User's Manual

8 Wireless Access Point User Guide
Understanding APs, AP Groups, VAPs, & VAP Groups
Before you begin installation, you should understand how Firetide’s Hot-
View Network Management System views HotPoint Access Points.
An AP is a physical box - a computer and a radio - which can implement up
to 16 “virtual” access points. Virtual access points are the things that wire-
less clients actually see and connect to.
Each HotPoint node offers a range of network as well as radio configura-
tion options. The commands which control these features and options are
grouped logically. This makes it easy to manage large collections of physi-
cal nodes and virtual APs, once you understand the concepts.
Access Points (AP) - certain parameters, such as radio settings, are specific
to the hardware on each particular physical node.
Virtual Access Points (VAP) - HotPoint nodes support Virtual Access Points.
In general, each physical HotPoint can support up to 16 VAPs. (A HotPoint
which is the server node of a WDS cluster can only belong to one VAP.)
VAP Groups - VAPs are grouped together for management purposes. You
will create at least one VAP group, with SSID, encryption, and other param-
eters. This is the ‘access point’ that will appear to wireless clients.
Access Point Groups - In some cases, you may want to grant management
access to some nodes to one person or persons, and other nodes to other
persons. This can be done using Access Point Groups. Each HotPoint may be
assigned to an Access Point Group, or AP group. You can specify different
user names and passwords for each group.
All HotPoint commands are grouped according to whether they affect set-
tings on a physical node, a VAP Group, an AP Group, or an individual VAP.
Name
IP Address
Firewall
VPN
Name
IP Address
Firewall
VPN
Name
IP Address
Firewall
VPN
VAP Groups
VAP Group A
VAP IP Address
DHCP / DNS
NAT
VAP IP Address
DHCP / DNS
NAT
VAP IP Address
DHCP / DNS
NAT
SSID
Encryption
MAC Address Access
AP Group
Login
Password
AP APAP
VAP VAPVAP
Name
IP Address
Firewall
VPN
VAP Groups
VAP Group A
VAP IP Address
DHCP / DNS
NAT
SSID
Encryption
MAC Address Access
AP Group
Login
Password
AP
VAP
Figure 9 shows how the various domains relate to each other.
Figure 9. Matrix of Physical and Logical APs - Simple
Figures 10 and 11 show more complex arrangements of multiple APs and
multiple Virtual APs.
Figure 10. Three-AP Network