Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) Protocol Binding for IEEE 802.11
RFC 5416

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Network Working Group                                    P. Calhoun, Ed.
Request for Comments: 5416                           Cisco Systems, Inc.
Category: Standards Track                             M. Montemurro, Ed.
                                                      Research In Motion
                                                         D. Stanley, Ed.
                                                          Aruba Networks
                                                              March 2009

  Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) Protocol
                        Binding for IEEE 802.11

Status of This Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

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Calhoun, et al.             Standards Track                     [Page 1]
RFC 5416        CAPWAP Protocol Binding for IEEE 802.11       March 2009

Abstract

   Wireless LAN product architectures have evolved from single
   autonomous access points to systems consisting of a centralized
   Access Controller (AC) and Wireless Termination Points (WTPs).  The
   general goal of centralized control architectures is to move access
   control, including user authentication and authorization, mobility
   management, and radio management from the single access point to a
   centralized controller.

   This specification defines the Control And Provisioning of Wireless
   Access Points (CAPWAP) Protocol Binding Specification for use with
   the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network protocol.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................4
      1.1. Goals ......................................................5
      1.2. Conventions Used in This Document ..........................5
      1.3. Terminology ................................................5
   2. IEEE 802.11 Binding .............................................7
      2.1. CAPWAP Wireless Binding Identifier .........................7
      2.2. Split MAC and Local MAC Functionality ......................7
           2.2.1. Split MAC ...........................................7
           2.2.2. Local MAC ..........................................12
      2.3. Roaming Behavior ..........................................15
      2.4. Group Key Refresh .........................................16
      2.5. BSSID to WLAN ID Mapping ..................................17
      2.6. CAPWAP Data Channel QoS Behavior ..........................18
           2.6.1. IEEE 802.11 Data Frames ............................18
                  2.6.1.1. 802.1p Support ............................19
                  2.6.1.2. DSCP Support ..............................19
           2.6.2. IEEE 802.11 MAC Management Messages ................21
      2.7. Run State Operation .......................................21
   3. IEEE 802.11 Specific CAPWAP Control Messages ...................21
      3.1. IEEE 802.11 WLAN Configuration Request ....................22
      3.2. IEEE 802.11 WLAN Configuration Response ...................23
   4. CAPWAP Data Message Bindings ...................................23
   5. CAPWAP Control Message Bindings ................................25
      5.1. Discovery Request Message .................................25
      5.2. Discovery Response Message ................................25
      5.3. Primary Discovery Request Message .........................25
      5.4. Primary Discovery Response Message ........................26
      5.5. Join Request Message ......................................26