When is FlexConnect active on an LWAP?

[Mitrixsen]

Hello, everyone.

I've seen some conflicting explanations about FlexConnect so I came here to verify how it really works. Here are snippets of text from my study resources:

One implies that FlexConnect is active and that an AP can locally switch data traffic without the need to tunnel it to the WLC. The other one says that the AP can only switch data locally if the tunnels to the WLC go down.

So which one is correct here?

Thank you.
David

[M02@rt37 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Mitrixsen 

The confusion in the 2 descriptions you've provided comes from one focusing only on the fallback (disconnected) scenario, while the other simplifies the normal operation.

In reality, Flexconect allows for local switching both when the WLC is reachable and when it is not — provided the SSID is configured for local switching. So, the most accurate understanding is that Flexconnect supports local switching by design, regardless of whether the CAPWAP tunnel to the WLC is up, and not only as a fallback when it goes down...

[xWatario]

you got FlexConnect and CAPWAP. 

FlexConnect/Local Switching: Acts like a switch connected to the switch; what does that means, it means that you'll get your traffic forwarded the same way as the wired clients connected to the switch *Local Switching* while having the management over the CAPWAP tunnel to the controller to manage the WAP. 

CAPWAP/Centralized Switching: you're having a capwap tunnel to the controller for both data plane and management plane; traffic is being sent to the controller and it decides how to forward it.