Managing AP Console Settings

An AP’s provisioning parameters are unique to each AP. These parameters are initially configured on the Mobility Conductor and then pushed out to the AP and stored on the AP itself. Best practices are to configure an AP’s provisioning settings using the Mobility Conductor WebUI. If you find it necessary to alter an AP’s provisioning settings for troubleshooting purposes, you can do so using the WebUI and CLI Command-Line Interface. A console interface with a command line shell that allows users to execute text input as commands and convert these commands to appropriate functions., or alternatively, through a console connection to the AP itself.

To create a console connection to the AP:

1. Connect a local console to the serial port on the AP. You can connect the AP’s serial port to a terminal or terminal server using an Ethernet Ethernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN. cable, or connect the serial console port to a DB-9 adapter, then connect the adapter to a laptop using an RS-232 cable. For details on connecting to an AP’s serial console port, refer to the installation guide included with the AP.
2. Establish a console communication to the AP, then power-cycle the AP to reboot it.
3. To access the AP console command prompt, press Enter when the AP displays the message “Hit <Enter> to stop autoboot.” If the autoboot countdown expires before you can interrupt it, turn the device off and then back on.
4. Once the AP boot prompt appears, enter the AP console password. You can issue any of the AP provisioning commands described in the Table 1. Remember, though these commands may be useful for troubleshooting, they are all optional and are not necessary for normal AP provisioning.

   Table 1: AP Boot Commands

   The list of AP boot commands may vary based on the APBoot image version.

   Command	Description
   boot	Boot the AOS-8 image from flash or USB Universal Serial Bus. USB is a connection standard that offers a common interface for communication between the external devices and a computer. USB is the most common port used in the client devices. , using currently saved environment variables. Any unsaved changes to the variables will be lost. This command has the following sub-parameters: ap - Boot the AOS-8 image from flash. usb:<path> - Boot the AOS-8 image from USB Universal Serial Bus. USB is a connection standard that offers a common interface for communication between the external devices and a computer. USB is the most common port used in the client devices. .
   clear	Clear the AOS-8 image or other information. This command has the following sub-parameters: all - Clear the cache and AOS-8. cache - Clear the cache sectors (mesh, 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., 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.). os <n> - Clear the image from the specified partition (default: 0). prov - Clear provisioning image from the flash.
   dhcp	Invoke 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.  client to obtain IP/boot parameters.
   factory_reset	Reset the AP to factory default.
   flash	Upgrade the boot image. NOTE: Exercise caution when using this command.
   help	Help text for the AP boot commands.
   mfginfo	Shows manufacturing information of the AP.
   osinfo	Shows the AOS-8 image information on the AP.
   ping	Check network connectivity.
   printenv	List the environment variables and their current settings. AP boot environment variables are configured using the AP boot setenv command,
   purgeenv	Reinstate AP boot configuration to factory default. This includes restoring the default environment variables.
   reset	Perform RESET of the AP CPU Central Processing Unit. A CPU is an electronic circuitry in a computer for processing instructions..
   saveenv	Save environment variables to persistent storage.
   setenv ipaddr <ipaddr>	IP address to be assigned to the AP.
   setenv netmask <netmaskip>	Netmask Netmask is a 32-bit mask used for segregating IP address into subnets. Netmask defines the class and range of IP addresses. to be assigned to the AP.
   setenv gatewayip <ipaddr>	IP address of the internet gateway Gateway is a network node that allows traffic to flow in and out of the network. used by the AP.
   setenv name <ap name>	Name of the AP.
   setenv group <group name>	Name of the AP group to which the AP should belong.
   setenv conductor <ipaddr>	IP address of the AP’s Mobility Controller. This command applies to any AP released in AOS-8.9.0.0 or later versions.   For information on Supported Platforms, see table 4 in AP Platforms.
   setenv serverip <ipaddr>	IP address of the TFTP Trivial File Transfer Protocol. The TFTP is a software utility for transferring files from or to a remote host. server from which the AP can download its boot image.
   setenv dnsip <ipaddr>	IP address of the DNS Domain Name System. A DNS server functions as a phone book for the intranet and Internet users. It converts human-readable computer host names into IP addresses and IP addresses into host names. It stores several records for a domain name such as an address 'A' record, name server (NS), and mail exchanger (MX) records. The Address 'A' record is the most important record that is stored in a DNS server, because it provides the required IP address for a network peripheral or element. server used by the AP.
   setenv domainname <domain>	Domain name used by the AP.
   tftpboot	Boot AOS-8 image over the network using TFTP Trivial File Transfer Protocol. The TFTP is a software utility for transferring files from or to a remote host. protocol.
   upgrade	Upgrade the APBoot or AOS-8 image. This command has the following sub-parameters: boot <file> - Upgrade the APBoot image from <file>. os [<n>] <file> - Upgrade the AOS-8 image in partition <n> from <file>. prov - Upgrade provisioning image from <file>. NOTE: <file> can be a <TFTP Trivial File Transfer Protocol. The TFTP is a software utility for transferring files from or to a remote host. -server-IP>:<path> or usb:<path>.
   version	Displays the APBoot image version.

5. When you are finished, type saveenvand then press Enter to save your settings.

   Other AP console commands may be available when accessing an AP directly through its console port, but these commands can cause configuration errors if used improperly and should only be issued under the direct supervision of Aruba technical support.

The example below configures an AP location and domain name using an AP console connection.

To view current AP settings using the AP console, issue the command printenv <name> where <name> is one of the variable names listed in Table 1, such as ipaddr, dnsip or gatewayip.