Configuring Access Point Groups

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Prerequisites for Configuring AP Groups

The following are the prerequisites for creating access point groups on a switch:

  • The required access control list (ACL) must be defined on the router that serves the VLAN or subnet.

  • Multicast traffic is supported with access point group VLANs. However, if the client roams from one access point to another, the client might stop receiving multicast traffic, unless IGMP snooping is enabled.

Restrictions for Configuring Access Point Groups

  • Suppose that the interface mapping for a WLAN in the AP group table is the same as the WLAN interface. If the WLAN interface is changed, the interface mapping for the WLAN in the AP group table also changes to the new WLAN interface.

    Suppose that the interface mapping for a WLAN in the AP group table is different from the one defined for the WLAN. If the WLAN interface is changed, then the interface mapping for the WLAN in the AP group table does not change to the new WLAN interface.

  • If you clear the configuration on the switch, all of the access point groups disappear except for the default access point group “default-group,” which is created automatically.

  • The default access point group can have up to 16 WLANs associated with it. The WLAN IDs for the default access point group must be less than or equal to 16. If a WLAN with an ID greater than 16 is created in the default access point group, the WLAN SSID will not be broadcasted. All WLAN IDs in the default access point group must have an ID that is less than or equal to 16. WLANs with IDs greater than 16 can be assigned to custom access point groups.

  • We recommend that you configure all Flex+Bridge APs in a mesh tree (in the same sector) in the same AP group and the same FlexConnect group, to inherit the WLAN-VLAN mappings properly.

Information About Access Point Groups

After you create up to 512 WLANs on the switch, you can selectively publish them (using access point groups) to different access points to better manage your wireless network. In a typical deployment, all users on a WLAN are mapped to a single interface on the switch. Therefore, all users that are associated with that WLAN are on the same subnet or VLAN. However, you can choose to distribute the load among several interfaces or to a group of users based on specific criteria such as individual departments (such as Marketing) by creating access point groups. Additionally, these access point groups can be configured in separate VLANs to simplify network administration.

How to Configure Access Point Groups

Creating Access Point Groups

Before you begin

You must have administrator privileges to perform this operation.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. configure terminal
  2. ap group ap-group-name
  3. wlan wlan-name
  4. (Optional) vlan vlan-name
  5. end

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

Switch# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.
Step 2

ap group ap-group-name

Example:

Switch(config)# ap group my-ap-group

Creates an access point group.
Step 3

wlan wlan-name

Example:

Switch(config-apgroup)# wlan wlan-name

Associates the AP group to a WLAN.
Step 4

(Optional) vlan vlan-name

Example:

Switch(config-apgroup)# vlan test-vlan
 (Optional)

Assigns the access point group to a VLAN.
Step 5

end

Example:

Switch(config)# end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl-Z to exit global configuration mode.

Example

This example shows how to create an AP group:


Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config-apgroup)# ap group test-ap-group-16
Switch(config-wlan-apgroup)# wlan test-ap-group-16
Switch(config-wlan-apgroup)# vlan VLAN1300

Assigning an Access Point to an AP Group

Before you begin

You must have administrator privileges to perform this operation.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. ap name ap-name ap-group-name ap-group

DETAILED STEPS

Command or Action Purpose

ap name ap-name ap-group-name ap-group

Example:

Switch# ap name 1240-101 ap-groupname apgroup_16

Assigns the access point to the access point group. The keywords and arguments are as follows:

  • name —Specifies that the argument following this keyword is the name of an AP that is associated to the switch.

  • ap-name —AP that you want to associate to the AP group.

  • ap-group-name —Specifies that the argument following this keyword is the name of the AP group that is configured on the switch.

  • ap-group —Name of the access point group that is configured on the switch.

Viewing Access Point Group

Before you begin

You must have administrator privileges to perform this operation.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. show ap groups [extended ]

DETAILED STEPS

Command or Action Purpose

show ap groups [extended ]

Example:

Switch# show ap groups

Displays the AP groups configured on the switch. The extended keyword displays all AP Groups information defined in the system in detail.

Additional References

Related Documents

Related Topic Document Title
WLAN commands WLAN Command Reference, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Cisco WLC 5700 Series)WLAN Command Reference, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Catalyst 3650 Switches)
Lightweight Access Point configuration Lightweight Access Point Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Cisco WLC 5700 Series)Lightweight Access Point Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Catalyst 3650 Switches)
Lightweight Access Point commands Lightweight Access Point Command Reference, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Cisco WLC 5700 Series)Lightweight Access Point Command Reference, Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Catalyst 3650 Switches)

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Feature History and Information for Access Point Groups

This table lists the features in this modules and provides links to specific configuration information.

Feature Name Release Feature Information
AP Groups Cisco IOS XE 3.2SECisco IOS XE 3.2SECisco IOS XE 3.3SE This feature was introduced.