Chapter 7 Controlling Lightweight Access Points

Autonomous Access Points Converted to Lightweight Mode

Controllers Accept SSCs from Access Points Converted to Lightweight Mode

The lightweight access point protocol (LWAPP) secures the control communication between the access point and controller by means of a secure key distribution requiring X.509 certificates on both the access point and controller. LWAPP relies on a priori provisioning of the X.509 certificates. Factory installed certificates are referenced by the term MIC, which is an acronym for manufacturing-installed certificate. Cisco Aironet access points shipped before July 18, 2005 do not have a MIC, so these access points create a self-signed certificate (SSC) when upgraded to operate in lightweight mode. Controllers are programmed to accept SSCs for authentication of specific access points.

Using DHCP Option 43

Cisco 1000 series access points use a string format for DHCP option 43, whereas Cisco Aironet access points use the type-length-value (TLV) format for DHCP option 43. DHCP servers must be programmed to return the option based on the access point’s DHCP Vendor Class Identifier (VCI) string (DHCP Option 60). Table 7-2lists the VCI strings for Cisco access points capable of operating in lightweight mode.

Table 7-2 VCI Strings For Lightweight Access Points

Access Point

VCI String

 

 

Cisco 1000 Series

Airespace 1200

 

 

Cisco Aironet 1130 Series

Cisco AP c1130

 

 

Cisco Aironet 1200 Series

Cisco AP c1200

 

 

Cisco Aironet 1240 Series

Cisco AP c1240

 

 

This is the format of the TLV block:

Type: 0xf1 (decimal 241)

Length: Number of controller IP addresses * 4

Value: List of the IP addresses of controller management interfaces

Refer to the product documentation for your DHCP server for instructions on configuring DHCP Option

43.The Application Note: Upgrading Autonomous Cisco Aironet Access Points To Lightweight Mode contains example steps for configuring option 43 on a DHCP server.

Using a Controller to Send Debug Commands to Access Points Converted to Lightweight Mode

Enter this command to enable the controller to send debug commands to an access point converted to lightweight mode:

config ap remote-debug [enable disable exc_command] access-point-name

When this feature is enabled, the controller sends debug commands to the converted access point as character strings. You can send any debug command supported by Cisco Aironet access points that run Cisco IOS software in lightweight mode.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide

 

OL-8335-02

7-11

 

 

 

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Cisco Systems 3.2 manual Using Dhcp Option, Access Point VCI String