Table Of Contents

Troubleshooting

Checking the Top Panel Indicators

Checking Basic Settings

SSID

WEP Keys

Security Settings

Resetting to the Default Configuration

Troubleshooting

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This chapter provides troubleshooting procedures for basic problems with the access point. For additional diagnostic and troubleshooting information, refer to the Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point Software Configuration Guide. For the most up-to-date troubleshooting information, refer to the Cisco TAC website at the following URL (select Top Issues and then select Wireless Technologies):

http://www.cisco.com/tac

Sections in this chapter include:

•Checking the Top Panel Indicators

•Checking Basic Settings

•Resetting to the Default Configuration

Checking the Top Panel Indicators

If your access point is not communicating, check the three indicators on the top panel. You can use them to quickly assess the unit's status. Figure 7-1 shows the indicators.

Figure 7-1 Indicators on the 1200 Series Access Point

The indicators signals have the following meanings:

•The Ethernet indicator signals traffic on the wired LAN, or Ethernet infrastructure. This indicator blinks green when a packet is received or transmitted over the Ethernet infrastructure. The indicator is off when the Ethernet cable is not connected.

•The status indicator signals operational status. Blinking green indicates that the access point is operating normally but is not associated with any wireless devices. Steady green indicates that the access point is associated with a wireless client.

For repeater access points, blinking 50% on, 50% off indicates the repeater is not associated with the root access point; blinking 7/8 on, 1/8 off indicates that the repeater is associated with the root access point but no client devices are associated with the repeater; steady green indicates that the repeater is associated with the root access point and client devices are associated with the repeater.

•The radio indicator blinks green to indicate radio traffic activity. The light is normally off, but it blinks green whenever a packet is received or transmitted over the access point's radio.

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Note The Radio and Status indicators are used for both 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz radio operation.

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Table 7-1 lists the meanings of the indicator signals.

Table 7-1 Top Panel Indicator Signals

Message type	Ethernet indicator	Status indicator	Radio indicator	Meaning
Association status	-	Steady green	-	At least one wireless client device is associated with the unit.
	-	Blinking green	-	No client devices are associated; check the unit's SSID and WEP settings.
Operational	-	Steady green	Blinking green	Transmitting/receiving radio packets.
	Blinking green	Steady green	-	Transmitting/receiving Ethernet packets.
	-	Steady green	Blinking amber	Maximum retries or buffer full occurred on the radio.
Error/warning	Blinking amber	Steady green	-	Transmit/receive Ethernet errors.
	-	Blinking amber	-	General warning.
Failure	Steady red	Steady red	Steady red	Firmware failure; disconnect power from the unit and reapply power.
Firmware upgrade	-	Steady red	-	Unit is loading new firmware.

Checking Basic Settings

Mismatched basic settings are the most common causes of lost connectivity with wireless clients. If the access point does not communicate with client devices, check the following areas.

SSID

The wireless clients attempting to associate with the access point must use the same SSID as the access point. The default SSID is tsunami for both the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz radios.

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Note The dual-mode access point can support different SSIDs for the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz radios.

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WEP Keys

The WEP key you use to transmit data must be set up exactly the same on your access point and any wireless devices with which it associates. For example, if you set WEP Key 3 on your wireless LAN adapter to 0987654321 and select it as the transmit key, you must also set WEP Key 3 on the access point to exactly the same value. The access point does not need to use Key 3 as its transmit key, however.

Refer to the Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point Software Configuration Guide for instructions on setting the access point's WEP keys.

Security Settings

Wireless clients attempting to authenticate with your access point must support the same security options configured in the access point, such as EAP or LEAP, MAC address authentication, Message Integrity Check (MIC), WEP key hashing, and 802.1X protocol versions.

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Note In the dual-mode access point, the security settings can be different for the 2.4-GHz and the 5-GHz wireless LANs.

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If a wireless client is unable to authenticate with your access point, contact the system administrator for proper security settings in the client adapter and for the wireless client adapter driver and firmware versions that are compatible with the access point settings.

Refer to the Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point Software Configuration Guide for instructions on setting and verifying the access point's security options.

Resetting to the Default Configuration

If you forget the password that allows you to configure the access point, you may need to completely reset the configuration. Follow the steps below to delete the current configuration and return all access point settings to the factory defaults.

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Note The following steps reset all configuration settings to factory defaults, including passwords, WEP keys, the IP address, and the SSID. If you do not need to reset the entire configuration, use the Configuration Reset buttons on the System Configuration Setup page in the web-browser interface. Consult the Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point Software Configuration Guide for more information on the reset buttons in the Internet browser interface.

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Step 1 Connect a DB-9 to RJ-45 serial cable (Cisco part number AIR-CONCAB1200) to the COM port on your computer and to the serial port on the back of the access point. For serial cable pinouts refer to "Console Cable Pinouts."

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Note Both the Ethernet and console ports use RJ-45 connectors. Be careful to avoid accidently connecting the serial cable to the Ethernet port connector.

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Step 2 Open a terminal-emulation program on your computer.

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Note These instructions describe Microsoft HyperTeminal; other programs are similar.

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Step 3 In the Connection Description window, enter a name and select an icon for the connection and click OK.

Step 4 In the Connect To window, select the port to which the cable is connected and click OK.

Step 5 In the Port Settings window, enter the following settings:

•Bits per second (baud rate): 9600

•Data bits: 8

•Parity: No parity

•Stop bits: 1

•Flow control: Xon/Xoff or None

Step 6 Click OK, and press Enter.

Step 7 When the Summary Status screen appears, reboot the access point by unplugging the power connector or the Ethernet cable (when using in-line power) and then plugging it back in.

Step 8 When the access point reboots and the Summary Status screen reappears, type :resetall, and press Enter.

Step 9 Type yes, and press Enter to confirm the command.

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Note The resetall command is valid for only 2 minutes immediately after the access point reboots. If you do not enter and confirm the resetall command during that 2-minute period, reboot the access point again.

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Step 10 After the access point reboots and the Express Setup screen appears, reconfigure the access point by using the terminal emulator or an Internet browser.

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