ZyXEL Communications P-334W - Manual (Page 95)

Prestige 334W User’s Guide
Wireless Configuration and Roaming 7-7
The roaming feature on the access points allows the access points to relay information about the wireless
stations to each other. When a wireless station moves from a coverage area to another, it scans and uses the
channel of a new access point, which then informs the access points on the LAN about the change. The new
information is then propagated to the other access points on the LAN. An example is shown in Figure 7-6.
If the roaming feature is not enabled on the access points, information is not communicated between the
access points when a wireless station moves between coverage areas. The wireless station may not be able to
communicate with other wireless stations on the network and vice versa.
Figure 7-6 Roaming Example
The steps below describe the roaming process.
Step 1. As wireless station Y moves from the coverage area of access point P1 to that of access point
P2, it scans and uses the signal of access point P2.
Step 2. Access point P2 acknowledges the presence of wireless station Y and relays this information to
access point P1 through the wired LAN.
Step 3. Access point P1 updates the new position of wireless station.
Step 4. Wireless station Y sends a request to access point P2 for re-authentication.