Specifications

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol – Summit WM Controller and AP Discovery and other Services
Summit WM20 Technical Reference Guide, Software Version 4.2 13
In this setup there are four different areas in which DHCP must be considered:
Figure 2: Areas needing consideration for DHCP
Table 1: Use of DHCP
Area Description of use for DHCP
A DHCP INFORM messages are periodically sent on all physical ports (esa0-1 on WM1000, esa0-3 on
WM100). DHCP INFORM messages are NOT requests for addressing on that segment. These messages
use DHCP INFORM option 78 to provide information to other Summit WM Controllers deployed on the
same segment.
For setups that use multiple Summit WM Controllers a DHCP server in area A is required to answer
requests for option 78 to allow availability and mobility to work. No addresses will be consumed.
For a single Summit WM Controller setup a DHCP server in this area is not required.
DHCP services for this area MUST be provided external to the Summit WM Controller.
B In general APs that are used with the Summit WM Controller may use either a static or dynamically
assigned IP address.
For APs that are connected to the same subnet as the Summit WM Controller initial discovery can take
place directly using multicast. However, the deployer of the APs may still wish to utilize DHCP
addressing for the APs. Additionally, support for option 78 may be used in this area to aid in the
initial discovery of the Summit WM Controller by the APs.
DHCP services for this area MUST be provided external to the Summit WM Controller.
C For AP deployment networks that are not in the same subnet as the Summit WM Controller there
needs to be some mechanism to allow the APs to find the Summit WM Controller across subnet. The
APs can use a static list of Summit WM Controllers to connect to or use DNS but by far the most
common method is to allow them to use DHCP option 78 to locate a service location protocol (SLP)
director agent that is generally hosted on the Summit WM Controller itself.
In addition, the APs themselves may also be addressed via DHCP in this area.
DHCP services for this area MUST be provided external to the Summit WM Controller.