Black Box LWN602A User Manual page 98

Chapter 9: Common Configuration Examples
Using MAC Addresses
With this approach, you write down the MAC address labelled on the underside of each SmartPath AP and its location while
installing the SmartPath APs throughout the buildings. The MAC address on the label is for the mgt0 interface. Because the MAC
addresses of all SmartPath APs begin with the MAC OUI 008C:10, you only need to record the last six numerals in the address.
For example, if the MAC OUI is 008C:1000:0120, you only need to write "000120" to be able to distinguish it from other
SmartPath APs later.
NOTE: 008C:10 is the Black Box MAC address portion. You need to change this.
1. Make copies of the maps uploaded to SmartPath EMS, label them, and take them along when installing the SmartPath APs.
2. When you install a SmartPath AP, write the last six digits of its MAC address at its location on the map.
When SmartPath APs automatically connect with SmartPath EMS, SmartPath EMS displays them on the Monitor > Access Points >
SmartPath APs page. You can differentiate them in the displayed list by MAC address (node ID), which allows you to match the
SmartPath APs in the GUI with those you noted during installation so that you can properly assign each one to a map.
Using SNMP
This approach makes use of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) sysLocation Management Information Base (MIB)
object, which you define on SmartPath APs. SmartPath EMS can use this information to associate a SmartPath AP with a map and
provide a description of where on the map each SmartPath AP belongs.
1. Make copies of the maps you uploaded to SmartPath EMS, label them, and take them with you for reference when installing
the SmartPath APs.
2. For each SmartPath AP that you install, do the following:
2.1 Make a serial connection to the console port, and log in (see "Log in through the console port" in Section 11.1, Example 1:
Deploying a Single SmartPath AP).
2.2 Enter the following command, in which string1 describes the location of the SmartPath AP on the map (in open format)
and string2 is the name of the map:
snmp location string1@string2
For example, if you install a SmartPath AP in the northwest corner on the first floor of Building 1, enter snmp location north-
west_corner@HQ-B1-F1. If you want to use spaces in the description, surround the entire string with quotation marks: snmp
location "northwest corner@HQ-B1-F1".
If you want, you can include some or all of the map hierarchy in the SNMP location string. For example, if a map named "floor-
1" is nested under a higher level map named "building-1", then enter the command as follows: snmp location northwest_cor-
ner@floor-1@building-1 . Similarly, if these two maps are nested under a higher level map named "campus-1", then include that
next higher level in the SNMP location string: snmp location northwest_corner@floor-1@building-1@campus-1. Although
including the map hierarchy is unnecessary to identify a map in SmartPath EMS—all map names must be unique—including the
map hierarchy in the SNMP location can provide a simple way to check that preconfigured SmartPath APs get distributed to
various sites correctly before they are installed.
2.3 Mount and cable the SmartPath AP to complete its installation. (For mounting instructions, see the mounting section in the
chapter for the SmartPath AP platform that you are installing.)
When a SmartPath AP connects to SmartPath EMS, SmartPath EMS checks its SNMP location and automatically associates it with
the map specified in its SNMP location description. You can then click the icon to see its location and drag it to the specified loca-
tion on the map. Also, on the Monitor > Access Points > SmartPath APs page (view mode: Config), you can sort detected
SmartPath APs by map name to assign them more easily to WLAN policies.
NOTE: The first approach—using MAC addresses—makes the deployment considerably easier for installers, whereas the second
approach—using SNMP—makes new SmartPath AP management easier for the SmartPath EMS administrator. You can
decide which approach makes the most sense for your team.
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