DescriptionHow do I stage a new AP?ScopeKB ARTICLE TYPE: Troubleshooting
RELATED PRODUCTS: AP’s, Controllers
RELATED SOFTWARE VERSIONS: N/A
KEYWORDS: AP, Controllers, MAC address
SolutionANSWER: The following procedures describe how to set an AP, in either a Layer 2 or a Layer 3 environment.
If the AP will be in a Layer 2 environment:
- Connect the AP to the same subnet as controller.
- Boot up the AP. It sends a MAC address broadcast discovery packet.
- One (or more) Meru controller(s) on that subnet respond with their MAC address. (Note: In high-availability mode, only the master controller will respond to discovery broadcasts.)
- The first controller to establish a link to the AP will download the default configuration.
- If it is necessary to associate the AP with another controller on the network, make the following changes from the Web Management Interface (web EMS interface):
- Click the Detailed tab.
- Click the Access Point AP Configuration link.
- From the list of APs, check the appropriate AP and click the Settings button.
- Click the Connectivity tab.
- Enter the preferred controller hostname, address, and DNS values.
- Click the OK button to save your changes.
- If required, move the AP to another subnet.
If the AP will be in a Layer 3 environment:
The network administrator needs to make a one-time DNS server entry for the Controller with the DNS name "wlan-controller" set to the appropriate IP address. (Note: For high-availability configuration, this means the virtual IP address.)
Once this is added to the DNS server, the sequence for staging an AP in L3 mode is as follows.
- If the AP boots up with default "L2 preferred" discovery mode, it sends a controller discovery broadcast but gets no response for a controller on same subnet.
- The AP then sends a DHCP request for the IP configuration.
- After the DHCP information is returned, the AP sends a DNS request for the device named "wlan-controller".
- The AP then sends a discovery packet to the IP address "wlan-controller".
- The controller responds and establishes a link with the AP and begins to download the configuration.
- If it is necessary to associate the AP with another controller on the network, make the following changes from the WMI (web EMS interface):
- Click the Detailed tab.
- Click the Access Point AP Configuration link.
- From the list of APs, check the appropriate AP and click the Settings button.
- Click the Connectivity tab.
- Enter the controller hostname/address values.
- Click the OK button to save your changes.
- If required, move the AP to another subnet.