Brocade Mobility RFS7000-GR Controller System Reference Guide (Supporting software release 4.1.0.0-040GR and later) - Manual (Page 15)

Brocade Mobility RFS7000-GR Controller System Reference Guide 1
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Chapter
1
Overview
In this chapter
• Hardware overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
• Software overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Standards support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A Brocade wireless controller is a centralized management solution for wireless networking. It
connects to non-legacy Access Ports through Layer 2 or Layer 3 (Layer 2 is preferable, if the
situation allows it).
Access ports function as radio antennas for data traffic management and routing. System
configuration and intelligence for the wireless network resides with the switch. The switch uses
Access Ports to bridge data to and from wireless devices. The wireless switch applies appropriate
policies to data packets before forwarding them to their destination.
All data packets to and from wireless devices are processed by the switch, where appropriate
policies are applied before they are decapsulated and sent to their destination.
NOTE
Access port configuration is managed by the switch through a Web UI Graphical User Interface (GUI),
SNMP or the switch Command Line Interface (CLI). The discussion of the switch GUI within this guide
is presented generically, making it equally relevant to the Brocade Mobility RFS7000-GR Controller.
However, some subtle differences do exist amongst these baselines. These differences are noted
within the specific GUI elements impacted. When these differences are noted, the options available
to each switch baseline are described in detail.
Hardware overview
The Brocade Mobility RFS7000-GR Controller is a rack-mountable device that manage all inbound
and outbound traffic on the wireless network. They provide security, network service and system
management applications.
Unlike traditional wireless infrastructure devices that reside at the edge of a network, the switch
uses centralized, policy-based management to apply sets of rules or actions to all devices on the
wireless network. The switch collects management “intelligence” from individual Access
Ports/Points and moves the collected information to the centralized switch.
Access ports (APs) are 48V Power-over-Ethernet devices connected to the switch by an Ethernet
cable. An Access Port receives 802.11x data from MUs and forwards the data to the switch which
applies the appropriate policies and routes the packets to their destinations.
Access ports do not have software or firmware upon initial receipt from the factory. When the
Access Port is first powered on and cleared for the network, the switch initializes the Access Port
and installs a small firmware file automatically. Therefore, installation and firmware upgrades are
automatic and transparent.