Specifications

Altitude 35x0 Access Point Product Reference Guide 17
and are viewable using a single (customer installed) extended light pipe, adjusted as required to suit
above the ceiling installations. An AP3550 model access point houses four LEDs on the bottom/back
side of the unit.
Mesh Networking
Utilize the new mesh networking functionality to allow the access point to function as a bridge to
connect two Ethernet networks or as a repeater to extend your network’s coverage area without
additional cabling. Mesh networking is configurable in two modes. It can be set in a wireless client
bridge mode and/or a wireless base bridge mode (which accepts connections from client bridges).
These two modes are not mutually exclusive.
In client bridge mode, the access point scans to find other access points using the selected WLAN’s
ESSID. The access point must go through the association and authentication process to establish a
wireless connection. The mesh networking association process is identical to the access point’s MU
association process. Once the association/authentication process is complete, the wireless client adds the
connection as a port on its bridge module. This causes the access point (in client bridge mode) to begin
forwarding configuration packets to the base bridge. An access point in base bridge mode allows the
access point radio to accept client bridge connections.
The two bridges communicate using the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). The spanning tree determines the
path to the root and detects if the current connection is part of a network loop with another connection.
Once the spanning tree converges, both access points begin learning which destinations reside on which
side of the network. This allows them to forward traffic intelligently.
After the access point (in client bridge mode) establishes at least one wireless connection, it will begin
beaconing and accepting wireless connections (if configured to support mobile users). If the access point
is configured as both a client bridge and a base bridge, it begins accepting client bridge connections. In
this way, the mesh network builds itself over time and distance.
Once the access point (in client bridge mode) establishes at least one wireless connection, it establishes
other wireless connections in the background as they become available. In this way, the access point can
establish simultaneous redundant links. An access point (in client bridge mode) can establish up to 3
simultaneous wireless connections with other AP3510s or AP3550s. A client bridge always initiates the
connections and the base bridge is always the acceptor of the mesh network data proliferating the
network.
Since each access point can establish up to 3 simultaneous wireless connections, some of these
connections may be redundant. In that case, the STP algorithm determines which links are the
redundant links and disables the links from forwarding.
The mesh network using AP35xx is managed by the Extreme Networks Summit WM3000 series
controller. For an overview on setting up a mesh network from the Summit WM3000 series controller as
well as details on configuring other mesh parameters from the access point CLI, see the "Summit
WM3000 Series Controller System Reference Guide, Software Version 4.0".
Additional LAN Subnet
In a typical small office environment (wherein a wireless network is available along with a production
WLAN) it is frequently necessary to segment a LAN into two subnets. Consequently, a second LAN is
necessary to “segregate” wireless traffic.