Home > Articles > Cisco Network Technology > Wireless/Optical/High Speed > Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking: Installing and Configuring Access Points

Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking: Installing and Configuring Access Points

  • Sample Chapter is provided courtesy of Cisco Press.
  • Date: Dec 1, 2005.

Chapter Description

The largest hurdle toward getting your wireless LAN (WLAN) up and running is the configuration of your access points (APs) and wireless clients. This chapter examines how to install and configure the AP.

APs as Repeaters

Most of this chapter deals with the issue of how to connect an AP to your WLAN. However, to extend the range of your WLAN, you can add a repeater AP to the network. This AP is not physically connected to the WLAN, but is instead added to augment range and the clients that access the WLAN.

Repeater Overview

The repeater forwards traffic between wireless clients and the AP connected to the wired LAN (or other repeaters). APs configured as repeaters do not forward traffic from the Ethernet port (although this might change in future versions of the software).

You can configure multiple APs as a chain of repeaters. However, throughput suffers as additional APs are added to the chain, because each repeater must receive and then retransmit the packet on the same channel. Because of this, throughput is cut in half for each repeater added.

Following are some guidelines to bear in mind when you place an AP in repeater mode:

  • It's best to use repeaters to serve clients that do not demand high throughput.
  • Cisco AP repeaters work best when clients are Cisco devices. Problems occur when third-party devices try to associate with repeater APs.
  • Ensure the data rates configured on the repeater AP match the data rates of the parent AP.

Configuring Repeater APs

Follow these steps to configure your Cisco AP as a repeater AP:

  1. The first step to configure a repeater AP is to enable Aironet extensions on both the parent and repeater APs. By default, these extensions are enabled. Aironet extensions are useful for the AP to communicate with other Cisco wireless devices. However, if you have problems getting non-Cisco equipment to talk to the AP, a first step is to disable Aironet extensions.
  2. Next, open the Security page from the menu at the left of the AP's main page.
  3. Select SSID Manager from the submenu.
  4. Click the tab at the top of the screen to indicate which radio you want to set up as a repeater.
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to the section named Global Radio0802.11G SSID Properties. Of course, if you had selected to manage the 802.11a radio, you would have to scroll to the section indicating that radio. This is shown in Figure 5-5.
    05fig05.jpg

    Figure 5-5 Selecting the Radio's SSID Properties

  6. In the Set Infrastructure SSID drop-down menu, select the name of the SSID the repeater uses to associate to a root AP.
  7. Clicking the checkbox next to the drop-down menu forces infrastructure devices to associate to the repeater AP that uses this SSID.
  8. Click Apply.
  9. Click the Express Setup selection from the menu at the left.
  10. For the radio you want to establish as a repeater, click the radio button next to Repeater Non-Root.
  11. In the Aironet Extensions section, click the radio button next to Enable.
  12. Click Apply at the bottom of the screen.

Most WLAN problems stem from improperly configured APs or clients. If you properly install and configure your APs, you are on the right track to an effective WLAN.

Configuring a Repeater Using the CLI

If you want to configure your AP as a repeater and use the command-line interface, the following is an example configuration setting. This example configures the AP with two parents:

ap1130# configure terminal
ap1130(config)# interface dot11radio 0
ap1130(config-if)# ssid qbranch
ap1130(config-ssid)# infrastructure-ssid
ap1130(config-ssid)# exit
ap1130(config-if)# station-role repeater
ap1130(config-if)# dot11 extensions aironet
ap1130(config-if)# parent 1 0012.7fc2.1bdc 1000
ap1130(config-if)# parent 2 0012.44b4.b250 1000
ap1130(config-if)# end
ao1130# copy running-config startup-config

Table 5-3 explains each command in this list.

Table 5-3. CLI Commands for Configuring an AP as a Repeater

Command

Description

configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

interface dot11radio {1 | 0}

Enters the configuration mode for the radio interface. The 2.4-GHz radio is 0; the 5-GHz radio is 1.

ssid ssid-string

Creates the SSID the repeater uses to associate to a root AP. The next step is used to designate this SSID as an infrastructure SSID. If an infrastructure SSID was created on the root AP, create the same SSID on the repeater.

infrastructure-ssid [optional]

Assigns the SSID as an infrastructure SSID. This is the SSID the repeater uses to associate to the root AP. Infrastructure devices must associate to the repeater AP and use this SSID unless the optional keyword is entered.

exit

Exits SSID configuration mode and returns to radio interface configuration.

station-role repeater

Establishes this AP's role as a repeater.

dot11 extensions aironet

Enables Aironet extensions.

parent {parent-number} mac-address [timeout]

This step is optional and is used to enter the MAC address for each AP to which the repeater should associate.

MAC addresses for up to four parents can be entered. If the repeater fails to associate to the first parent, it moves to the next on the list.

You can enter a timeout value (numerous seconds between 0 and 65535), which establishes how long the repeater tries to associate to a parent before it moves to the next.

end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

copy running-config startup-config

This step is optional and saves your entries in the configuration file.

In this example, the SSID qbranch is configured as a repeater and attempts to associate to one of two parent APs. qbranch attempts to associate to each parent for 1000 seconds before it moves on to the next.

7. Other Resources | Next Section Previous Section

Cisco Press Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Cisco Press and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Cisco Press products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@ciscopress.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Cisco Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.ciscopress.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020