Wireless AP Default IP Address

Wireless APs are shipped from the factory with a default IP address — 192.168.1.20. The default IP address simplifies the first-time IP address configuration process for APs. If an AP fails in its discovery process, it returns to its default IP address. This AP behavior ensures that only one AP at a time can use the default IP address on a subnet. For more information, see Discovery and Registration.

Wireless APs can acquire their IP addresses by one of two methods:

• DHCP assignment — When an AP is powered on, it attempts to reach the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server on the network to acquire an IP address. If successful, the DHCP server assigns an IP address to the AP.
  • If the DHCP assignment is not successful in the first 60 seconds, the AP returns to its default IP address.
  • After 30 seconds in the default IP address mode, it attempts again to acquire an IP address from the DHCP server.
  • The process repeats until the DHCP assignment is successful, or until an administrator assigns the AP an IP address, using static configuration.

    DHCP assignment is the default method for AP configuration. DHCP assignment is part of the discovery process. For more information, see Discovery and Registration.

• Static configuration —Use the static configuration option to assign a static IP address to a wireless AP. For more information, see the following section.

  You can establish an SSH session with an AP during the time window of 30 seconds when the AP returns to its default IP address mode. If a static IP address is assigned during this period, reboot the AP for the configuration to take effect. For more information, see Assigning a Static IP Address to a Wireless AP.