Chapter 2. Wireless LAN Protocols

Chapter 1, “The Need for Controller-Based Wireless Networks,” discussed the need for a controller-based architecture to support scalable wireless LANs (WLAN). This chapter reviews the relevant industry standards and the bodies that generate them, and introduces the critical protocols that make WLANs work so well.

Because this is an overview chapter in an introductory book, this chapter covers only the critical components of the protocols. This chapter does not provide an in-depth, bit-and-byte walk-through of all the protocol details. The focus of this chapter is on the most important components of the protocols. After you understand the fundamentals and are ready for the gory details, there are some excellent references at the end of the chapter, including books you should have on your shelves or papers that you should refer to regularly.