Objective

This article explains the benefits and offers tips for Single Point Setup using WAP581 Wireless Access Points.

Introduction

Cisco Single Point Setup is a simple, multi-device management technology that allows you to deploy and manage a group of WAP581 Access Points as if it was a single access point. This can save you time and can ensure some of the wireless configurations are consistent across all access points in the group.

Single Point Setup provides a centralized method to administer and control wireless services across multiple devices. Once a wireless cluster is created, Single Point Setup facilitates channel planning across the wireless network, reducing radio interference and increasing bandwidth and performance.

Single Point Setup creates a dynamic, configuration-aware cluster (group) of Wireless Access Point (WAP) devices in the same subnet of a network. A cluster supports a group of up to 16 configured WAP581 devices. You must only have WAP581 models in the same cluster. Single Point Setup allows the management of more than one cluster in the same subnet or network; however, they are managed as single independent entities.

Important Note: The product ID (PID) of each WAP581 you intend to include in Single Point Setup must be the same. WAPs purchased in different regions may not have the same PID. For example, a PID on a WAP581 purchased for use in the United States has a PID of WAP581-A-K9. A WAP581 purchased in Canada and Mexico have a PID of WAP581-B-K9. Even though they are both WAP581 models, they will not work together.

PIDs along with the supported region details can be found on the data sheet for the respective product. Click here for the WAP581 device data sheet link.

Applicable Devices

• WAP581

Software Version

• 1.0.1.3

Single Point Setup Benefits

• Configure, manage, and better secure the wireless network from a single point rather than configuring each Access Point individually; this can save time and money for both network setup and maintenance.
• With a web-based Graphical User Interphase (GUI) and setup wizard, configuring a single Access Point and propagating some of the configuration to all the networked Access Points is further simplified and can even be done remotely.
• Expand the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) quickly and easily as your capacity requirements change and evolve, reducing operational costs.
• No additional hardware or software is required to manage your wireless network, reducing capital investment.
• Channel planning is also managed within a cluster, reducing radio interference and increasing bandwidth and coverage for optimal network performance.

Tips for Configuring Single Point Setup

1. A cluster can be created only among the same PID of two or more WAPs, each of which has Single Point Setup enabled and reference the same Single Point Setup name.

Note: A cluster supports a group of up to 16 configured WAP581 devices only.

2. The cluster name must be unique for each Single Point Setup that you configure on the network. The cluster name is not sent to other WAPs that belong to a cluster. You must configure the same name on each device that is a member of the cluster.
3. Single Point Setup works only with WAPs that are using the same type of IP addressing. Devices will not cluster if IP version (IPv4 or IPv6) is not the same.
4. You cannot enable Single Point Setup if Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is enabled. With WDS, multiple WAP devices can communicate with one another wirelessly.
5. Set up the WAP devices that will be clustered on the same IP subnet and verify that they are interconnected and accessible across the switched LAN network. You can verify the connectivity by pinging the WAP devices and accessing the GUI of the WAP devices from the Local Area Network (LAN).

Note: It is strongly recommended to run the latest firmware version on all clustered WAP devices. For assistance with upgrading firmware on a WAP, click here.

Conclusion

Now that you have some clear guidelines, you are prepared to Configure Single Point Setup on the WAP581. Click here for instructions.

To view the Single Point Setup section of the WAP581 Administration Guide, click here.

You can manage the WAP devices and upgrade the firmware using FindIT Network Management software. Click here to learn more about Cisco FindIT Network Manager.