Management Mode; Mbssid - ZyXEL Communications NWA5121-N User Manual

Your NWA is easy to install, configure and use. The embedded Web-based configurator enables
simple, straightforward management and maintenance. See the Quick Start Guide for how to make
hardware connections.

1.1.1 Management Mode

An AP controller can use Control And Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP, see RFC
5415) to discover and configure multiple managed APs.
The NWA is a standalone AP by default. You can switch the NWA from being a standalone AP to
acting as a managed AP to allow it to be managed by an AP controller, such as the NXC2500. To
change between management modes, see
Table 2 NWA Management Mode Comparison
MANAGEMENT MODE
Standalone AP
Managed AP
When the NWA is in standalone AP mode, the NWA is set to have a static management IP address
(192.168.1.2) by default. You can use either the web configurator or FTP to upload firmware. See
Section 15.3 on page 160
When the NWA is in managed AP mode, it acts as a DHCP client and obtains an IP address from the
AP controller. It can be configured ONLY by the AP controller. To change the NWA back to standalone
AP mode, you need to check the AP controller for the NWA's IP address and use FTP to upload
firmware for standalone AP mode.

1.1.2 MBSSID

A Basic Service Set (BSS) is the set of devices forming a single wireless network (usually an access
point and one or more wireless clients). The Service Set IDentifier (SSID) is the name of a BSS. In
Multiple BSS (MBSSID) mode, the NWA provides multiple virtual APs, each forming its own BSS and
using its own individual SSID profile.
You can configure multiple SSID profiles, and have all of them active at any one time.
You can assign different wireless and security settings to each SSID profile. This allows you to
compartmentalize groups of users, set varying access privileges, and prioritize network traffic to
and from certain BSSs.
To the wireless clients in the network, each SSID appears to be a different access point. As in any
wireless network, clients can associate only with the SSIDs for which they have the correct security
settings.
For example, you might want to set up a wireless network in your office where Internet telephony
(VoIP) users have priority. You also want a regular wireless network for standard users, as well as a
'guest' wireless network for visitors. In the following figure, VoIP_SSID users have QoS priority,
SSID01 is the wireless network for standard users, and Guest_SSID is the wireless network for
guest users. In this example, the guest user is forbidden access to the wired Land Area Network
(LAN) behind the AP and can access only the Internet.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 5 on page
DEFAULT IP ADDRESS
Static (192.168.1.2)
Dynamic
for more information about firmware uploading.
NWA5120 Series User's Guide
12
49.
UPLOAD FIRMWARE VIA
Web Configurator or FTP
FTP