Method, system and apparatus for creating an active client list to support layer 3 roaming in wireless local area networks (wlans)

Abstract

Techniques are provided for creating an active client list that can be distributed to a plurality of wireless switches. The wireless switches are located in a wireless local area network comprising a registration server, a plurality of active clients, and the plurality of wireless switches. Registration information associated with each of the active clients is communicated to the wireless switches that support those active clients. The registration information associated with each of the active clients from the wireless switches is communicated over an IP tunnel to the registration server. An active client list can then be created using the registration information for each active client. The active client list comprises a record for each active client in the wireless local area network. The record of each client comprises a MAC address of the client, a client IP address of the client, a home switch of the client, a visited switch of the client, inactivity timers for the home switch and the visited switch and location information. The active client list and the registration information for each active client can be communicated to each wireless switch.