Configuring an AP Cluster

APs operating in both fit mode and standalone mode operate in a cluster setup. A cluster is a group of APs configured to communicate with each other. Mobile users (MU) can seamlessly roam between the APs participating in the cluster. Wireless APs extend basic cluster functions with the following enhancements:

• Client balancing across AP in the Load Group
• Client session synchronization between APs in the Site

APs operating on the same subnet with multicast and IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping enabled can be formed into a cluster. You assign each AP a common, default cluster ID (shared secret).

An AP cluster can exist at any point in your network. Each cluster member periodically (every 30 seconds) sends a secure SIAPP (Siemens Inter-AP Protocol) multicast message to update other cluster members. The SIAPP message includes:

• The AP name
• The AP Ethernet MAC address
• The AP IP address
• The client count
• The base BSSIDs for both radios
• Client session information in a case when APs are members of a Site

Each AP caches locally-stored information about the other cluster members and maintains its own view of the cluster including the client session information in the Site.

To Change an AP Cluster‘s Configuration: