Overview

This guide describes the installation and use of the WiNG software designed specifically for AP7502, AP7522, AP7532, AP7562, AP7602, AP7612, AP7622, AP7632, AP7662, AP8163, AP8432 and AP8533 access points.

Note

For information on using a controller in a managed network, go to www.extremenetworks.com/support.

The family of supported access points enable high performance with secure and resilient wireless voice and data services to remote locations with the scalability required to meet the needs of large distributed enterprises.

The AP7522, AP7532, AP7562, AP7632, AP7662, AP8432 and AP8533 model access points use WiNG software as its onboard operating system. The unique software enables the access point to function as a Standalone “thick” access point, or a virtual controller AP capable of adopting and managing up to 64 other access points.

The AP7502, AP7602, AP7612, AP7622 and AP8163 access points use WiNG software as its onboard operating system. The unique software enables the access point to function as a Standalone “thick” access point, or a virtual controller AP capable of adopting and managing up to 24 access points.

Heterogeneous AP management enables WiNG access points to adopt and manage different types of AP model when functioning as virtual controllers.

Note

A higher family AP can manage a lower family AP whereas, a lower family AP cannot manage a higher family AP.

The following hierarchy is supported:

AP8432/AP8533 can manage AP7502, AP7522, AP7532, AP7562, AP7602, AP7612, AP7622, AP7632, AP7662, AP8163, AP8432 and AP8533
AP7662/AP7632 can manage AP7662, AP7632, AP7622, AP7612 and AP7602

Heterogeneous AP adoption and management is not supported on the following access points:

AP7502/AP7522/AP7532/AP7562/AP7622/AP7612/AP7602
Note
These APs can only adopt APs of the same type. For example, AP7522 can only adopt and manage AP7522 model access points. The same principle applies to AP7532, AP7562, AP7622, AP7612, and AP7602.

When deploying an access point as a pure virtual controller AP, with no controllers available anywhere on the network, the access point itself is a controller supporting other access points. The virtual controller AP can:

Provide firmware upgrades for connected access point.
Aggregate statistics for the group of access points the virtual controller is managing.
Be the single point of configuration for that deployment location.

Note

The recommended way to administer a network populated by numerous access points is to configure them directly from the virtual controller AP. If a single access point configuration requires an update from the virtual controller AP‘s assigned profile configuration, the administrator should apply a device override to change just that access point‘s configuration.