Deployment Notes - Cisco Aironet 1520 Series Getting Started Manual

Deployment Notes

Using a DHCP Server in a Layer 3 Mesh Network
To use a DHCP server in a Layer 3 mesh network, make sure the wireless LAN controller is in Layer
3 mode. You must also configure DHCP option 43 on the DHCP server. After the controller is
restarted, the access point receives IP addresses from the DHCP server.
Configuring DHCP Option 43
You can use DHCP Option 43 to provide a list of controller IP addresses to the access points, enabling
each access point to find and join a controller. This section contains a DHCP Option 43 configuration
example on a Microsoft Windows 2003 Enterprise DHCP server for use with Cisco Aironet
lightweight access points.
Additional information about Microsoft DHCP Option 43 is available at cisco.com at the following
URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_technical_reference09186a00804fc3d
c.html#wp125304
DHCP Option 43 server implementation information for Cisco IOS is available at cisco.com at the
following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/technology/controller/deployment/guide/dep.html#wp106
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In DHCP Option 43, you should use the IP address of the controller management interface.
Note
DHCP Option 43 is limited to one access point type per DHCP pool. You must configure a
Note
separate DHCP pool for each access point type.
Cisco Aironet 1000 and 1500 (1505 and 1510) series access points use a comma-separated string
format for DHCP Option 43. Other 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). The VCI strings for
Cisco access points capable of operating in lightweight mode are listed in Table 3:
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