User's Manual

32
Guidelines for Using the Access Point
You should keep these guidelines in mind when you use the access point:
• The access point supports Layer 3 CAPWAP communications with the controllers. In Layer 3 operation,
the access point and the controller can be on the same or different subnets. The access point
communicates with the controller using standard IP packets. Layer 3 operation is scalable and is
recommended by Cisco. Unless it has a static IP address, a Layer 3 access point on a different subnet than
the controller requires a DHCP server on the access point subnet and a route to the controller. The route
to the controller must have destination UDP ports 12222 and 12223 open for CAPWAP communications.
The routes to the primary, secondary, and tertiary controllers must allow IP packet fragments.
• Before deploying your mesh access points ensure that the following has been done:
– Your controllers are connected to switch ports that are configured as trunk ports.
– Your mesh access points are connected to switch ports that are configured as untagged access ports.
– A DHCP server is reachable by your mesh access points and has been configured with Option
43. Option 43 is used to provide the IP addresses of the Management Interfaces of your controllers.
Typically, a DHCP server can be configured on a Cisco Layer 3 switch or router.
– Optionally a DNS server can be configured to enable a local domain Cisco CAPWAP controller
(CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER.<local domain>) to resolve to the IP address of the Management
Interface of your controller.
– Your controllers are configured and reachable by the mesh access points.
– Your controllers are configured with the MAC addresses of the mesh access points.