216 | AirGroup Dell PowerConnect W-Series Instant Access Point 6.2.0.0-3.2.0.0 | User GuideWLANs and BonjourIn large universities and enterprise networks, it is common for Bonjour-capable devices to connectto the network across VLANs. As a result, user devices such as an iPad on a specific VLAN cannotdiscover the Apple TV that resides on another VLAN.Broadcast and multicast traffic are usually filtered out from a wireless LAN network to preserve theairtime and battery life. This inhibits the performance of Bonjour services as they rely on multicasttraffic.AirGroup SolutionDell addresses this multicast DNS (mDNS) challenge with the introduction of patent-pendingAirGroup technology. AirGroup leverages key elements of Dell’s solution portfolio includingoperating system software for Dell W-Instant and Dell PowerConnect W-ClearPass PolicyManager.AirGroup maintains seamless connectivity between clients and services across VLANs and SSIDs.The mDNS packet traffic is minimized thereby preserving valuable wired network bandwidth andWLAN airtime.AirGroup also enables context awareness for services across the network:l AirGroup is aware of personal devices. For example, an Apple TV in a dorm room can beassociated with the student who owns it.l AirGroup is aware of shared resources. This might be an Apple TV in a meeting room or aprinter in a supply room that is available to certain users, such as the marketing department.Or, in a classroom, teachers can use AirPlay to wirelessly project a laptop screen onto an HDTVmonitor using an Apple TV.l AirGroup is aware of the location of services through Dell CPPM (Dell PowerConnect W-ClearPass Policy Manager) support. For example, depending on proximity, an iPad would bepresented with the closest printer instead of all the printers in the building. Another exampleis a user in a conference room who wants to use AirPlay to project a MacBook screen on anHDTV monitor using an Apple TV receiver. When that users’ device queries the network for alist of available Apple TVs, the location-aware W-IAP only shows the Apple TV closest to theuser.All of these above filtering options require Dell PowerConnect W-ClearPass Policy Manager(CPPM).l In addition, the W-IAP supports Bonjour services’ filtering options based on VLANs and rolesfor which Dell PowerConnect W-ClearPass Policy Manager is not required.The following table summarizes the filtering options which are described above.Table 37- AirGroup FeaturesFeatures Dell W-Instant Deployment ModelsIntegrated Integrated withCPPMAllow mDNS to propagate acrosssubnets/VLANs Yes Yes
