, just not at the
same time.
full duplex Select this option to transmit data to and from the access point at
the same time. Using full duplex, the access point can send data
over its LAN port while receiving data as well.