Introduction

Overview of the Access Point

The Cisco Catalyst IW9167I Heavy Duty Access Point (IW9167I) is a robust wireless device designed for outdoor and industrial environments, featuring a durable cast-aluminum case and built-in antenna for high-throughput connectivity.

  • Supports Wi-Fi 6 and 6-GHz hardware for Wi-Fi 6E deployments, providing up to 1.2 GHz additional spectrum.

  • Operates in multiple CAPWAP AP modes: Local, Flexconnect, Sniffer, Monitor, and Site survey.

Supported features and deployment information

The IW9167I is engineered for reliable wireless connectivity in challenging environments, offering advanced features and flexible deployment options.

  • Cast-aluminum enclosure for protection against water, dust, and extreme temperatures

  • Built-in antenna for high-density Wi-Fi client support

  • Wi-Fi 6E support for increased capacity and reduced interference

The IW9167I access point can operate in multiple modes, each tailored for specific deployment scenarios and requirements.

  • Local mode : The default mode where the AP serves clients, creating two CAPWAP tunnels (management and data) to the controller for central switching.

  • Flexconnect mode : Data traffic is switched locally, not sent to the controller. The AP behaves like an autonomous AP but is managed by the controller and continues to function if the controller connection is lost.

  • Sniffer mode : The AP captures and forwards all client packets on a given channel to a remote machine running packet analyzers such as Airopeek or Wireshark, including details like timestamp, signal strength, and packet size.


    Note
    In sniffer mode, the server receiving the data must be on the same VLAN as the wireless controller management VLAN; otherwise, an error message is displayed.

  • Monitor mode : The AP acts as a dedicated sensor for location-based services, rogue AP detection, and intrusion detection, without serving client data traffic.

  • Site Survey mode : The AP GUI is enabled for configuring RF parameters during site survey investigations. For more information, see the Access Points Survey Mode section in the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Software Configuration Guide .

For more information about configuring the AP on the Wireless Controller, see the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Software Configuration Guide .