Systems and methods for integrating wireless local area networks on extended bridges
An information handling system is provided herein. The information handling system includes a controlling bridge having a plurality of bridge ports and at least one port extender coupled to one of the bridge ports of the controlling bridge to form an extended bridge. The port extender has a plurality of extension ports. The information handling system further includes an access point coupled to the port extender such that a wireless association between the access point and one or more stations appears as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access controller system. The access point has a wireless transceiver to communication with the one or more stations. Associated methods are provided herein for providing wireless network access to a local area network.
1. An information handling system comprising:
a controlling bridge having a plurality of bridge ports;
a plurality of port extenders coupled to the controlling bridge as part of an extended bridge, each port extender of the plurality of port extenders including at least one extended port coupled to a corresponding access point such that a wireless association between the corresponding access point and one or more stations appear as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access controller system, each corresponding access point comprising a wireless transceiver to communicate with the one or more stations;
wherein the controlling bridge, the plurality of port extenders, and the corresponding access points appear as an integrated extended service set (ESS) to the one or more stations.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the controlling bridge and the plurality of port extenders are coupled in the extended bridge such that extended ports of the port extenders provide a plurality of logical bridge ports to the extended bridge.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising a first wired station in communication with the controlling bridge, the wireless association appearing to the first wired station as a logical bridge port on the controlling bridge.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of port extenders comprises at least one internal port extender and at least one external port extender, the internal port extender being situated within a controlling bridge housing.
5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one port extender is provided in a device housing with at least one access point.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising an access controller coupled to the controlling bridge and configured to enforce policies of the information handling system.
7. The information handling system of claim 6 , wherein the policies include a station identification policy, a station data collection policy, and an authorization policy.
8. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising a second controlling bridge coupled to the controlling bridge by an interconnect link, implementing a virtual link trunk (VLT).
9. A method of providing wireless network access to a local area network (LAN), the method comprising:
receiving a request to join the LAN from a station at an access point in the LAN;
communicating the request from the access point to a controlling bridge of an extended bridge through a plurality of port extenders, the plurality of port extenders communicating with the access point so that the access point is a logical port on the controlling bridge, each port extender of the plurality of port extenders including at least one extended port, including at least one internal port extender and at least one external port extender, the internal port extender being situated within a controlling bridge housing;
communicating the request from the controlling bridge to an access controller;
granting the request from the station; and
receiving frames from the station on the logical port of the controlling bridge.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the request from the access point comprises receiving an identifier of the station and receiving a credential from the station.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising communicating an identifier and a credential of the station to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the frames received on the logical port of the controlling bridge appear to the access controller as received on a physical port of the controlling bridge.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the local area network is in communication with a wider area network, and the method further comprising transmitting frames received from the station into the wider area network from the local area network.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein a second controlling bridge is coupled to the controlling bridge by an interconnect link, implementing a virtual link trunk (VLT).
15. A method of providing wireless network access to a local area network (LAN), the method comprising:
receiving a frame on a controlling bridge, the controlling bridge being coupled to a plurality of port extenders by a bridge port and forming an extended bridge, each port extender of the plurality of port extenders including at least one extended port coupled to a corresponding access point such that a wireless association between the corresponding access point and one or more stations appear as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access control system, each corresponding access point comprising a wireless transceiver to communicate with the one or more stations;
identifying a tag in the frame that identifies the logical bridge port on the controlling bridge;
transmitting the frame to the logical bridge port;
communicating the frame to a first access point coupled to a first extended port providing the logical bridge port, the first access point appearing to an access controller coupled to the controlling bridge as a wireless port; and
wirelessly transmitting the frame from the first access point to a first station;
wherein the controlling bridge, the plurality of port extenders, and the corresponding access points appear as an integrated extended service set (ESS) to the one or more stations.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tag in the frame conforms to the 802.1BR standard.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first access point and the first port extender are disposed in a device housing.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the controlling bridge is coupled to a second port extender, and wherein identifying the tag indicates to which of the first and second port extenders the frame should be transmitted.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first port extender is coupled to an additional port extender, such that the first access point is coupled to the controlling bridge through the first port extender and the additional port extender.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tag is an E-TAG.