What is the role of GRE in AP communication?

The role of Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) in Access Point (AP) communication is primarily focused on tunneling traffic. GRE is a protocol that encapsulates a wide variety of network layer protocols into a point-to-point connection over an IP network.

In the context of AP communication, GRE allows for the creation of virtual point-to-point links between different remote sites or devices across an IP network. This is particularly useful for carrying traffic that may not be natively supported by the underlying network. For instance, when implementing VPNs or interconnecting different subnets, GRE can be used to encapsulate data packets and facilitate their transport across a network that may have different routing standards or protocols.

This tunneling capability is essential for extending the reach of wireless networks and ensuring that data packets reach their destination securely over potentially insecure or untrusted networks. By encapsulating the data, GRE provides a means of maintaining the integrity of the communication session between APs and clients or between different APs in a network architecture.