Cisco Aironet Access Points

Online Help for Cisco IOS Release 12.3(04)JA

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Express Setup

If you need to set up a device quickly with a simple configuration, you can enter all of the essential settings for basic operation on this page. If you need to change or update a basic setting, you can find it quickly and easily on the Express Setup page.

Host Name

This is the name of the host that appears in the titles of management system pages and in the Association page. The system name is not an essential setting, but it helps identify the device on your network.

MAC Address

The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique number permanently assigned to the device's Ethernet controller by the manufacturer. You cannot change the MAC address.

Configuration Server Protocol

This setting must match the network's method of IP address assignment. Choose DHCP or Static IP. With Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), IP addresses are assigned for predetermined periods of time. Choose Static IP if your network does not have an automatic system for IP address assignment.

IP Address

This field enables the assignment or change of the IP address. The significance of such a change depends on whether or not DHCP is enabled for the network. If DHCP is not enabled, the IP address you enter in this field is the device's IP address. If DHCP is enabled, this field provides the IP address only if a server responds with an IP address for the device.

IP Subnet Mask

Enter an IP subnet mask to identify the subnetwork so the IP address can be recognized on the LAN. If DHCP is not enabled, this field is the subnet mask. If DHCP is enabled, this field provides the subnet mask only if a server responds to the DHCP request.

Default Gateway

Insert the IP address of your default internet gateway.

SNMP Community

To use Simplified Network Management Protocol (SNMP), enter a community name. SNMP is an application-layer protocol that supports message-oriented communications between SNMP management stations and agents. This community name automatically appears in the list of users authorized to view and make changes to the management system when SNMP is enabled.

The SNMP community string is used like a username and is for authentication, privacy, and authorization services within SNMP. Choose for this community to have read-only or read/write capabilities.

Radio Settings

Role in Radio Network

Select the role of the device on your network.

For access points, you can choose access point (root), a repeater (non-root), or workgroup bridge. When operating as an access point (root), it bridges wireless traffic to the wired LAN. When operating as a repeater (non-root), it bridges wireless traffic to an access point connected to the wired LAN. The repeater is placed within range of an access point connected to a wired LAN. This placement extends the range of your infrastructure and overcomes any obstacles that block radio communication. When operating as a workgroup bridge, the bridge emulates the Cisco Aironet 350 Series Workgroup Bridge and accepts wired clients.

Note: Make sure that the data rates configured on the repeater access point match the data rates on the parent access point.

For bridges, one bridge in any pair or group of bridges must be set to root, and the bridge or bridges associated to the root bridge must be set to non-root. The following options are available:

Root - Configures the bridge as a root bridge. In this mode, you establish a link with a non-root bridge. In this mode, the bridge also accepts associations from clients.

Non-Root - Places the bridge in non-root mode. In this mode, it links with a root bridge.

Install Mode - Places the bridge into installation mode so you can align and adjust the bridge link for optimum efficiency. This option is the bridge's default setting for the Role in Radio Network parameter.

Root AP - Places the bridge in the access point mode. In this mode, the bridge emulates a Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Access Point and accepts associations from client devices.

Workgroup Bridge - Places the bridge in the workgroup bridge mode. In this mode, the bridge emulates the Cisco Aironet 350 Series Workgroup Bridge and accepts wired clients.

Optimize Radio Network for

You can use this setting to select either preconfigured settings for the radio or customized settings for the radio. Selecting Throughput maximizes the data volume handled by the device but might reduce the range. All data rates are set to basic. Selecting Range maximizes the device's range but might reduce throughput. The lowest data rate is set to Required, and the other data rates are set to Enabled. On the 802.11a radios, you can also choose the Default option which sets the the rates to the default settings.

Clicking the Custom link takes you to the Network Interfaces-Radio 802.11a/b/g Setting page, which offers a range of specific parameter settings.

Note: When you configure the 802.11g access point radio for best throughput, the access point sets all 802.11g data rates to basic (required). This setting blocks association from 802.11b client devices.

Aironet Extensions

Select Enable to use Cisco Aironet 802.11 extensions. This setting must be set to Enable for you to use features such as load balancing, message integrity check (MIC), or Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP).