802.1d and 802.11b

Hi,

My company has recently begun implementing wireless networks
using Cisco equipment.

Base on my reading, it looks like you should not use Spanning
Tree Protocol with wireless access points, only with wireless bridges.

I'm guessing that either (1) access points don't communicate
with each other over the radio interface, so bridge loops are not
possible or (2) the access points have some other method of loop
prevention that is more appropriate to wireless networks.

On my 1200 AP, the following is listed under the radio interface
configuration:

bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control

What does this command do?

Which do you think of my above assumptions is correct?

Thanks in advance,

Todd Blum

 

: Base on my reading, it looks like you should not use Spanning
:Tree Protocol with wireless access points, only with wireless bridges.

: I'm guessing that either (1) access points don't communicate
:with each other over the radio interface, so bridge loops are not
ossible

True, but then enabling STP would at most mean some inefficiency,
so I suspect a different explanation.

r (2) the access points have some other method of loop
revention that is more appropriate to wireless networks.

Possibly.


: On my 1200 AP, the following is listed under the radio interface
:configuration:

: bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control

: What does this command do?

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td...csspts/b12211ja/b12211cr/cr11main.htm#2469483

Use the bridge-group subscriber-loop-control configuration
interface command to enable loop control on virtual circuits
associated with a bridge group. Use the no form of the command to
disable loop control on virtual circuits associated with a bridge
group.

For Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to function properly,
subscriber-loop-control must be disabled for interfaces
participating in STP.

 

According to 802.11, the access-points communicate with each other through
the Distribution System. The workings of the DS are undefined in the
standard; however, it is explicitly stated that the DS may either wireless
or wired.

Ron Bandes
CTT, CCNP, etc.