User's Manual
16-2
Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points
OL-11350-01
Chapter 16 Configuring Filters
 Understanding Filters
Understanding Filters
Protocol filters (IP protocol, IP port, and Ethertype) prevent or allow the use of specific protocols 
through the access point’s Ethernet and radio ports. You can set up individual protocol filters or sets of 
filters. You can filter protocols for wireless client devices, users on the wired LAN, or both. For example, 
an SNMP filter on the access point’s radio port prevents wireless client devices from using SNMP with 
the access point but does not block SNMP access from the wired LAN.
IP address and MAC address filters allow or disallow the forwarding of unicast and multicast packets 
either sent from or addressed to specific IP or MAC addresses. You can create a filter that passes traffic 
to all addresses except those you specify, or you can create a filter that blocks traffic to all addresses 
except those you specify.
You can configure filters using the web-browser interface or by entering commands in the CLI. 
Tip You can include filters in the access point’s QoS policies. Refer to Chapter 15, “Configuring QoS,” for 
detailed instructions on setting up QoS policies.
Note Using the CLI, you can configure up to 2,048 MAC addresses for filtering. Using the web-browser 
interface, however, you can configure only up to 43 MAC addresses for filtering.
Configuring Filters Using the CLI
To configure filters using CLI commands, you use access control lists (ACLs) and bridge groups. You 
can find explanations of these concepts and instructions for implementing them in these documents:
• Cisco IOS Bridging and IBM Networking Configuration Guide, Release 12.2. Click this link to 
browse to the “Configuring Transparent Bridging” chapter: 
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/ios122/122cgcr/fibm_c/bcfpart1/bcftb.
htm
• Catalyst 4908G-L3 Cisco IOS Release 12.0(10)W5(18e) Software Feature and Configuration 
Guide. Click this link to browse to the “Command Reference” chapter: 
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/l3sw/4908g_l3/ios_12/10w518e/config/cmd_ref
.htm
Note Avoid using both the CLI and the web-browser interfaces to configure the wireless device. If you 
configure the wireless device using the CLI, the web-browser interface might display an inaccurate 
interpretation of the configuration. However, the inaccuracy does not necessarily mean that the wireless 
device is misconfigured. For example, if you configure ACLs using the CLI, the web-browser interface 
might display this message: “Filter 700 was configured on interface Dot11Radio0 using CLI. It must be 
cleared via CLI to ensure proper operation of the web interface.” If you see this message you should use 
the CLI to delete the ACLs and use the web-browser interface to reconfigure them.










