Configuring APs 291

Nortel WLAN—Security Switch 2300 Series Configuration Guide

Configuring an auto-AP profile for automatic AP configuration

You can use an Auto-AP profile to deploy unconfigured Distributed APs. A Distributed AP that does not have
a configuration on a WSS can receive its configuration from the Auto-AP profile instead.
The Auto-AP profile assigns a Distributed AP number and name to the AP, from among the unused valid AP
numbers available on the switch. The Auto-AP profile also configures the AP with the AP and radio parameter
settings in the profile. The AP and radio parameter settings in the Auto-AP profile are configurable. (See
“Configuring an auto-AP profile” on page 292.)
The Auto-AP profile does not control SSIDs, encryption parameters, or any other parameters managed by
service profiles. You still need to configure a service profile separately for each SSID.
A WSS can have one Auto-AP profile.

How an unconfigured AP finds a WSS to configure it

The boot process for a Distributed AP that does not have a configuration on a WSS is similar to the process for
configured Distributed APs. After the AP starts up, it uses DHCP to configure its IP connection with the
network. The AP then uses the IP connection to contact a WSS.
The WSS contacted by the AP determines the best switch to use for configuring the AP, and sends the AP the
IP address of that switch. The best switch to use for configuring the AP is the switch that has an Auto-AP
profile with a high bias setting. If more than one WSS has an Auto-AP profile with a high bias setting, the
switch that has the greatest capacity to add new unconfigured APs is selected.
A WSS’s capacity to add new unconfigured Distributed AP’s is the lesser of the following:
Maximum number of APs that can be configured on the switch, minus the number that are configured
Maximum number of APs that can be active on the switch, minus the number that are active
For example, suppose the Mobility Domain has two WSSs, with the capacities and loads listed in Table 10.
For 2360/2361 A:
The Number of APs that can be configured on the switch, minus the number that are configured, is
30 - 25 = 5.
The Number of APs that can be active on the switch, minus the number that are active, is 12 - 8 = 4.
The lesser of the two values is 4. The switch can have up to 4 more APs.
For 2360/2361 B:

Table 10: Example 2360/2361 AP capacities and loads

2360/2361 A 2360/2361 B

Maximum Configured 30 30
Maximum Active 12 12
Number Currently Configured 25 20
Number Currently Active 8 12