Packet Flow Between Cisco PPPoE Access Point (AP) and PPPoE server - SP Wi-Fi

Vinay Sharma · ‎12-14-2012

Introduction

In this document we will see how Packet Flows Between Cisco PPPoE Access Point and PPPoE server. As mentioned in the previous document "

Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi - PPPoE Feature Support", Cisco has come up with bunch of features those were developed to help Service Provider in deploying large network in public area and named it as SP Wi-fi but it does not mean that it is limited to Service Providers. Anybody can use SP Wi-Fi features, it all depends on company’s network and requirements.

PPPoE Active Discovery Initiation – From AP

PPPoE Active Discovery Offer – From PPPoE server

PPPoE Active Discovery Request – From Cisco Access Point

PPPoE Active Discovery Session-confirmation – From PPPoE server

LCP (Link Control Protocol) Request From Access Point

(AP was not configured with MTU under PPP - configuration and supports default -1500)

LCP (Link Control Protocol) ACK

From server for Access Point’s Magic Number

LCP (Link Control Protocol) Request

From PPPoE Server – server sending MTU as – 1492 and magic number

LCP (Link Control Protocol) NAK

From AP because it supports the feature but higher MTU

LCP (Link Control Protocol) Request

PPPoE server again sending request with revised MTU because higher value will be selected

LCP (Link Control Protocol) ACK

Now Access Point acknowledges it

Note – Same way all the supported features of LCP will be negotiated.

IPCP Request

From AP for IP address and DNS

IPCP NAK

From PPPoE server – providing IP Address and DNS IP to the AP

Now Cisco Access Point again sends a IPCP request with the above IP Address and DNS IP (whatever it gets from the server) then PPPoE server acknowledges it.
Same way IPCP Request sent by PPPoE with its IP address and Cisco Access Point acknowledges it.
Peers send rejection of any unsupported feature IPCP config-reject packet.

SP WiFi Updates on Wireless LAN Controller - 7.3 Release

Features and Use Cases in Release 1.0

The main features supported in Release 1.0 include:

• Controlling, securing, and differentiating services through intelligent policies embedded directly in the network or received through open and standards-based control interfaces to the basic service set (BSS)

• Customizing service convergence with zero-touch provisioning across customized networks

• Authenticating and authorizing subscribers using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), RADIUS-based authentication, web logon, Wireless Internet Service Provider roaming (WISPr), MAC address, and IP address

• Controlling and accounting for per-subscriber and per-service use for postpaid and prepaid billing

• Validating high availability under high scale for:

– Number of access points per controller
– Subscriber count
– Call rates
– Load balancers

Cisco SP Wi-Fi Services Overview

Our SP Wi-Fi Services portfolio is a comprehensive set of services representing a holistic approach to the total lifecycle of service provider Wi-Fi engagements. Starting with a proof of concept, it covers the end-to-end spectrum of planning, building, optimization, and operation services, each assured by Cisco service-level agreements (SLAs). These services are flexible and can be customized.
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi Proof of Concept Service
– Demonstration of a centralized management system, with zero-touch service fulfillment for rapid deployments of meshed access points, using a cloud-based architecture hosted in a Cisco data center
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi RF Plan and Build Service
– Professional services from Cisco and our Wi-Fi specialized partners
– Help in planning and deploying the RF components of the Cisco SP Wi-Fi solution
– Analysis of architectural readiness, with guidance on selecting and prioritizing locations for Wi-Fi
– RF expertise to obtain the most from your wireless access points
– Coverage and capacity planning
– Post-deployment RF analysis assistance to promote deployment success
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi Core Plan and Build Service
– Professional services from Cisco and our Wi-Fi specialized partners
– Help planning and deploying the core components of the Cisco SP Wi-Fi solution
– Analysis of architectural readiness and assistance with the SP Wi-Fi deployment design
– Start-to-finish deployment assistance, including a mobile subscriber policy enforcement system
– Pre-deployment validation to help ensure deployment success
– Post-deployment knowledge transfers to help ensure your understanding of the solution
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi Solution Support Service (Reactive)
– Expert assistance to streamline operation of the Wi-Fi architecture
– Quick isolation and remediation of unplanned service disruptions
– Tracking and identification of the root cause of disruptive incidents, which provides valuable information for design changes and to help you scale with mobile subscriber growth
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi Optimization Services (Proactive)
– Expert analysis and recommendations for transforming your Wi-Fi architecture into a high-performing, efficient environment
– Help creating a strategy for managing all the critical components of the Cisco SP Wi-Fi architecture using a suite of Cisco hosted network management applications
– Availability and performance optimization expertise to validate your planned design changes
– Collaboration in developing a strategy for managing software releases and changes
– Continuous learning activities that help your IT staff become more self-sufficient
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi Assurance Service (Preemptive)
– Extension of the measurement and analytical capabilities provided by your Cisco SP Wi-Fi architecture
– Real-time monitoring of various key performance indicators (KPIs) from Cisco network operations center
– Comprehensive analytics using fault, capacity, availability, and performance information to help ensure reliable operations
• Cisco SP Wi-Fi Operate Service (End-to-End Platform Management)
– Monitoring of the managed devices in the your environment to help ensure access points and controllers are properly activated and provisioned
– Management of incident and problem resolution
– Identification of operational trends to continually improve performance

Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi Solution 3.0 Data Sheet