User guide

GL-10
BreezeNET DS.11b User’s Guide
Manual Version 1.0
With the spanning tree algorithm, all bridges on the LAN exchange special
configuration messages that allow them to:
! Elect a single bridge among all bridges in the connected LAN segments to be
the root bridge.
! Calculate the distance of the shortest path to the Root Bridge.
! Elect a ‘Designated Bridge’ in each LAN segment that will forward packets
between that LAN segment and the Root Bridge.
Select a ‘Root Port’ among all ports of the bridge unit.
The spanning tree algorithm enables bridges to calculate a loop-free subset of the
LAN topology (a tree) that provides the most efficient level of connectivity between
every pair of physically connected Local Area Network segments.
If the ‘shortest data path’ fails, (for example as a result of a physical breakdown), the
Spanning Tree will automatically rebuild the topology within the confines of the
available bridged LAN components.
Station address
The station address is a unique identification designator stored in each BreezeNET
PC Card and Base Station. The addressing system used for station addresses
conforms to the universal MAC addressing convention. The station address is a 12
digit, alphanumeric code, arranged as 6 digit pairs of hexadecimal numbers (see
also ““MAC Address””)
Station Name
The station name is an optional parameter that may be used to designate wireless
devices in the network. The name can help to identify a device in one of the
BreezeNET diagnostic utilities. A station name can consist of up to 31 alphanumeric
characters.
Storm Threshold
An advanced Bridge setup option that you can use to protect the network against
data overload by:
! Specifying a maximum number of frames per second as received from a single
network device (identified by its MAC address).
! Specifying an absolute maximum number of messages per port.
The ‘Storm Threshold’ parameters allow you to specify a set of thresholds for each
port of the Base Station, identifying separate values for the number of broadcast
messages/second and Multicast messages/second.
When the number of frames for a port or identified station exceeds the maximum
value per second, the access point will ignore all subsequent messages issued by
the particular network device, or ignore all messages of that type.
Subnet
A subnet is a logical sub-division of a Local Area Network that has been divided by
means of routers or gateways. A subnet may include multiple LAN segments.
Each subnet is identified by the Subnet Mask.
Note: BreezeNET roaming does not work over routers. To allow mobile stations
to roam between different wireless cells, all wireless stations and access points
must be connected to the same LAN subnet.