Configuring Installed APs
APs and AMs are designed to require only minimal setup to make them operational in a user-centric network. Once APs have established communication with the managed device, apply advanced configuration to individual APs or groups of APs in the network using the WebUI on the managed device.
You can either connect the AP directly to a port on the managed device, or connect the AP to another switch or router that has layer-2 or layer-3 connectivity to the managed device. If the Ethernet Ethernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN. port on the managed device is an 802.3af 802.3af is an IEEE standard for Power over Ethernet (PoE) version that supplies up to 15.4W of DC power. See PoE. PoE Power over Ethernet. PoE is a technology for wired Ethernet LANs to carry electric power required for the device in the data cables. The IEEE 802.3af PoE standard provides up to 15.4 W of power on each port. port, the AP automatically uses it to power up. If a PoE Power over Ethernet. PoE is a technology for wired Ethernet LANs to carry electric power required for the device in the data cables. The IEEE 802.3af PoE standard provides up to 15.4 W of power on each port. port is not available, get an AC Access Category. As per the IEEE 802.11e standards, AC refers to various levels of traffic prioritization in Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) operation mode. The WLAN applications prioritize traffic based on the Background, Best Effort, Video, and Voice access categories. AC can also refer to Alternating Current, a form of electric energy that flows when the appliances are plugged to a wall socket. adapter for the AP. For more information, see the Installation Guide for the specific AP.
It is recommended not to connect both the Ethernet Ethernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN. ports of the APs to the uplink switch, because the APs act as DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A network protocol that enables a server to automatically assign an IP address to an IP-enabled device from a defined range of numbers configured for a given network. servers to wired clients when LACP Link Aggregation Control Protocol. LACP is used for the collective handling of multiple physical ports that can be seen as a single channel for network traffic purposes. is not configured on the uplink switch. This occurs when APs with more than one Ethernet Ethernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN. interface are not under a managed device.
If you are configuring a new AP that has never been provisioned before, first connect the AP to the managed device according the instructions included with that AP. If you are re-provisioning or reconfiguring existing active APs, this step is not necessary, as the APs are already communicating with the managed device.
You can configure an AP using the AP wizard, the provisioning profile in the WebUI, or the managed device command-line interface. The individual configuration steps vary, depending on whether the AP is deployed as a Campus AP Campus APs are used in private networks where APs connect over private links (LAN, WLAN, WAN or MPLS) and terminate directly on controllers. Campus APs are deployed as part of the indoor campus solution in enterprise office buildings, warehouses, hospitals, universities, and so on., Remote AP Remote APs extend corporate network to the users working from home or at temporary work sites. Remote APs are deplyed at branch office sites and are connected to the central network on a WAN link., or a Mesh AP.
This following sections describe the procedure to configure an installed AP with the basic settings it requires to become operational on the network:
