Cisco Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
Cisco Aironet 1815m Access Point

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1About this Guide
2About the Access Point
3Safety Instructions
4Unpacking the AP
5Ports and Connectors on the AP
6Preparing the AP for Installation
7Installation Overview
8Performing a Pre-Installation Configuration
9Mounting the Access Point
10 Powering the Access Point
11 Configuring and Deploying the Access Point
12 Checking the Access Point LED
13 Miscellaneous Usage and Configuration Guidelines
14 Related Documentation
15 Declarations of Conformity and Regulatory Information

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1 About this Guide
This guide provides instructions on how to install and configure the Cisco Aironet 1815m Access
Point. This guide also provides mounting instructions and limited troubleshooting procedures.
The Cisco Aironet 1815m Access Point is referred to as the access point, or abbreviated as AP in this
document.
2 About the Access Point
The Cisco Aironet 1815m access point is an 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Wave 2) access point, with internal
antennas only. The access point can be mounted on a wall or a ceiling, and supports 2x2:2 SS
MU-MIMO applications.
Access Point Model Numbers and Regulatory Domains
The Cisco Aironet 1815m access point model has the model number format AIR-AP1815M-x-K9,
where the ‘x’ placeholder represents the regulatory domain. The ‘x’ can be any one of the supported
regulatory domains listed at:
http://www.cisco.com/go/aironet/compliance

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Access Point Features
A full listing of the access point's features and specification are provided in the Cisco Aironet 1815m
Access Point Data Sheet, at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/aironet-1815-series-access-points/datashee
t-c78-738499.html
The features of the 1815m access points are:
•Supported mode(s) of operation:
– Unified (or Local)
– Sniffer
– Monitor
– FlexConnect (Flex + Bridge modes and SE connect are not supported)
– Mobility Express
•Radio features supported are:
– 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz concurrent radios
– 2 GHz radio with 2TX x 2RX and two spatial streams SU-MIMO
– 5 GHz radio with 2TX x 2RX 802.11ac Wave 2 capable with two spatial streams SU-MIMO
and MU-MIMO
– Spectrum Analysis
– 802.11ac based Transmit Beamforming
– Quality of Service (QoS)
– Radio Resource Management (RRM)
– Rogue Detection
– BandSelect
– Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0
•The AP supports the following hardware external interfaces:
– One 10/100/1000 BASE-T (Ethernet) Uplink Interface with inline power capability,
Auto-MDIX (automatically support either straight through or crossover cables), and
802.3af/at PoE.
– RS-232 console interface through RJ45
Note The AP may face issues while booting if you use an unterminated console cable (not
plugged into any device or terminal) or a console cable that is more than one meter in
length.

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•Mode button. For information on how to use the Mode button, see “Using the Mode Button”
section on page 20.
•One multi-color LED status indicator. See the “Checking the Access Point LED” section on
page 18 for information on the colors of the LED status indicator.
•The 1815m model access point has two integrated 2.4 GHz single band antennas and two 5 GHz
single band antennas. Peak antenna gain is approximately 2 dBi and 4 dBi in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
bands respectively.
3 Safety Instructions
Translated versions of the following safety warnings are provided in the Translated Safety Warnings
for Cisco Aironet Access Points, which is available on Cisco.com.
Warning IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury.
Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical
circuitry and be familiar with standard practices for preventing accidents. Use the
statement number provided at the end of each warning to locate its translation in the
translated safety warnings that accompanied this device.
Statement 1071
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Note This equipment is not suitable for use in locations where children are likely to be present.
Note The marking information is located at the bottom of the apparatus.
Warning Read the installation instructions before you connect the system to its power source.
Statement 1004
Warning Installation of the equipment must comply with local and national electrical codes.
Statement 1074

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Warning This product relies on the building’s installation for short-circuit (overcurrent)
protection. Ensure that the protective device is rated not greater than:
20A. Statement 1005
Warning Do not operate your wireless network device near unshielded blasting caps or in an
explosive environment unless the device has been modified to be especially qualified for
such use. Statement 245B
Warning Ultimate disposal of this product should be handled according to all national laws and
regulations. Statement 1040
Caution The fasteners you use to mount an access point on a ceiling must be capable of
maintaining a minimum pullout force of 20 lbs (9 kg) and must use a minimum of 4 holes
on the mounting bracket, or a minimum of 2 holes when mounting on a network box.
Caution This product and all interconnected equipment must be installed indoors within the same
building, including the associated LAN connections as defined by Environment A of the
IEEE 802.3af/at Standard.
Note This equipment is suitable for use in environment air spaces (plenums) in accordance with
Section 300.22 (C) of the National Electrical Code, and Sections 2-128, 12-010(3) and 12-100
of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, CSA C22.2. External power supply, power adapter
and/or power injector, if provided, are not suitable installation in air spaces.
Note Use only with listed Information Technology Equipment (ITE) equipment. For more
information on ITE equipment, refer to article 645 of the latest National Electrical Code
(NEC).

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4 Unpacking the AP
To unpack the access point, follow these steps:
Step 1 Unpack and remove the access point and the mounting accessories, from the shipping box.
Step 2 Return any packing material to the shipping container and save it for future use.
Step 3 Verify that you have received the items listed below. If any item is missing or damaged, contact
your Cisco representative or reseller for instructions.
– The access point.
– Mounting bracket AIR-AP-BRACKET-8, only if selected when you ordered the access point.
Can be ordered separately also.
– T-RAIL clips and Channel Adapter (only if selected when you ordered the access point).
5 Ports and Connectors on the AP
The 1815m series access points have an LED indicator on the face of the unit, above the Cisco logo,
as shown in Figure 1. For information on the LED scheme, see the “Access Point Status LED” section
on page 18.
The ports and connections on the access point are shown in Figure 2.

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Figure 1 Access Point Status LED and Ports Location
Tip The Cisco Aironet 1815m access point looks visually similar to the 1815i AP. However, the
Cisco logo on the 1815m has a deep blue color, unlike the grey colored logo on the 1815i.
1
Status LED.
For more information, see the “Access Point Status LED” section on page 18
2
Security screw hole location, where the security screw locks the AP to its mounting bracket,
AIR-AP-BRACKET-8
3Location of the console port, the PoE port, and the Mode button.
354952
1
2
3

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Figure 2 Access Point Ports and Mode Button
Figure 3 AIR-AP-BRACKET-8
1RJ45 console port
2PoE-In port (Ethernet Uplink port)
3Mode button.
For information on how to use the Mode button, see “Using the Mode Button” section on
page 20.
354953
1 2 3
354954

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6 Preparing the AP for Installation
Before you mount and deploy your access point, we recommend that you perform a site survey (or use
the site planning tool) to determine the best location to install your access point.
You should have the following information about your wireless network available:
•Access point locations.
•Access point mounting options: on a wall or a ceiling only.
Note You can mount the access point above a suspended ceiling but you must purchase
additional mounting hardware: See “Mounting the Access Point” section on page 14 for
additional information.
•Powered by 802.3af, through PoE from a network device or a PoE power injector or hub (usually
located in a wiring closet).
Note Access points mounted in a building’s environmental airspace must be powered using PoE
to comply with safety regulations.
Cisco recommends that you make a site map showing access point locations so that you can record the
device MAC addresses from each location and return them to the person who is planning or managing
your wireless network.
7 Installation Overview
Installing the access point involves these operations:
Step 1 Performing a Pre-Installation Configuration, page 11 (optional)
Step 2 Mounting the Access Point, page 14
Step 3 Powering the Access Point, page 14
Step 4 Configuring and Deploying the Access Point, page 15

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8 Performing a Pre-Installation Configuration
The following procedures ensure that your access point installation and initial operation go as
expected. This procedure is optional.
Note Performing a pre-installation configuration is an optional procedure. If your network
controller is properly configured, you can install your access point in its final location and
connect it to the network from there. See the “Deploying the Access Point on the Wireless
Network” section on page 17 for details.
The pre-installation configuration setup is illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 4 Pre-Installation Configuration Setup
To perform pre-installation configuration, perform the following steps:
Controller
Layer 3
devices
Cisco wireless
access points
272488

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Step 1 Make sure that the Cisco wireless LAN controller DS port is connected to the network. Use
the CLI, web-browser interface, or Cisco Prime Infrastructure procedures as described in the
appropriate Cisco wireless LAN controller guide.
a. Make sure that access points have Layer 3 connectivity to the Cisco wireless LAN controller
Management and AP-Manager Interface.
b. Configure the switch to which your access point is to attach. See the Cisco Wireless LAN
Controller Configuration Guide for the release you are using, for additional information.
c. Set the Cisco wireless LAN controller as the master so that new access points always join with
it.
d. Make sure DHCP is enabled on the network. The access point must receive its IP address
through DHCP.
e. CAPWAP UDP ports must not be blocked in the network.
f. The access point must be able to find the IP address of the controller. This can be
accomplished using DHCP, DNS, or IP subnet broadcast. This guide describes the DHCP
method to convey the controller IP address. For other methods, refer to the product
documentation. See also the “Configuring DHCP Option 43” section on page 23 for more
information.
Note The access point requires a Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) link to prevent the Ethernet port from
becoming a bottleneck for traffic because wireless traffic speeds exceed transmit speeds
of a 10/100 Ethernet port.
Step 2 Apply power to the access point. See “Powering the Access Point” section on page 14.
a. As the access point attempts to connect to the controller, the LED cycles through a green, red,
and amber sequence, which can take up to 5 minutes.
Note If the access point remains in this mode for more than five minutes, the access point is
unable to find the Master Cisco wireless LAN controller. Check the connection between
the access point and the Cisco wireless LAN controller and be sure that they are on the
same subnet.
b. If the access point shuts down, check the power source.
c. After the access point finds the Cisco wireless LAN controller, it attempts to download the
new operating system code if the access point code version differs from the Cisco wireless
LAN controller code version. While this is happening, the Status LED blinks amber.

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d. If the operating system download is successful, the access point reboots.
Step 3 Configure the access point if required. Use the controller CLI, controller GUI, or Cisco Prime
Infrastructure to customize the access-point-specific 802.11ac network settings.
Step 4 If the pre-installation configuration is successful, the Status LED is green indicating normal
operation. Disconnect the access point and mount it at the location at which you intend to
deploy it on the wireless network.
Step 5 If your access point does not indicate normal operation, turn it off and repeat the
pre-installation configuration.
Note When you are installing a Layer 3 access point on a different subnet than the Cisco
wireless LAN controller, be sure that a DHCP server is reachable from the subnet on
which you will be installing the access point, and that the subnet has a route back to
the Cisco wireless LAN controller. Also be sure that the route back to the Cisco
wireless LAN controller has destination UDP ports 5246 and 5247 open for CAPWAP
communications. Ensure that the route back to the primary, secondary, and tertiary
wireless LAN controller allows IP packet fragments. Finally, be sure that if address
translation is used, that the access point and the Cisco wireless LAN controller have
a static 1-to-1 NAT to an outside address. (Port Address Translation is not
supported.)

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9 Mounting the Access Point
Cisco Aironet 1815m series access points can be mounted in several configurations – on a suspended
ceiling, on a hard ceiling or wall, or in the plenum air space above a suspended ceiling. You can mount
the AP on an electrical or network box.
Note When mounting the AP in the plenum air space or above a suspended ceiling, it should be
mounted on a vertical wall or with the face of the AP (having the status LED) directed
downwards.
The standard mounting hardware supported by the AP is listed in Table 1.
10 Powering the Access Point
The AP can be powered using only Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), from:
•a network device supplying PoE power of 802.3af Class 0 or greater.
•Cisco power injectors AIR-PWRINJ5 or AIR-PWRINJ6.
Table 1 Bracket and Clips for Mounting the AP
Part Number Description
Bracket AIR-AP-BRACKET-8 Mounting bracket for ceiling and wall. See Figure 3.
Clips AIR-AP-T-RAIL-R Ceiling Grid Clip (Recessed mounting)
(This is the default option)
AIR-AP-T-RAIL-F Ceiling Grid Clip (Flush mounting)
AIR-CHNL-ADAPTER Optional adapter for channel-rail ceiling grid profile.

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11 Configuring and Deploying the Access Point
This section describes how to connect the access point to a wireless LAN controller. The configuration
process takes place on the controller. See the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide for
additional information.
For information on configuring the access point, see the following documents:
•For Lightweight Access Points and Mesh Access Points, see the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller
Configuration Guide, available at:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/wireless-lan-controller-software/products-installa
tion-and-configuration-guides-list.html
•For a Mobility Express deployment, see the Cisco Mobility Express Configuration and User
Guide, available at:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/mobility-express/products-installation-and-config
uration-guides-list.html
The Controller Discovery Process
The access point uses standard Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points Protocol
(CAPWAP) to communicate between the controller and other wireless access points on the network.
CAPWAP is a standard, inter-operable protocol which enables an access controller to manage a
collection of wireless termination points. The discovery process using CAPWAP is identical to the
Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) used with previous Cisco Aironet access points.
LWAPP-enabled access points are compatible with CAPWAP, and conversion to a CAPWAP controller
is seamless. Deployments can combine CAPWAP and LWAPP software on the controllers.
The functionality provided by the controller does not change except for customers who have Layer 2
deployments, which CAPWAP does not support.
In a CAPWAP environment, a wireless access point discovers a controller by using CAPWAP discovery
mechanisms and then sends it a CAPWAP join request. The controller sends the access point a
CAPWAP join response allowing the access point to join the controller. When the access point joins
the controller, the controller manages its configuration, firmware, control transactions, and data
transactions.
Note For additional information about the discovery process and CAPWAP, see the Cisco Wireless
LAN Controller Software Configuration Guide. This document is available on Cisco.com.

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Note CAPWAP support is provided in controller software release 5.2 or later. However, your
controller must be running the release that supports 1815m series access points, as specified
in the access point’s data sheet.
Note You cannot edit or query any access point using the controller CLI if the name of the access
point contains a space.
Note Make sure that the controller is set to the current time. If the controller is set to a time that
has already passed, the access point might not join the controller because its certificate may
not be valid for that time.
Access points must be discovered by a controller before they can become an active part of the network.
The access point supports these controller discovery processes:
•Layer 3 CAPWAP discovery—Can occur on different subnets than the access point and uses IP
addresses and UDP packets.
•Locally stored controller IP address discovery—If the access point was previously joined to a
controller, the IP addresses of the primary, secondary, and tertiary controllers are stored in the
access point’s non-volatile memory. This process of storing controller IP addresses on an access
point for later deployment is called priming the access point. For more information about priming,
see the “Performing a Pre-Installation Configuration” section on page 11.
•DHCP server discovery—This feature uses DHCP option 43 to provide controller IP addresses to
the access points. Cisco switches support a DHCP server option that is typically used for this
capability. For more information about DHCP option 43, see the “Configuring DHCP Option 43”
section on page 23.
•DNS discovery—The access point can discover controllers through your domain name server
(DNS). For the access point to do so, you must configure your DNS to return controller IP
addresses in response to CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER.localdomain, where localdomain is
the access point domain name. Configuring the CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER provides
backwards compatibility in an existing customer deployment. When an access point receives an IP
address and DNS information from a DHCP server, it contacts the DNS to resolve
CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER.localdomain. When the DNS sends a list of controller IP
addresses, the access point sends discovery requests to the controllers.

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Deploying the Access Point on the Wireless Network
After you have mounted the access point, follow these steps to deploy it on the wireless network:
Step 1 Connect and power up the access point.
Step 2 Observe the access point LED (for LED descriptions, see “Checking the Access Point LED”
section on page 18).
a. When you power up the access point, it begins a power-up sequence that you can verify by
observing the access point LED. If the power-up sequence is successful, the discovery and join
process begins. During this process, the LED blinks sequentially green, red, and off. When the
access point has joined a controller, the LED is chirping green if no clients are associated or
green if one or more clients are associated.
b. If the LED is not on, the access point is most likely not receiving power.
c. If the LED blinks sequentially for more than 5 minutes, the access point is unable to find its
primary, secondary, and tertiary Cisco wireless LAN controller. Check the connection
between the access point and the Cisco wireless LAN controller, and be sure the access point
and the Cisco wireless LAN controller are either on the same subnet or that the access point
has a route back to its primary, secondary, and tertiary Cisco wireless LAN controller. Also,
if the access point is not on the same subnet as the Cisco wireless LAN controller, be sure that
there is a properly configured DHCP server on the same subnet as the access point. See the
“Configuring DHCP Option 43” section on page 23 for additional information.
Step 3 Reconfigure the Cisco wireless LAN controller so that it is not the Master.
Note A Master Cisco wireless LAN controller should be used only for configuring access
points and not in a working network.

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12 Checking the Access Point LED
Access Point Status LED
Note It is expected that there will be small variations in the LED color intensity and hue from unit
to unit. This is within the normal range of the LED manufacturer’s specifications and is not a
defect.
The access point status LED indicates various conditions which are described in Table 2.
Table 2 LED Status Indications
Message
Type
LED State Message
Meaning
Boot loader status
sequence
Blinking Green DRAM memory test in progress
DRAM memory test OK
Board initialization in progress
Initializing FLASH file system
FLASH memory test OK
Initializing Ethernet
Ethernet OK
Starting the Cisco AP-OS operating system of the
AP
Initialization successful
Association status Chirping Green Normal operating condition, but no wireless
client associated
Green Normal operating condition with at least one
wireless client association
Operating status Blinking Amber Software upgrade is in progress.
Cycling through Green,
Red, and Amber
Discovery/join process is in progress.
Rapidly cycling
through Red, Green,
Amber, and off.
Access point location command invoked from
controller web interface.
Blinking Red Ethernet link is not operational.

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Ethernet Port LEDs
The Ethernet port has two LEDs for showing Link (Green) and Activity (Amber) statuses. They are
integrated on the RJ45 connector. For a description of the statuses they indicate, see the following
table.
Boot loader warnings Blinking Amber Configuration recovery in progress (Mode button
pushed for 2 to 3 seconds)
Red Ethernet failure or image recovery (Mode button
pushed for 20 to 30 seconds)
Blinking Green Image recovery in progress (Mode button
released)
Boot loader errors Red DRAM memory test failure
Blinking Red and
Amber
FLASH file system failure
Blinking Red and off One of the following:
•Environment variable failure
•Bad MAC address
•Ethernet failure during image recovery
•Boot environment failure
•No Cisco image file
•Boot failure
Cisco Access Point
Operating System
(AP-OS) errors
Red Software failure; try disconnecting and
reconnecting unit power
Cycling through Red,
Green, Amber and off.
General warning; insufficient inline power
10M
Link
10M
Active
100M
Link
100M
Active
1000M
Link
1000M
Active
Link (Green) LED State Off Off Off Off On On
Activity (Amber) LED State On Blinking On Blinking On Blinking
Table 2 LED Status Indications (continued)
Message
Type
LED State Message
Meaning

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13 Miscellaneous Usage and Configuration Guidelines
Using the Mode Button
Using the Mode button (see Figure 2) you can:
•Reset the AP to it’s default factory-shipped configuration
•Clear the AP internal storage including all configuration files
To use the mode button, press, and keep pressed, the mode button on the access point during the AP
boot cycle. Wait until the AP status LED changes to Amber. During this, the AP console shows a
seconds counter, counting the number of seconds the mode button is pressed. Then:
•To reset the AP to default factory-shipped configuration, keep the mode button pressed for less
than 20 seconds. The AP configuration files are cleared.
This resets all configuration settings to factory defaults, including passwords, encryption keys, the
IP address, and the SSID. However, the regulatory domain provisioning is not reset.
•To clear the AP internal storage, including all configuration files, keep the mode button pressed
for more than 20 seconds, but less than 60 seconds.
The AP status LED changes from Amber to Red, and all the files in the AP storage directory are
cleared.
If you keep the mode button pressed for more than 60 seconds, the mode button is assumed faulty and
no changes are made.