Chapter 1 Overview; Product Terminology; Autonomous Access Points; Lightweight Access Points - Cisco AIR-AP1120B-A-K9 - Aironet 1100 Series Access Point Hardware Installation Manual

Overview
The Cisco Aironet Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Access Point series access point is available in autonomous
and lightweight configurations. The autonomous access points can support standalone network
configurations with all configuration settings maintained within the access points. The lightweight
access points operate in conjunction with a Cisco wireless LAN controller with all configuration
information maintained within the controller.

Product Terminology

The following terms refer to the autonomous and lightweight products:
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Autonomous Access Points

The autonomous access point (models: AIR-AP1120B or AIR-AP1121G) (model: AIR-AP1252)
supports a management system based on Cisco IOS software. The 1100 series is a Wi-Fi certified,
wireless LAN transceiver and uses a single mini-PCI radio (IEEE 802.11b-compliant or IEEE
802.11g-compliant).
The access point serves as the connection point between wireless and wired networks or as the center
point of a stand-alone wireless network. In large installations, wireless users within radio range of an
access point can roam throughout a facility while maintaining seamless access to the network.
You can configure and monitor the access point using the command-line interface (CLI), the
browser-based management system, or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

Lightweight Access Points

The Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Lightweight Access Point (AIR-LAP1121G) is part of the Cisco
Integrated Wireless Network Solution and requires no manual configuration before being mounted. The
lightweight access point is automatically configured by a Cisco wireless LAN controller (hereafter
called a controller) using the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP).
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The term access point describes both autonomous and lightweight products.
The term autonomous access point describes only the autonomous product.
The term lightweight access point describs only the lightweight product.
The term access point describes the product when configured to operate as an access point.
The term bridge describes the product when configured to operate as a bridge.
C H A P T E R
Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Access Point Hardware Installation Guide
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