Configure Access Point for Roaming  

 


What is Roaming?

In a network environment with multiple access points, wireless stations are able to switch from one access point to another as they move between the coverage areas. During this period, the wireless station maintains uninterrupted connection to the network. This is roaming. As the wireless station moves from place to place, it is responsible for choosing the most appropriate access point depending on the signal strength, network utilization or other factors.

 

  


To Enable the roaming feature if you have two or more ZyAIRs on the same subnet. Follow the steps below to allow roaming on your ZyAIR.

1. From the SMT main menu, enter 3 to display Menu 3 – LAN Setup.

2. Enter 5 to display Menu 3.5 – Wireless LAN Setup.

                   Menu 3.5 - Wireless LAN Setup 

     Operaing Mode= Access Point       Edit MAC Address Filter= No
    
ESSID= Wireless                     Edit Roaming Configuration= Yes
    
Hide ESSID= No                      Edit Multiple ESS Configuration= N/A
    
Channel ID= CH06 2412MHz          Edit Bridge Link Configuration= N/A
    
RTS Threshold= 2432                Block Intra-BSS Traffic= No
    
Frag. Threshold= 2432             Number of Associated Stations= 32
    
WEP Encryption= Disable           Breathing LED= Yes

       Default Key= N/A                  Output Power= 17dBm
      
Key1= N/A
      
Key2= N/A
      
Key3= N/A
      
Key4= N/A
      
Authen. Method= N/A
 

                    Press ENTER to Confirm or ESC to Cancel:

 

3. Move the cursor to the Edit Roaming Configuration field. Press [SPACE BAR] to select Yes and then press [ENTER]. Menu 3.5.2  Roaming Configuration displays as shown next.

      Menu 3.5.2 - Roaming Configuration

              Active= Yes
              Port #= 3517


    Press ENTER to Confirm or ESC to Cancel:
 

 


To Enable the roaming feature if you have two or more ZyAIRs on the same subnet. Follow the steps below to allow roaming on your ZyAIR.

1. From the SMT main menu, enter 3 to display Menu 3 – LAN Setup.

2. Enter 5 to display Menu 3.5 – Wireless LAN Setup.

                     Menu 3.5 - Wireless LAN Setup 

     Operaing Mode= Access Point       Edit MAC Address Filter= No
    
ESSID= Wireless                     Edit Roaming Configuration= Yes
    
Hide ESSID= No                      Edit Multiple ESS Configuration= N/A
    
Channel ID= CH06 2412MHz          Edit Bridge Link Configuration= N/A
    
RTS Threshold= 2432                Block Intra-BSS Traffic= No
    
Frag. Threshold= 2432             Number of Associated Stations= 32
    
WEP Encryption= Disable           Breathing LED= Yes

       Default Key= N/A                  Output Power= 17dBm
      
Key1= N/A
      
Key2= N/A
      
Key3= N/A
      
Key4= N/A
      
Authen. Method= N/A
 

                    Press ENTER to Confirm or ESC to Cancel:

3. Move the cursor to the Edit Roaming Configuration field. Press [SPACE BAR] to select Yes and then press [ENTER]. Menu 3.5.2  Roaming Configuration displays as shown next.

      Menu 3.5.2 - Roaming Configuration

              Active= Yes
              Port #= 3517


    Press ENTER to Confirm or ESC to Cancel:

 

field

description

Active

Press [SPACE BAR] and then [ENTER] to select Yes to enable roaming on the ZyAIR if you have two or more ZyAIRs on the same subnet.

Port #

Enter the port number to communicate roaming information between access points. The port number must be the same on all access points. The default is 3517. Make sure this port is not used by other services.

When you have completed this menu, press [ENTER] at the prompt “Press ENTER to confirm or ESC to cancel” to save your configuration or press [ESC] to cancel and go back to the previous screen.

4. Requirements for Roaming

The following requirements must be met in order for wireless stations to roam between the coverage areas.

  1. All the access points and wireless stations must be on the same subnet, configured with the same ESSID and security settings such as WEP.
  2. If IEEE 802.1X user authentication is enabled and to be done locally on the access point, the new access point must have the user profile for the wireless station.
  3. The adjacent access points should use different radio channels when their coverage areas overlap to provide seamless roaming.
  4. All access points must use the same port number to relay roaming information.

To Enable the roaming feature if you have two or more ZyAIRs on the same subnet. Follow the steps below to allow roaming on your ZyAIR.

1. From the Web configurator main menu, Click Advanced->wireless than select roaming tab in wireless page.

2. Select 'Yes' from the pull down menu under Roaming configuration and specify the roaming port.

3. Upon completion click Apply to make configuration take effect.


To Enable the roaming feature if you have two or more ZyAIRs on the same subnet. Follow the steps below to allow roaming on your ZyAIR.

1. From the Web configurator main menu, Click Advanced->wireless than select roaming tab in wireless page.

2. Select 'Yes' from the pull down menu under Roaming configuration and specify the roaming port.

3. Upon completion click Apply to make configuration take effect.

field

description

Active

Use the pull down menu to  select Yes to enable roaming on the ZyAIR if you have two or more ZyAIRs on the same subnet.

Port #

Enter the port number to communicate roaming information between access points. The port number must be the same on all access points. The default is 3517. Make sure this port is not used by other services.

When you have completed this menu, press [Apply] on the bottom of the page for the configuration to take effect.

4. Requirements for Roaming

The following requirements must be met in order for wireless stations to roam between the coverage areas.

  1. All the access points and wireless stations must be on the same subnet, configured with the same ESSID and security settings such as WEP.
  2. If IEEE 802.1X user authentication is enabled and to be done locally on the access point, the new access point must have the user profile for the wireless station.
  3. The adjacent access points should use different radio channels when their coverage areas overlap to provide seamless roaming.
  4. All access points must use the same port number to relay roaming information.