Bandspeed AirMaestro 3100AG User manual

AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller
Access Point User Guide
Version 1.2

Bandspeed AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point User Guide © 2007 Bandspeed, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The information contained in this document, including design, text, and graphics, is the property of
Bandspeed, Inc. Listen+Learn® is a registered trademark of Bandspeed, Inc. Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®,
Wi-Fi Alliance®, Wi-Fi logo, WMM™, and WPA2™ are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Other trademarks
are the property of the entities referenced herein.
Bandspeed, Inc.
Austin, TX
www.bandspeed.com
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SAFETY AND REGULATORY NOTICES
FCC STATEMENT
The AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point has been tested and found to comply with the
specifications for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used according to the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which is found by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;
Increase the separation between the equipment or devices;
Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver's;
Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance;
FCC Caution: Any change or modification to the product not expressly approved by
Bandspeed could void the user's authority to operate the device.
FCC Caution: Operation within the 5150 to 5250 GHz band is restricted to indoor use
only.
FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement: To comply with the FCC and ANSI C95.1 RF exposure limits, the
antenna(s) for this device must comply with the following:
Access points with 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz integrated antenna must operate with a separation
distance of at least 20 cm from all persons using the cable provided and must not be co-located
or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
End-users must be provided with specific operations for satisfying RF exposure compliance.
Note: Dual antennas used for diversity operation are not considered co-located.
Canadian Department of Communications Industry Canada (IC) Notice:
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 and RSS-210.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 et CNR-210 du Canada.
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"To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors and
away from windows to provide maximum shielding. Equipment (or its transmit antenna) that is installed
outdoors is subject to licensing."
"Pour empêcher que cet appareil cause du brouillage au service faisant l'objet d'une licence, il doit être
utilisé à l'intérieur et devrait être placé loin des fenêtres afin de fournir un écran de blindage maximal. Si le
matériel (ou son antenne d'émission) est installé à l'extérieur, il doit faire l'objet d'une licence."
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Table of Contents
Safety and Regulatory Notices
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Bandspeed AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point System
Features
1.1.1 Key Features
1.2 Dual-band RF Spectrum Analyzer
1.3 Security
1.4 Performance and Reliability
1.5 Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSIDs)
1.6 WDS Bridging and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Support
1.7 Manageability of the AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point
1.7.1 Bandspeed AirMaestro WLAN Management Console
1.7.2 Additional Features Included with the WLAN Management Console Software
1.7.3 Bandspeed AirMaestro WLAN Monitor Console
1.7.4 Installation Recommendations for the WLAN Management / WLAN Monitor
Console Software
1.8 Wireless Network Standards
1.9 Approved Channels
2.0 Installing the Access Point
2.1 Installation Requirements
2.2 Safety Information
2.3 Determining the Correct Site
2.4 Avoiding Reflective Surfaces
2.5 Minimizing Interference
2.6 RF Obstacles
2.7 Power and Network Connections
2.7.1 PoE Connection
2.7.2 Using the External Power Supply
2.8 Configuring the AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point using the
Serial Port
2.9 Checking the LEDs
2.10 Important Factory Defaults for the AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller
Access Point
3.0 Initial Configuration
3.1 Installing the Software
3.2 Connecting to the Access Point
3.3 Configuring the Access Point
3.3.1 Factory Default Settings
3.3.2 With a DHCP Server
3.3.3 Without a DHCP Server
4.0 AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point Configurable
Parameters
4.1 Wireless Interfaces (WIFs or Sectors)
4.2 Mode
4.2.1 11a Mode
4.2.2 11b Mode
4.2.3 11b/g Mode
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4.2.4 11g Mode
4.3 Channel
4.4 Self-CTS (11g Protection Mode)
4.5 Transmit Power
4.6 Automatic Transmit Power Adjustment
4.7 Sensitivity
4.8 Maximum Data Rate
4.9 Diversity
4.10 Header (Preamble)
4.11 Beacon Interval
4.12 Fragmentation
4.13 RTS/CTS
4.14 Wireless (Interface) Operating Mode
5.0 AP Web UI Interface to Configure Access Points
5.1 System Main Window
5.2 Basic Configuration
5.3 Advanced Configuration
5.4 Reports
6.0 Command Line Interface (CLI) to Configure Access Points
6.1 Using the CLI
6.2 Command Conventions
6.3 Getting Started
6.4 CLI Global Commands
6.5 Access Point (AP) Commands
6.6 TCPIP Commands
6.7 Ethernet Commands
6.8 DHCP Commands
6.9 LnL (Listen+Learn) Commands
6.10 HTTP Server Commands
6.11 Stations Command
6.12 RADIUS Authentication Server Commands
6.13 Bridge Commands - Wireless Bridging/Backhaul
6.14 Switch Commands - Bridge Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Configuration
6.15 SG Commands - Service Group Configuration
6.16 SNMP Commands - SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Server
6.17 Country Commands - Country Code
6.18 Spectrum Management Commands
6.19 DFS Commands - Dynamic Frequency Selection
6.20 TPC Commands - Transmit Power Control
6.21 RRM Commands - Radio Resource Measurement
6.22 QoS Commands - Quality of Service
6.22.1 QoS Control
6.22.2 EDCA Parameters for Class of Service
6.22.3 Admission Control
6.22.4 Frame Classification
6.22.5 Action Frames
6.22.6 Operations
6.23 Syslog Command
Appendix A: Index of Supported Commands
Appendix B: Terminology and Definitions
Index
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Introduction
1
Bandspeed AirMaestro is a comprehensive Wi-Fi compatible access point platform that enables
intelligent, automated Wi-Fi management solutions with enterprise-class security and performance.
AirMaestro access points are scalable to accommodate the accelerating numbers of Wi-Fi voice and video
devices that demand world-class roaming, load management, quality of service, and access point
collaboration.
AirMaestro employs Bandspeed's unique access point architecture with a comprehensive automation
system and a software-based virtual controller that eliminates the need for a separate hardware controller
to manage the access points. This breakthrough innovation provides superior Wi-Fi network solutions at
significantly lower cost than existing alternatives. The platform is comprised of AirMaestro software and
AirMaestro integrated circuits designed to work in concert to provide advanced Wi-Fi management.
The AirMaestro platform is an automated platform for Wi-Fi access points that provides large enterprise
performance and security features for the mass market.
1.1 Bandspeed AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access
Point System Features
The Bandspeed AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point operates as an enterprise-class wireless
local area network (WLAN). This device can operate three concurrent channels of IEEE (Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b, g, or a (or any combination). The 3100AG Access Point
comes configured as a dual-band access point with continuous radio frequency (RF) monitoring.
1.1.1 Key Features
Comprehensive Wi-Fi network security
Centralized configuration control for your Wi-Fi network
Automated Wi-Fi management and deployment through proprietary inter-access point protocol
and collaborative management software
Simultaneous, dual-band Wi-Fi access with integrated, non-disruptive, dual-band security
sensor in every access point
Load balancing and fast roaming between access points with Voice-over-Wi-Fi support
Includes an integrated spectrum analyzer for remote diagnostics and performance optimization
Enterprise-class RF performance for enhanced performance and coverage
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® for IEEE 802.11a/b/g, WPA, WPA2, WMM, and WMM Power Save

1.2 Dual-band RF Spectrum Analyzer
Figure 1-1: AirMaestro RF Spectrum Analyzer.
One of the wireless interfaces (WIF) can act as a security sensor. All of this occurs while the other two
interfaces provide simultaneous access in both the 2.4 and 5 gigahertz (GHz) bands.
The Bandspeed Spectrum Analyzer display shows the RF energy in real time around that specific access
point. The first line shows the 2.4 GHz frequency band, with 802.11b/g WLAN channels 1, 6, and 11
overlaid in the display. The next three rows show the 5 GHz band, with 802.11a WLAN channels overlaid in
the display.
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1.3 Security
The AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point security protocols include Wi-Fi Protected Access
(WPA), WPA+WPA2, and Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP), and 802.11i/WPA2 for enterprise-class,
interoperable WLAN security. Bandspeed enhances the basic security mechanism with additional security
features, including:
802.1x per-port user authentication with RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service)
server support
802.1x supplicant support
Secure Shell (SSH)
SNMP v1, v2
HTTP/HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
MAC address filtering
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) support
1.4 Performance and Reliability
Bandspeed wireless access point performance features ensure reliable and seamless connections for
voice, video and data users whenever they roam.
The following describes the process that occurs when AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Points
are being added to the network:
Access Point Registration: After powering up, each AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller
Access Point registers its participation in the network with the other AirMaestro 3100AG access
points through a self-discovery process. Once registered, each access point bids for the right to
perform the automated and intelligent channel selection and transmit power setting.
Access Point Bidding: Only one access point at a time wins the position to perform the auto-
configuration process. Once awarded, the access point starts the Discovery process.
Discovery Process: During the Discovery process the access point scans every WLAN channel to
detect other interfering access points within range. It scans all of the 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g
channels using WIF-1. You can see this happen by watching the WLAN channel that WIF-1 is
currently set to. Once WIF-1 completes the scan of the 2.4 GHz channels, WIF-3 starts scanning
the 5 GHz 802.11a channels.
Interference Database Development: Through both scans, the access point develops an
interference database that includes specific information on each interfering access point. This
information includes SSID, Media Access Control (MAC) address, WLAN channel the interference
was detected on, the receive signal strength RSS, and how many times packets were detected
from the interfering access point.
Running/Bid_Denied: While one AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point is in the
Discovery process, the other access point has either completed auto-configuration (status
displays as RUNNING) or is waiting to go through auto-configuration (status displays as
BID_DENIED).
Optimal Channel Selection: After an access point completes the Discovery process, it runs an
algorithm based on the information it accumulated in the interference database. This algorithm
determines the optimal channel for that specific access point to select in the 2.4 GHz band on
WIF-1. It performs the same calculation for channel selection for WIF-3 in the 5 GHz band.
Powerize Mode: The AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point enters Powerize mode,
where it communicates with other in-network 3100AG Access Points. These access points
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communicate through the air to negotiate back their Transmit Power settings. This allows them
to minimize co-interference while maximizing coverage and performance.
Dynamic Transmit Power Control: In the event an access point fails or is removed from the
network, the other AirMaestro 3100AG Virtual Controller Access Point detects the absence of
the access point and increases the transmit power to newly negotiated power levels.
1.5 Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSIDs)
Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier support allows an access point to operate as multiple separate access
points concurrently providing multiple wireless services to users in a network. Each BSSID can be
configured to provide access to different network resources incorporating a unique virtual local area
network (VLAN) and security settings per BSSID as desired.
For example, in an office environment, an access point (AP) could be used to offer three services. The first
service provides access to protected data for office users that have been authenticated. The second
service provides open Internet access to Guest Users in the Lobby while the third service provided VoIP
access to employees with Wi-Fi enabled phones.
Each one of these can be configured to operate at the same time on a single Bandspeed access point,
each providing different security and operational settings based on the needs of the service. Up to 16
BSSID’s per access point are available.
1.6 WDS Bridging and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Support
A Distribution System (DS) is typically a wired network that interconnects multiple access points into a
single local area network (LAN). A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) uses the wireless medium to
interconnect separate access points.
A WDS link can be used to create simple point-to-point connection, a complex point-to-multipoint
connection, or a multilayer topology.
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