Cisco Small Business AP541N Instruction Manual

Cisco Small Business
AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point
OL-20285-01
ADMINISTRATION
GUIDE

AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Administration Guide i
Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Started 1
Administrator Computer Requirements 2
Administration PC IP Address 3
Connecting the Access Point to a PC 3
Connect the Access Point to an Administration PC 4
Connecting the Access Point to the PC by using a Direct Cable Connection4
Connecting the Access Point to the PC through a Network Connection 5
Launching the Access Point Configuration Utility 6
Display the Configuration Utility By Using the Default IP Address 6
Display the Configuration Utility by Using Cisco Configuration Assistant 2.1 or
higher 9
Display the Configuration Utility by Using Another IP Address 11
Troubleshooting Your Connection 13
Using the Ping Command to Test the Connection 13
Possible Cause of Failure 13
Resetting the Device by using the Reset Button 14
Configuring the Access Point by using the Getting Started Page 15
Access Point Configuration 15
Access Point Management Page 16
Wireless Configuration Page 16
Wireless Client Requirements 16
Verifying the Installation 18
Configuring Security on the Wireless Access Point 19
Chapter 2: Status 21
Device Information 22
Network Interfaces 23
Wired Settings 24
Wireless Settings 24
Traffic Statistics 24
Associated Clients 27
Link Integrity Monitoring 29

AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Administration Guide ii
Contents
Rogue AP Detection 29
Save or Import a List of Known Access Points 34
Chapter 3: Setup 35
LAN Settings 35
Configuring 802.1X Authentication 38
Enabling the Network Time Protocol 41
Chapter 4: Wireless 47
Modifying Wireless Radio Settings 47
Modifying Virtual Access Point Settings 50
Security (Mode) 58
Client Connection Control 71
Configuring a MAC Filter and Station List on the Access Point 71
Configuring MAC Authentication on the RADIUS Server 74
Modifying Advanced Settings 74
Configuring the Wireless Distribution System 85
WEP on WDS Links 88
WPA/PSK on WDS Links 89
Bandwidth Utilization 90
Configuring Quality of Service (QoS) 91
Chapter 5: SNMP 97
Configuring SNMP on the Access Point 97
Configuring SNMP Views 101
Configuring SNMP Groups 103
Configuring SNMP Users 106
SNMP Targets 108

AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Administration Guide iii
Contents
Chapter 6: Administration 111
Administrator 111
Access Point Configuration 113
Resetting the Access Point to the Factory Default Configuration 114
Saving the Current Configuration to a Backup File 114
Saving the Current Configuration by using TFTP 114
Saving the Current Configuration by using HTTP 115
Restoring the Configuration from a Previously Saved File 115
Restoring the Current Configuration by using TFTP 115
Restoring the Current Configuration by Using HTTP 116
Rebooting the Access Point 117
Software Upgrade 117
Upgrading the Software by using TFTP 117
Upgrading the Software by Using HTTP 119
Event Logs 120
Configuring Persistent Logging Options 121
Configuring the Log Relay Host for Kernel Messages 123
Enabling or Disabling the Log Relay Host on the Events Page 124
Configuring the Web Server Settings 125
Creating an Administration Access Control List 127
Chapter 7: Clustering Multiple Access Points 129
Managing Access Points in the Cluster 129
Clustering Single and Dual Radio Access Points 130
Viewing and Configuring Cluster Members 130
Removing an Access Point from the Cluster 133
Adding an Access Point to a Cluster 133
Navigating to Configuration Information for a Specific Access Point 134
Navigating to an Access Point by Using its IP Address in a URL 134
Managing Cluster Sessions 134
Sorting Session Information 137
Configuring and Viewing Channel Management Settings 137

AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Administration Guide iv
Contents
Stopping/Starting Automatic Channel Assignment 139
Viewing Current Channel Assignments and Setting Locks 139
Viewing the Last Proposed Set of Changes 140
Configuring Advanced Settings 141
Viewing Wireless Neighborhood Information 142
Viewing Details for a Cluster Member 146
Chapter 8: Configuration Examples 149
Configuring a VAP 150
VAP Configuration from the Web Interface 151
VAP Configuration Using SNMP 152
Configuring Wireless Radio Settings 153
Wireless Radio Configuration from the Web Interface 153
Wireless Radio Configuration Using SNMP 155
Configuring the Wireless Distribution System 155
WDS Configuration from the Web Interface 156
WDS Configuration Using SNMP 157
Clustering Access Points 158
Clustering APs by Using the Web Interface 158
Clustering Access Points by Using SNMP 160
Appendix 9:Default Settings 161
Appendix 10:Where to Go From Here 165

1
Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Quick Start Guide 1
Getting Started
The Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point is an advanced,
standards-based solution for wireless networking in businesses of any size. The
access point enables wireless local area network (WLAN) deployment while
providing state-of-the-art wireless networking features.
The access point operates in Standalone Mode. In Standalone Mode, the access
point acts as an individual access point in the network, and you manage it by using
the Access Point Configuration Utility, or SNMP.
This document describes how to perform the setup, management, and
maintenance of the access point in Standalone Mode. Before you power on a new
access point, review the following sections to check required hardware and
software components, client configurations, and compatibility issues. Make sure
you have everything you need for a successful launch and test of your new or
extended wireless network.
This chapter contains the following topics:
•Administrator Computer Requirements
•Connecting the Access Point to a PC
•Troubleshooting Your Connection
•Configuring the Access Point by using the Getting Started Page
•Verifying the Installation
•Configuring Security on the Wireless Access Point
To manage the access point by using the Web interface, the access point needs
an IP address. If you use VLANs or IEEE 802.1X Authentication (port security) on
your network, you might need to configure additional settings on the access point
before it can connect to the network.

Getting Started
Administrator Computer Requirements
2 Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Quick Start Guide
1
NOTE The WLAN AP is not designed to function as a gateway to the Internet. To connect
your WLAN to other LANs or the Internet, you need a gateway device.
Administrator Computer Requirements
Table 1 describes the minimum requirements for the personal computer for the
initial configuration and administration of the access point through a Access Point
Configuration Utility.
Table 1 Requirements for Configuration
Required Software
or Component
Description
Ethernet Connection
to the Access Point
The computer used to configure the access point must
be connected to the access point by an Ethernet cable.
The IP address must be on the same subnet as the
access point. The subnet mask must match the subnet
mask of the access point. The Administration PC IP
Address section describes the procedure for changing
these parameters on a PC running Windows.
Web Browser and
Operating System
The following Web browsers can be used to display
the access point Configuration Utility Web pages:
•Microsoft®Internet Explorer®version 6.x or 7.x
(with up-to-date patch level for either major
version) and Mozilla Firefox 3.x on Microsoft
Windows®XP or Microsoft Windows 2000
•Mozilla Firefox 3.x on Redhat®Linux®version 2.4
or later
The Web browser must have JavaScript™ enabled to
support the interactive features of the Configuration
Utility interface.
Security Settings Ensure that security is disabled on the wireless client
used initially to configure the access point. Once the
device has been configured, security can be enabled.

Getting Started
Connecting the Access Point to a PC
Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Quick Start Guide 3
1
Administration PC IP Address
We recommend that if you are starting from the default configuration or this is the
first time the device will be configured that you configure the device before you
deploy it in the network by using the access point default static IP address
(192.168.10.10). To do so, the PC IP address must be on the same subnet as the
access point.
Verify that your PC IP address is set to an address on the same subnet as the
access point:
STEP 1 From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings > Control Panel.
STEP 2 On the Control Panel dialog box, click Network.
STEP 3 In the Network dialog box select TCP/IP for your PC Ethernet card, then click
Properties.
STEP 4 In the IP Address window, click Specify an IP address.
STEP 5 In the IP Address field, enter an IP address that is in the same subnet as the access
point IP address. (The default access point IP address is 192.168.10.10. The
default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.) For example, you can set the:
PC IP address to 192.168.10.250
PC IP subnet mask to 255.255.255.0
STEP 6 In the Subnet Mask field, type 255.255.255.0.
STEP 7 Click OK.
STEP 8 If you are prompted to restart your PC, click Yes .
Connecting the Access Point to a PC
To configure the access point, you can connect the access point directly to an
administration PC or through the network to an administration PC.
If you are not using CCA to configure the access point, we recommend that you configure
the device before deploying it in the network by following the instructions in the “Connect
the Access Point to an Administration PC” section. Otherwise, follow the instructions in
the “Connecting the Access Point to the PC through a Network Connection”

Getting Started
Connecting the Access Point to a PC
4 Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Quick Start Guide
1
Connect the Access Point to an Administration PC
You can connect the access point to a administration PC directly or through the
network. We recommend that you connect the access point directly to the PC
unless you are using CCA to configure the access point.
Connecting the Access Point to the PC by using a Direct Cable
Connection
To connect the access point to an administration PC, use a direct-cable
connection:
STEP 1 Connect one end of an Ethernet straight-through or crossover cable to the network
port on the access point, as shown in Figure 1.
STEP 2 Connect the other end of the cable to the Ethernet port on the PC.
Figure 1 Connecting the Access Point Using a Direct-Cable Connection
If you use this method, you will need to reconfigure the cabling for subsequent
startup and deployment of the access point so that the access point is no longer
connected directly to the PC but instead is connected to the LAN (either by using a
hub or a switch).
STEP 3 Connect the power adapter to the power port on the back of the access point.
STEP 4 Plug the other end of the power cord into a power outlet.
STEP 5 Configure the access point by following the instructions in the “Display the
Configuration Utility By Using the Default IP Address” section.
195057
192.168.10.10
255.255.255.0
192.168.10.250
255.255.255.0

Getting Started
Connecting the Access Point to a PC
Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Quick Start Guide 5
1
Connecting the Access Point to the PC through a Network Connection
To connect the access point to an administration PC through the network:
STEP 1 Connect one end of an Ethernet straight-through or crossover cable to the network
port on the access point, as shown in Figure 2.
STEP 2 Connect the other end to the same hub or switch where your PC is connected.
Figure 2 Connecting the Access Point Using a LAN Connection
The hub or switch you use must permit broadcast signals from the access point to
reach the other devices on the network.
STEP 3 If you are not using PoE, connect the power adapter to the power port on the back
of the access point, then plug the other end of the power cord into a power outlet.