Using the Initial Setup Wizard
This chapter describes how to use the
Initial Setup Wizard to bring up an
access point
(AP), with minimal configurations, to access the wireless network. When bringing
up an AP for the first time, use the wizard to define the AP‘s basic, required settings,
such as operational mode, deployment location, basic security, network and WLAN
settings. Once the AP is up and running, use the AP's GUI to configure the remaining,
advanced, user-interface functionalities.
To bring up an AP for the
first time, follow the steps below:
-
Install and power up the AP.
-
Point the Web browser to the AP's IP
address.
The AP's Web UI login screen
displays.
-
Enter the default user name admin in the User name field.
-
Enter the default password admin123 in the Password field.
Note
When logging in for the first time, you will be
prompted to change the password. Set a new password and use it for
subsequent logins.
The AP's management interface
UI displays, and the
Initial
Setup Wizard landing page pops up.
Note
The
Initial Setup Wizard
displays the same pages and content for all the WiNG AP model types – the
only difference being the number of radios supported on the AP. For example,
AP7522 supports two radios, and AP8163 supports three radios.
The landing page has the following elements:
Introduction: |
Lists the tasks you can perform using this
wizard. |
Navigation Panel: |
Provides links to configuration pages where you
can perform the tasks listed in the Introduction
pane. |
Choose One Type to Setup the Access Point |
Provides the two AP setup wizards. The options
are: Typical
Setup and Advanced Setup.
The links available on the Navigation Panel vary depending on the
option you select. |
Selecting the Access Point Setup
Wizard Type.
-
Select one of the following AP setup
wizards:
- Typical Setup - Select
this option to apply system-provided, default values on the AP.We recommend
using this option because it simplifies the configuration process. This
option is enabled by default.
The Typical Setup,
Navigation
Panel lists the following configurable features:
- Advanced Setup - Select
this option to configure user-specific values instead of applying default
settings. This option provides additional configurable features, such as
Radio
Configuration, System Information, and WAN Configuration.
The Advanced Setup, Navigation Panel
lists the following configurable features:
A green check-mark to the left of a task,
on the
Navigation
Panel, indicates that the minimum required configurations for
that task have been set correctly. It is mandatory to have each task green
check-marked to successfully complete the initial setup.
A
red X against a task indicates that at least one mandatory parameter is
pending configuration.
-
Select the Summary and Commit link, on
the Navigation Panel, to view and commit your
changes.
-
Select Next to proceed to the next
page.
Select
Back to
revert to the previous page without saving your updates.
Select Cancel to close the
wizard without committing your changes.
Select Save/Commit to save
changes made to a page. We recommend that you save your updates before
moving to the next page.
Tasks Common to both Wizard Types
The following steps describe tasks that are common to both
wizards.
-
Click Next.
The Access Point
Settings page displays. Use this page to specify the AP's mode of
functioning.
Configuring the Access Point Settings.
-
Set the AP's mode of functioning as one of the
following:
- Virtual Controller AP -
Select to configure the AP to function as a VC (virtual controller). In a multiple-AP network, you can configure
one of the APs as the VC. For information on the adoption capabilities of
the different WiNG AP model types, see Overview.
- Virtual Controller AP
Auto - Select to enable DVC (dynamic virtual controller) mode on the AP. When enabled, the AP
on being elected as the RF Domain manager takes on the role of the VC. If
you have deployed multiple APs in an RF Domain, you can enable DVC on more
than one AP. However, only the current RF Domain manager AP has a running
instance of the DVC.
If enabling DVC, configure the
AP's management interface settings:
- Use the Virtual Controller Management
VLAN spinner control to set the management
interface's VLAN (virtual local area
network). This VLAN is exclusively used by the VC to
broadcast MiNT packets, and to adopt APs. The default setting is
VLAN 1.
- Enter the management interface IP address and
subnet in the Virtual
Controller Management Interface IP field.
Because of the random nature of DVC,
specifying an explicit management interface IP address makes it
easier to manage VCs. In case of failover, this IP address is
installed as the secondary IP address on the new VC.
Configuring a management interface IP address
is mandatory. However, VLAN configuration is optional. If you
configure the IP address without specifying the VLAN, the system
sets the specified IP address as secondary IP on VLAN
1.
- Standalone AP -
Select
to deploy the AP as an independent AP, not
managed by a VC, or adopted by a wireless controller/service platform. For
more information, see <LINK TO BE
INSERTED>.
Note
If designating the AP as
a Standalone AP, exclusively use the AP‘s UI, and not the CLI, to
configure the AP's settings. The CLI allows you to define more than one
profile, whereas the UI does not. Consequently, you might encounter
problems if using both interfaces to manage profiles.
- Adopted to Controller -
Select to deploy the AP as a controller-managed, dependent AP.
Note
The
Adopted to Controller
option is available only on the
Advanced Setup
wizard.
Note
A controller-adopted AP obtains its configuration
from a profile stored on its managing controller. Manual changes made on
the AP are overwritten by the controller upon reboot.
If enabling controller adoption, configure the
following Adoption
Settings:
- Select Automatic controller
discovery (L2, DHCP or DNS based) to enable dynamic
discovery and adoption of the AP by any controller within the same
subnet. The AP is L2 (Layer 2)
adopted to the controller.
- Select Static Controller
Configuration to manually configure the controller
to which the AP should adopt. This is applicable only in case of L3
(Layer 3) adoption.
If enabling L3 adoption:
-
Use the Country Code Selectionspinner
control to set the AP's country of deployment.
Ensure that the country code is set
correctly because parameters – for example, the available channels of operation
and regulatory compliance rules – are country specific.
This option is
available only on the Typical Setup wizard.
-
Select Next.
The
Networking Mode page displays. Use this page to define
the AP's network-traffic handling mode.
Configuring the AP's Network Topology
Settings.
-
Set the AP's Networking Mode Selection
as:
- Router Mode - Select to
enable the AP to function as a router. When enabled, the AP routes traffic
between the LAN (local area network) and
the Internet or external WAN (wide area
network). We recommend using this option in single-AP supported
deployments.
- Bridge Mode - Select to
enable the AP function as a bridge between the LAN and the Internet or WAN.
When enabled, the AP uses an external router to bridge traffic. We recommend
using this option in multiple-AP deployments, with APs supporting clients on
both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz radio bands.
Note
The
Bridge Mode does not require WAN configurations on the
AP. Therefore, if you select this option, the WAN configuration option
is disabled.
-
Select Next.
The LAN Configuration screen
displays. Use this screen to configure the AP's LAN address, DHCP server, and
DNS server.
Configuring the AP's LAN
Settings.
-
Select one of the following options to configure
the IP address of the AP's LAN interface:
- Use DHCP - Select to
enable dynamic IP address assignment. When selected, the local DHCP server
resource, running on VLAN 1 (the default VLAN), assigns the IP address.
Note
If you select this option, the
AP's VLAN 1 (the default VLAN interface of the AP) is dynamically
assigned an IP address by the DHCP server running on VLAN 1. Therefore,
if you select this option, ensure that a DHCP server is up and running
on VLAN 1 and is reachable from the AP.
- Static IP Address/Subnet
- Select to manually configure the AP's IP address and subnet.
- Enter the AP's LAN interface IP address and
subnet in the Static
IP Address/Subnet field.
- Enter the default gateway's IP address in the
Default
Gateway field.
Note
The AP
routes inter-VLAN traffic through the default
gateway.
Note
If you configure a static IP and subnet for the AP,
also enable it to function as an on-board DHCP. Therefore, if you select
this option, configure the DHCP server and DNS server settings. For DHCP
server configurations, move to step
15. For DNS server
configurations, move to step
16.
-
Set the following DHCP Server settings:
-
Select the Use on-board DHCP server to
assign IP addresses to wireless clients option to enable
the AP to function as the on-board DHCP server resource.
When this option is enabled, the
AP provides its IP address to requesting wireless clients on the LAN
interface.
-
Enter the starting and ending IP addresses
in the Range
fields.
The AP assigns IP addresses to
authenticated wireless clients from the specified range.
Avoid assigning IP addresses from
x.x.x.1 - x.x.x.10 and x.x.x.255, as they are often reserved for
standard network services.
-
Enter the IP address of the default
gateway, in the Default
Gateway field.
-
Select one of the following options to configure
the Domain Name Server
:
Configuring the AP's WAN settings.
-
Select Next.
The
WAN Configuration page
displays. Use this page to define network address settings for the AP's WAN
interface. The WAN interface connects the AP to the wired local area network or
backhaul.
Note
The WAN Configuration option is enabled
only if you set the AP in
Router Mode on the
Networking Mode
page (see step
11).
-
Select one of the following options to configure the AP's WAN interface's IP
address:
- Use DHCP - Select to
enable dynamic IP address assignment. When selected, an external DHCP server
resource, located on the WAN side of the network, assigns an IP address to
the AP‘s WAN interface.
- Static IP Address/Subnet
- Select to manually configure IP address and subnet for the AP's WAN
interface.
-
Select Next.
The Wireless LAN Setup page
displays. Use this page to configure the AP's WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) settings.
Configuring the WLAN Settings.
Note
You can configure up to two (2) WLANs
for the AP.
-
Set the following WLAN parameters:
-
Enter the WLAN's
SSID.
-
Select the WLAN Type.
The WLAN Type defines the encryption and authentication modes used
with the WLAN.
- No Authentication and No Encryption
– Select to configure a network without any authentication or
encryption.
Note
When selected, any device can access
the network. Data transmitted through the network is in plain
text.
- Captive Portal Authentication and No
Encryption – Select to configure a network using Captive
Portal (Web page) based authentication.
Note
When
selected, the network serves a Web page (internally or externally
hosted) to wireless clients requesting network access. The clients enter
their login credentials on this Web page. These credentials are
authenticated by a RADIUS server. On successful authentication clients
are granted access. Once on the network, the data transmitted through
the network is in plain text.
Note
If
selecting this option, move to step
21 to configure the RADIUS server details.
- PSK authentication, WPA2 encryption
– Select to configure a network that uses PSK authentication and
WPA2 encryption.
Note
When selected, wireless clients
are granted network access only if the
pre-shared key (PSK)
configured on the AP matches the PSK configured on the
client.
Note
If selecting this option, move
to step
23 to configure the
PSK.
Configuring RADIUS server for the
Captive Portal Authentication and No Encryption network.
-
Specify the RADIUS Server type as one of the
following:
- External RADIUS Server -
Select to use an externally hosted RADIUS server for user authentication.
This is the default setting.
- Enter the external RADIUS server resource IP
address in the RADIUS
Server IP address field.
- Enter the shared secret needed to access the
RADIUS server, in the RADIUS Shared Secret field.
- Onboard RADIUS Server –
Select to configure the AP as the RADIUS server that performs user
authentication. A RADIUS
Server Configuration window is displayed, where you add users
to the RADIUS server database.
- Click Add User to
add a new user. The Add User
dialog displays.
User name |
Enter the client's user
name. |
Password |
Enter the password associated
with the specified user name. |
Confirm Password |
Re-enter the password. |
Description |
Enter a short description for
the user. |
- Click Create to add
the new user and continue adding other users.
- Click Create &
Close to add the new user and close the
dialog.
- To modify an existing user in the RADIUS
server database, select the user from those listed and click
Modify
User. In the Modify User
dialog, make the required changes and click Modify User.
Note
You cannot modify the Username.
However, Password and Description can be modified.
- To delete an existing user in the RADIUS
server database, select the user from those listed and click
Delete
User. A confirmation dialog displays. Click
Yes to confirm deletion.
Configuring PSK for the PSK
authentication, WPA2 encryption network.
-
To specify the PSK needed for client
authentication:
-
Use the drop-down menu to specify the PSK
type as ASCII or HEX.
-
Enter the PSK in the WPA Key field.
Provide a 64-character HEX key or an 8-63 character ASCII key, based on
the PSK type you have selected.
Advanced Setup-specific Tasks.
The following steps describe the tasks specific to the
Advanced Setup
wizard.
-
Click Next.
The
Radio
Configuration page displays. Use this page to set the radio's
mode of operation. The radio can be set to transmit data to and from wireless
clients, or it can be configured to function as a dedicated sensor.
Note
The number of configurable radios displayed depends on
the AP's model type. For example, AP7522 supports two radios, and AP8163
supports three radios.
The following image shows
an AP with two radios:
Configuring the AP's Radio Interface.
-
Set the following parameters for each radio:
-
Configure as a Data Radio
- Select to dedicate the radio to WLAN client support in the
2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz radio bands.
-
Power Level - Use the
spinner control to select a 1 - 23 dBm minimum power level to assign to
this radio. 1 dBm is the default setting.
-
Channel Mode - Set
the channel selection mode to one of the following:
Random |
Select to use with 802.11n radios. In the European Union, to
comply with Dynamic Frequency
Selection (DFS) requirements, the 802.11n radio uses
a randomly selected channel each time the AP is powered
on. |
Best |
Select to enable the AP to scan non-overlapping channels and
listen for beacons from other APs. After the channels are
scanned, the AP selects the channel with the fewest APs. In
case of multiple APs on the same channel, it selects the
channel with the lowest average power level. Selecting
Best enables the Constantly
Monitor option. Select this option to enable
the AP to continuously scan the network for excessive noise
and sources of interference. |
Static |
Select to assign the AP a permanent channel and scan for
noise and interference only when initialized. |
-
Configure as a Sensor
Radio - Select to dedicate the radio to sensor support
exclusively. A sensor radio scans all channels within the 2.4 and 5.0
GHz bands to identify potential threats. If you are dedicating the radio
to sensor support, also configure a primary and secondary ADSP server,
that receives and analyses inputs from the sensor radio.
<NEED
TO INSERT LINK TO THE INFO ON
THIS>
-
Disable the Radio -
Select to disable the radio. When disabled, the radio goes offline.
Verify this course of action with your network administrator before
rendering the radio offline.
-
Click Next.
The
Summary and
Commit page displays.
Note
This page is
available on both the
Typical
Setup and
Advanced Setup wizards.
Use this page to review and validate the AP's
configuration.
- If the AP's configuration warrants additional
changes,click Back, navigate to the desired page, and make the
changes.
- After you have validated the configurations,
click Save/Commit to apply the changes.