User's Manual

hwc_apstartup.fm

A31003-W1050-U100-2-7619, March 2008

HiPath Wireless Controller, Access Points and Convergence Software V5 R1 , C20/C2400 User Guide

Configuring the Wireless AP

Wireless AP overview

4 Configuring the Wireless AP

This chapter discusses the Wireless AP and its role in the Controller, Access

Points and Convergence Software solution, including:

• Wireless AP overview

• Discovery and registration overview

• Configuring the Wireless APs for the first time

• Adding and registering a Wireless AP manually

• Configuring Wireless AP settings

• Configuring the default Wireless AP settings

• Modifying a Wireless AP’s properties based on a default AP configuration

• Modifying the Wireless AP’s default setting using the Copy to Defaults feature

• Configuring Wireless APs simultaneously

• Configuring an AP as a sensor

• Performing Wireless AP software maintenance

4.1 Wireless AP overview

The Wireless AP is a wireless LAN access point that uses the 802.11 wireless

standards (802.11a/b/g/n) for network communications. The Wireless AP bridges

network traffic to an Ethernet LAN. The Wireless AP is provided with proprietary

software that allows it to communicate only with the HiPath Wireless Controller.

The Wireless AP physically connects to a LAN infrastructure and establishes an

IP connection to the HiPath Wireless Controller. The Wireless AP has no user

interface — instead the Wireless AP is managed through the HiPath Wireless

Assistant. The Wireless AP’s configuration is centrally managed and applied from

the HiPath Wireless Controller. In addition, the HiPath Wireless Controller

provides centralized management (verification and upgrade) of the Wireless AP

firmware image.

All communication with the HiPath Wireless Controller is carried out using a

UDP-based protocol, which encapsulates IP traffic from the Wireless AP and

directs it to the HiPath Wireless Controller. The HiPath Wireless Controller

decapsulates the packets and routes them to the appropriate destinations, while

managing sessions and applying policy.