Dell PowerConnect W-IAP175P User Manual

216 | AirGroup Dell PowerConnect W-Series Instant Access Point 6.2.0.0-3.2.0.0 | User Guide
WLANs and Bonjour
In large universities and enterprise networks, it is common for Bonjour-capable devices to connect
to the network across VLANs. As a result, user devices such as an iPad on a specific VLAN cannot
discover the Apple TV that resides on another VLAN.
Broadcast and multicast traffic are usually filtered out from a wireless LAN network to preserve the
airtime and battery life. This inhibits the performance of Bonjour services as they rely on multicast
traffic.
AirGroup Solution
Dell addresses this multicast DNS (mDNS) challenge with the introduction of patent-pending
AirGroup technology. AirGroup leverages key elements of Dell’s solution portfolio including
operating system software for DellW-Instant andDell PowerConnect W-ClearPass Policy
Manager.
AirGroup maintains seamless connectivity between clients and services across VLANs and SSIDs.
The mDNS packet traffic is minimized thereby preserving valuable wired network bandwidth and
WLAN airtime.
AirGroup also enables context awareness for services across the network:
l AirGroup is aware of personal devices. For example, an Apple TV in a dorm room can be
associated with the student who owns it.
l AirGroup is aware of shared resources. This might be an Apple TV in a meeting room or a
printer in a supply room that is available to certain users, such as the marketing department.
Or, in a classroom, teachers can use AirPlay to wirelessly project a laptop screen onto an HDTV
monitor using an Apple TV.
l AirGroup is aware of the location of services through Dell CPPM (Dell PowerConnect W-
ClearPass Policy Manager) support. For example, depending on proximity, an iPad would be
presented with the closest printer instead of all the printers in the building. Another example
is a user in a conference room who wants to use AirPlay to project a MacBook screen on an
HDTV monitor using an Apple TV receiver. When that users’ device queries the network for a
list of available Apple TVs, the location-aware W-IAP only shows the Apple TV closest to the
user.
All of these above filtering options require Dell PowerConnect W-ClearPass Policy Manager
(CPPM).
l In addition, the W-IAP supports Bonjour services’ filtering options based on VLANs and roles
for which Dell PowerConnect W-ClearPass Policy Manager is not required.
The following table summarizes the filtering options which are described above.
Table 37- AirGroup Features
Features DellW-Instant Deployment Models
Integrated
Integrated with
CPPM
Allow mDNS to propagate across
subnets/VLANs
Yes Yes

Dell PowerConnect W-IAP175P Specifications

General

Brand	Dell
Model	PowerConnect W-IAP175P
Category	Wireless Access Point
Language	English