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Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide
OL-8335-02
Chapter3 Configuring Ports and Interfaces
Overview of Ports and Interfaces
• The Cisco WiSM has eight gigabit Ethernet distribution system ports, which are located on the
Catalyst 6500 switch backplane. Through these ports, the controller can support up to 300 access
points.
• The Controller Network Module within the Cisco 28/37/38xx Series Integrated Services Routers has
one Fast Ethernet distribution system port, which is located on the router backplane. Through this
port, the controller can support up to six access points.
Note Refer to the “Configuring a 4400 Series Controller to Support More Than 48 Access Points” section on
page 3-30 if you want to configure your Cisco 4400 series controller to support more than 48 access
points.
Each distribution system port is, by default, an 802.1Q VLAN trunk port. The VLAN trunking
characteristics of the port are not configurable.
Note Some controllers support link aggregation (LAG), which bundles all of the controller’s distribution
system ports into a single 802.3ad port channel. Cisco 4400 series controllers support LAG in software
release 3.2 and higher, and LAG is enabled automatically on the Cisco WiSM controllers. Refer to the
“Enabling Link Aggregation” section on page 3-27 for more information.
Service Port
Cisco 4100 and 4400 series controllers also have a 10/100 copper Ethernet service port. The service port
is controlled by the service-port interface and is reserved for out-of-band management of the controller
and system recovery and maintenance in the event of a network failure. It is also the only port that is
active when the controller is in boot mode. The service port is not capable of carrying 802.1Q tags, so it
must be connected to an access port on the neighbor switch. Use of the service port is optional.
Note The Cisco WiSM’s 4404 controllers use the service port for internal protocol communication between
the controllers and the Supervisor 720.
Note The Cisco 2000 series controller and the controller in the Cisco Integrated Services Router do not have
a service port.
Note The service port is not auto-sensing. You must use the correct straight-through or crossover Ethernet
cable to communicate with the service port.