User's Guide

hwc_apstartup.fm
9034530-02, March 2010
HiPath Wireless Controller, Access Points and Convergence Software V7.11, User Guide
85
Configuring the Wireless AP
Wireless AP overview
4 Configuring the Wireless AP
This chapter describes the Wireless access point (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 uses the 802.11 wireless standards (802.11a/b/g/n) for network
communications and bridges network traffic to an Ethernet LAN. The Wireless AP
runs 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, which manages the Wireless AP
configuration through the HiPath Wireless Assistant. The HiPath Wireless
Controller also provides centralized management (verification and upgrade) of
the Wireless AP firmware image.
A UDP-based protocol enables communication between the Wireless AP and the
HiPath Wireless Controller. The UDP-based protocol 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 policies.