Specifications

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Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide

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Chapter 4 Configuring Controller Settings

Configuring 802.3 Bridging

The controller supports 802.3 frames and the applications that use them, such as those typically used for

cash registers and cash register servers. However, to make these applications work with the controller,

the 802.3 frames must be bridged on the controller.

Support for raw 802.3 frames allows the controller to bridge non-IP frames for applications not running

over IP. Only this raw 802.3 frame format is currently supported:

+-------------------+---------------------+-----------------+------------------------+

| Destination | Source | Total packet | Payload .....

| MAC address | MAC address | length |

+-------------------+----------------------+-----------------+------------------------

You can configure 802.3 bridging through the controller GUI in software release 4.1 or later releases and

through the controller CLI in software release 4.0 or later releases.

Note In controller software release 5.2 or later releases, the software-based forwarding architecture for

2100-series-based controllers is being replaced with a new forwarding plane architecture. As a result,

Cisco 2100 Series Controller and the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Network Module for Cisco

Integrated Services Routers (as well as Cisco 5500 Series Controllers) bridge 802.3 packets by default.

Therefore, 802.3 bridging can now be disabled only on 4400 series controllers, the Cisco WiSM, and the

Catalyst 3750G Wireless LAN Controller Switch.

Note By default, Cisco 2100 Series Controllers that run software release 5.2 or later releases and Cisco 5500

Series Controllers bridge all non-IPv4 packets (such as AppleTalk, IPv6, and so on). If desired, you can

use ACLs to block the bridging of these protocols.

Note You can also configure 802.3 bridging using the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS). See the Cisco

Wireless Control System Configuration Guide for instructions.

Using the GUI to Configure 802.3 Bridging

To configure 802.3 bridging using the controller GUI, follow these steps:

Step 1 Choose Controller > General to open the General page (see Figure 4-22).