Do I configure my 1310 Bridge to be used with a Wireless Controller or No Controller?

[bret]

Hi everyone,

We are adding two bridges for a point to point link connecting two buildings. Currently, we have a wireless controller running 4.2.207.0 at the site with several AP's connected and room to spare for the bridges. Should I convert my two 1310's to LWAP and connect them to the WLC, or keep them with IOS? What is best practice if there is a WLC available are there benefits of using the WLC, or cons to using it? I read the bridge becomes an AP when you connect to a WLC which defeats the purpose of buying the bridge if this is the case.

Thanks in advance any help would be greatly appreciated and have a great day!

Bret

[Nicolas Darchis]

As far as 1310 bridges are concerned, I vote for autonomous.

You can join a 1310 to a WLC, but only the "root AP" side.

To manage an AP that is connected to the WLC through a wireless link, it's called mesh mode on WLC and that doesn't fit the 1310.

So really for a point to point bridge, I think IOS works best. That's why IOS is not dead, it still has advantages in some small situations

[bret]

I kinda was thinking the same thing, but you know how it is people ask questions when you present them with ideas, so I wanted feedback. This answers my question and I was kinda leaning this direction as my past bridges have always been with IOS. Thanks for taking the time to help out.

Bret

[Nicolas Darchis]

To give some more examples, Why would you join a 1310 to a WLC ?

In cases where :

-It's an outdoor AP covering a courtyard or sth for normal wireless clients

-Your infrastructure is outdoor but all APs are connected on ethernet and clients are normal clients or WGBs.

So all cases are "root only". And in those scenarios, it just makes sense to use the WLC.

For a root/non-root bridge, it doesn't make sense (it's actually not even possible to control the non-root with WLC).