User's Manual

486 | Access Points (APs) Dell Networking W-Series ArubaOS 6.4.x| User Guide
Features
and
Function
Description
Wireless LANs A wireless LAN (WLAN) permits wireless clients to connect to the network. An AP
broadcasts the SSID (which corresponds to a WLAN configured on the controller) to
wireless clients. APs support multiple SSIDs. WLAN configuration includes the
authentication method and the authentication servers by which wireless users are
validated for access.
The WebUI includes a WLAN Wizard that provides easy-to-follow steps to configure a new
WLAN.
NOTE: All new WLANs are associated with the ap-group named “default”.
AP operation An AP can function as an AP that serves clients, as an air monitor (AM) performing network
and radio frequency (RF) monitoring, or as a hybrid AP that serves both clients and
performs spectrum analysis a single radio channel. You can also specify the regulatory
domain (the country) which determines the 802.11 transmission spectrum in which the AP
will operate. Within the regulated transmission spectrum, you can configure 802.11a,
802.11b/g, or 802.11n (high-throughput) radio settings.
NOTE: The 802.11n features, such as high-throughput and 40 MHz configuration settings,
are supported on APs that are 802.11n standard compliant.
Quality of
Service (QoS)
Configure Voice over IP call admission control options and bandwidth allocation for 5 GHz
(802.11a) or 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) frequency bands of traffic.
RF
Management
Configure settings for balancing wireless traffic across APs, detect holes in radio coverage,
or other metrics that can indicate interference and potential problems on the wireless
network.
Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) is an RF spectrum management technology that allows
each AP to determine the best 802.11 channel and transmit power settings. ARM provides
several configurable settings.
Intrusion
Detection
System
Configure settings to detect and disable rogue APs, ad-hoc networks, and unauthorized
devices, and prevent attacks on the network. You can also configure signatures to detect
and prevent intrusions and attacks.
Mesh Configure Dell APs as mesh nodes to bridge multiple Ethernet LANs or extend wireless
coverage. A mesh node is either
l a mesh portal: an AP that uses its wired interface to reach the controller
l a mesh point:an AP that establishes a path to the controller via the mesh portal
Mesh environments use a wireless backhaul to carry traffic between mesh nodes. This
allows one 802.11 radio to carry traditional WLAN services to clients and one 802.11 radio
to carry mesh traffic and WLAN services. Secure Enterprise Mesh on page 533 contains
more specific information on the Mesh feature.
Table 92: AP Configuration Function Overview
Naming and Grouping APs
In the Dell user-centric network, each AP has a unique name and belongs to an AP group.
Each AP is identified with an automatically-derived name. The default name depends on if the AP has been
previously configured.
l The AP has not been configured—the name is the AP’s Ethernet MAC address in colon-separated
hexadecimal digits.
l Configured with a previous ArubaOS release—the name is in the format building.floor.location