With ADP, APs send out periodic multicast and broadcast queries to locate the master controller. If the APs are in the same broadcast domain as the master controller, the controller automatically responds to the APs’ queries with its IP address. If the APs are not in the same broadcast domain as the master controller, you need to enable multicast on the network. If multicast is not an option, then the APs can be configured to use DNS or DHCP based provisioning to contact the controller.
Run the RF Plan Utility
RF Plan is a wireless deployment modeling tool available in the controller WebUI. RF Plan helps you design an efficient Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that optimizes coverage and performance, allows you to specify how much wireless coverage you want to provide for each area, and generates coverage maps with AP and AM placement.
Unlike other static site survey tools that require administrators to have intricate knowledge of building materials and other potential radio frequency (RF) hazards, RF Plan calibrates coverage in
Plan for a Mesh Network Environment
NOTE: The information in this section applies only if you are configuring and deploying APs in a mesh networking environment. If you are not, proceed to “Install the APs” on page 6.
Before you install APs in a mesh networking environment, you must do the following:
Define and configure the mesh cluster profile and mesh radio profile before configuring an AP to operate as a mesh node. An AP configured for mesh is also known as a mesh node.
Provision one of the following mesh roles on the AP:
Mesh portal: The gateway between the wireless mesh network and the enterprise wired LAN.
Mesh point: APs that can provide traditional Dell WLAN services (such as client connectivity, intrusion detection system (IDS) capabilities, user roles association,
For detailed provisioning guidelines, caveats, and instructions, see the “Secure Enterprise Mesh” chapter in the Dell PowerConnect
Install the APs
Refer to the AP placement map generated by RF Plan to identify the locations in which to physically install your APs. You can either connect the AP directly to a port on the controller, or connect the AP to another switch or router that has
Once an AP is connected to the network and powered up, it will automatically attempt to locate the controller. You can view a list of all APs connected to the controller by accessing the Configuration > Wireless > AP Installation page in the controller WebUI.
An AP installed on the network advertises its default SSID. Wireless users can connect to this SSID, but will not have access to the network until you configure authentication policies and user roles for your wireless users. For complete details on authentication policies and user roles, refer to the Dell PowerConnect
6 | Dell PowerConnect |