D-Link DWS-3024 [36/266] Access point to switch discovery

D-Link Unified Access System Software User Manual

02/15/2011

Page 36 Document 34CS3000-SWUM104-D10

Figure 9: Data Center Topology

The data center topology is a good solution in networks where the goal is to add a wireless LAN to a network with minimal

changes to the existing network. Traffic from wireless clients to the APs is either tunneled through the Unified Switch or

tagged with a VLAN ID by the AP and handled accordingly. If the traffic is tagged, it might not pass through the Unified

Switch.

Access Point-to-Switch Discovery

To enable the AP and Unified Switch to discover each other, you can use one of the following four methods:

• Enter the IP address of the Unified Switch into the AP

• Enter the IP address of the AP into the Unified Switch

• Configure the DHCP server to pass the IP address of the Unified Switch to the AP in DHCP option 43

• Use the D-Link Wireless Device Discovery Protocol

The AP-to-switch discovery method you use depends on your network topology. For example, if the Unified Switch and AP

are in the same Layer 2 multicast domain, we recommend that you use the D-Link Wireless Device Discovery Protocol.

These options are discussed in more detail in “Discovering Access Points and Peer Switches” on page 58.

Access Point Placement

D-Link Access Points can be on the same subnet as the switch or on a different subnet. You can connect the AP directly to

the Unified Switch or to another networking device. The range of the D-Link Access Point is about 100 meters, but the range

is affected by various environmental factors.

To maximize the range, use the following guidelines for the placement of the AP:

• Place the AP in an area where you expect wireless clients will operate.

• Elevated locations, such as on top of a shelf are preferred to increase line-of-sight access.

APs

LAN Switch

Data Center

Network

Backbone

Unified Switches