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Cisco Aironet 350 Series Bridge Hardware Installation Guide
OL-1412-01
Chapter 3 Basic Configuration
Entering Basic Settings
• Root Bridge—One bridge in each group of bridges must be set as the root bridge. A root bridge only
accepts associations from non-root bridges, access points, and client devices. The root bridge cannot
associate with another root bridge.
• Non-Root Bridge w/Clients—Use this setting for non-root bridges that accept associations from
client devices and for bridges acting as repeaters. A non-root bridge (with clients) can connect to a
wired LAN. A non-root bridge (with clients) only accepts associations from non-root bridges, access
points, and client devices. A non-root bridge (with clients) will only associate to another bridge (root
or non-root).
Note Bridges set to non-root do not receive dynamic WEP keys for their data transmissions. Non-root bridges
use the static WEP keys configured in their management systems.
• Non-Root Bridge w/o Clients—Use this setting for non-root bridges that should not accept
associations from client devices. A non-root bridge (without clients) can connect to a wired LAN
and only associates to another bridge (root or non-root).
• Root Access Point—Use this setting to set up the bridge as a rugged access point connected to the
wired LAN. A root access point only accepts associations from non-root access points and client
devices. A root access point cannot associate with another root access point or root bridge. When
you select Root Access Point, the bridge’s Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) function is disabled.
• Repeater Access Point—Use this setting to set up the bridge as a rugged repeater access point. A
repeater access point is not connected to the wired LAN; it is placed within radio range of an access
point connected to the wired LAN to extend the range of your infrastructure or to overcome an
obstacle that blocks radio communication. A repeater access point can associate to other access
points (root or repeater) and bridges (root and non-root with clients). It will accept associations from
other repeater access points and client devices. When you select Repeater Access Point, the bridge’s
STP function is disabled.
• Site Survey Client—Use this setting when performing a site survey for a repeater access point. When
you select this setting, clients are not allowed to associate and the bridge’s STP function is disabled.
Step 11 Select an Optimize Radio Network For option to assign either preconfigured settings or customized
settings for the bridge radio:
• Throughput—Maximizes the data volume handled by the bridge but might reduce the bridge’s range.
• Range—Maximizes the bridge’s range but might reduce throughput.
• Custom—The bridge will use the settings you enter on the Root Radio Hardware page. Click the
Custom link to go to the Root Radio Hardware page.
Step 12 To automatically configure the bridge to be compatible with other devices on your wireless LAN, select
an Ensure Compatibility With option:
• 2Mb/sec clients—Select this setting if your network contains Cisco Aironet devices that operate at
2 Mbps.
• non-Aironet 802.11—Select this setting if the bridge is operating as an access point and there are
non-Cisco Aironet devices on your wireless LAN.
