Cisco Systems OL-7426-03 quick start About the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller

ually monitor the network for noise and interference problems, which can be transient and difficult to troubleshoot. Finally, Radio Resource Management controls ensure that clients enjoy a seamless, trouble-free connection through the Cisco WLAN Solution 802.11 network.

About the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller

When you are adding Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points to a Multiple-Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Deployments network, it is convenient to have all Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points associate with one Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller on the same subnet. That way, the operator does not have to log into multiple Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers to find out which Cisco Wireless LAN Controller newly-added Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points associated with.

One Cisco Wireless LAN Controller in each subnet can be assigned as the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller while adding Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points. As long as a Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller is active on the same subnet, all new Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points without a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controller assigned automatically attempt to associate with the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller. This process is described in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Failover Protection.

The operator can monitor the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller using the Web User Interface or the Cisco Wireless Control System GUI, and watch as Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points associate with the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller. The operator can then verify Cisco 1000 Series light- weight access point configuration and assign a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controller to the Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point, and reboot the Cisco 1000 Series light- weight access point so it reassociates with its Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controller.

Note: Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points without a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controller assigned always search for a Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller first upon reboot. After adding Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points through the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller, assign Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers to each Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point.

Cisco WLAN Solution recommends that you disable the Master setting on all Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers after initial configuration.

Because the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller is normally not used in a deployed network, the Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller setting is automatically disabled upon reboot or OS code upgrade.

About the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controller

In Multiple-Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Deployments networks, Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points can associate with any Cisco Wireless LAN Controller on the same subnet. To ensure that each Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point associates with a particular Cisco Wireless LAN Controller, the operator can assign Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers to the Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point.

When a Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access point is added to a network, it looks for its Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers first, then a Master Cisco Wireless LAN Controller, then the least-loaded Cisco Wireless LAN Controller with available Cisco 1000 Series light- weight access point ports. Refer to Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Failover Protection for more information.

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