Configuration Example - Cisco Mesh Access Points Deployment Manual

Cisco mesh access points, design and deployment guide, release 7.3

Table of Contents

Workgroup Bridge Interoperability with Mesh Infrastructure

• We recommend using a 5-GHz radio for the uplink to Mesh AP infrastructure so you can take advantage

of a strong client access on two 5-GHz radios available on mesh access points. A 5-GHz band allows

more Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and is less polluted. In a two-radio WGB, configure

5-GHz radio (radio 1) mode as WGB. This radio will be used to access the mesh infrastructure. Configure

the second radio 2.4-GHz (radio 0) mode as Root for client access.

• On the Autonomous access points, only one SSID can be assigned to the native VLAN. You cannot

have multiple VLANs in one SSID on the autonomous side. SSID to VLAN mapping should be unique

because this is the way to segregate traffic on different VLANs. In a unified architecture, multiple VLANs

can be assigned to one WLAN (SSID).

• Only one WLAN (SSID) for wireless association of the WGB to the access point infrastructure is

supported. This SSID should be configured as an infrastructure SSID and should be mapped to the native

VLAN.

• A dynamic interface should be created in the controller for each VLAN configured in the WGB.

• A second radio (2.4-GHz) on the access point should be configured for client access. You have to use

the same SSID on both radios and map to the native VLAN. If you create a separate SSID, then it is not

possible to map it to a native VLAN, due to the unique VLAN/SSID mapping requirements. If you try

to map the SSID to another VLAN, then you do not have multiple VLAN support for wireless clients.

• All Layer 2 security types are supported for the WLANs (SSIDs) for wireless client association in WGB.

• This feature does not depend on the AP platform. On the controller side, both mesh and nonmesh APs

are supported.

• There is a limitation of 20 clients in the WGB. The 20-client limitation includes both wired and wireless

clients. If the WGB is talking to autonomous access points, then the client limit is very high.

• The controller treats the wireless and wired clients behind a WGB in the same manner. Features such

as MAC filtering and link test are not supported for wireless WGB clients from the controller.

• If required, you can run link tests for a WGB wireless client from an autonomous AP.

• Multiple VLANs for wireless clients associated to a WGB are not supported.

• Up to 16 multiple VLANs are supported for wired clients behind a WGB from the 7.0 release and later

releases.

• Roaming is supported for wireless and wired clients behind a WGB. The wireless clients on the other

radio will not be dissociated by the WGB when an uplink is lost or in a roaming scenario.

We recommend that you configure radio 0 (2.4 GHz) as a Root (one of the mode of operations for Autonomous

AP) and radio 1 (5 GHz) as a WGB.