User Guide

Adding a Local Switch 31
CHAPTER 5
Adding a Local Switch
This chapter explains how to expand your network by adding a
local switch to a master switch configuration. Typically, this is
the first expansion of the network beyond a network with just
one switch (which is a master switch by default). This chapter is
a basic-level discussion of creating master-local switch
configurations. More complicated multi-switch configurations are
discussed in other chapters. For example, for information on
configuring redundant switches, see “Configuring Redundancy”
on page 17.
A single Wireless LAN configuration, the master switch is the
switch which controls the RF and security settings of the
Wireless LAN network. Additional switches to the same Alcatel
Wireless LAN will serve as local switches to the master switch.
The local switch operates independently of the master switch and
depends on the master switch only for its security and RF
settings (the global settings across the network like RF, user
policies, and authentication settings). The Layer-2 and Layer-3
configurations are configured on the local switch and are
independent of the master switch. The local switch needs to have
connectivity to the master switch at all times to ensure that any
changes on the master are propagated to the local switch.
Some of the common reasons to move from a single to a multi
switch-environment include:
z
Scaling to include a larger coverage area
z Setting up a branch office switch
z Network requirements to re-distribute APs from a single
switch to multiple switches
The addition of a local switch could also become necessary
depending on the network setup and connectivity specific to the
network topology at hand.