Cisco AIR-BR1310G-A-K9 Hardware Installation Guide - Page 22

Guidelines for Using a Lightweight Access Point/Bridge Chapter 1 Overview Lightweight Access Point The lightweight access point (model: AIR-LAP1310G) is part of the Cisco Integrated Wireless Network Solution and requires no manual configuration before they are mounted. The lightweight access point is automatically configured by a Cisco wreless LAN controller (hereafter called a controller) using the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP). The lightweight access points contain one integrated radio: a 2.4-GHz radio (IEEE 802.11g). Using a controller, you can configure the radio settings. In the Cisco Centralized Wireless LAN architecture, access points operate in the lightweight mode (as opposed to autonomous mode). The lightweight access points associate to a controller. The controller manages the configuration, firmware, and controls transactions such as 802.1x authentication. In addition, all wireless traffic is tunneled through the controller. LWAPP is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) draft protocol that defines the control messaging for setup and path authentication and run-time operations. LWAPP also defines the tunneling mechanism for data traffic. In an LWAPP environment, a lightweight access point discovers a controller by using LWAPP discovery mechanisms and then sends it an LWAPP join request. The controller sends the lightweight access point an LWAPP join response allowing the access point to associate with the controller. When the lightweight access point is associated, it downloads its software if the versions on the lightweight access point and controller do not match. After a lightweight access point associates with a controller, you can reassign it to any controller on your network. LWAPP secures the control communication between the lightweight access point and controller by means of a secure key distribution, using X.509 certificates on both the lightweight access point and controller. This chapter provides information on the following topics: • Key Features, page 1-3 • Network Examples with Autonomous Access Point/Bridges, page 1-9 • Network Examples with Lightweight Access Points, page 1-13 Guidelines for Using a Lightweight Access Point/Bridge You should keep these guidelines in mind when you use a lightweight access point/bridge: • A lightweight access points/bridge can communicate only with Cisco 2006 series wireless LAN controllers or 4400 series controllers. Cisco 4100 series, Airespace 4012 series, and Airespace 4024 series controllers are not supported because they lack the memory required to support access points running Cisco IOS software. • A lightweight access points/bridge does not support Wireless Domain Services (WDS) and cannot communicate with WDS devices. However, the controller provides functionality equivalent to WDS when the access point associates to it. • A lightweight access points/bridge supports eight BSSIDs per radio and a total of eight wireless LANs per access point. When a lightweight access point associates to a controller, only wireless LANs with IDs 1 through 8 are pushed to the access point. • A lightweight access points/bridge does not support Layer 2 LWAPP. They must get an IP address and discover the controller using DHCP, DNS, or IP subnet broadcast. • The lightweight access point console port is enabled for monitoring and debuging purposes (all configuration commands are disabled when the access point is associated to a controller). Cisco Aironet 1300 Series Wireless Outdoor Access Point/Bridge Hardware Installation Guide 1-2 OL-5048-06