Cisco Aironet 1040, Aironet 1240, Aironet 1130, Aironet 1140, Aironet 1250 Deployment Manual

Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release

7.3

First Published: August 28, 2012

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Text Part Number: OL-27593-01

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CONTENTS

Preface

CHAPTER 1

Preface xi

Audience xii

Organization xii

Conventions xii

Related Documentation xv

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request xv

Mesh Network Components 1

Mesh Access Points 1

Licensing for Mesh Access Points on a 5500 Series Controller 1

Access Point Roles 2

Network Access 3

Network Segmentation 4

Cisco Indoor Mesh Access Points 4

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points 5

Cisco Aironet 1552 Mesh Access Point 6

Cisco 1522 Mesh Access Point 11

Cisco 1524PS Mesh Access Point 11

Cisco 1524SB Mesh Access Point 12

Ethernet Ports 14

Multiple Power Options 14

Battery Backup Module (Optional) 16

Reset Button 17

Resetting Access Point 18

Monitoring the LED Status 18

Serial Backhaul Access Point Guidelines for the Rest of the World (ROW) 21

Discontinuation of the 116 and 132 Channels from the UNII-2 Extended Band 23

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Frequency Bands 24

Dynamic Frequency Selection 25

Antennas 26

Antenna Configurations for 1552 31

Client Access Certified Antennas (Third-Party Antennas) 34

Maximum Ratio Combining 34

Cisco 1500 Hazardous Location Certification 37

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers 40

Cisco Prime Infrastructure 40

Architecture 40

Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points 40

CAPWAP Discovery on a Mesh Network 40

Dynamic MTU Detection 41

CHAPTER 2

XML Configuration File 41

Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol 42

Traffic Flow 43

Mesh Neighbors, Parents, and Children 44

Criteria to Choose the Best Parent 45

Ease Calculation 45

Parent Decision 45

SNR Smoothing 46

Loop Prevention 46

Mesh Deployment Modes 47

Wireless Mesh Network 47

Wireless Backhaul 47

Universal Access 48

Point-to-Multipoint Wireless Bridging 48

Point-to-Point Wireless Bridging 48

Configuring Mesh Range (CLI) 49

Assumptions for the AP1522 Range Calculator 50

Assumptions for the AP1552 Range Calculator 50

CHAPTER 3

Design Considerations 51

Wireless Mesh Constraints 51

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Wireless Backhaul Data Rate 51

ClientLink Technology 55

Configuring ClientLink (CLI) 56

Commands Related to ClientLink 58

Controller Planning 58

CHAPTER 4

Site Preparation and Planning 61

Site Survey 61

Pre-Survey Checklist 61

Outdoor Site Survey 62

Determining a Line of Sight 62

Weather 63

Fresnel Zone 63

Fresnel Zone Size in Wireless Mesh Deployments 64

Hidden Nodes Interference 65

Functional Routing of Three Radio MAPs 66

Slot Bias Options 66

Disabling Slot Bias 67

Commands Related to Slot Bias 67

Preferred Parent Selection 68

Preferred Parent Selection Criteria 68

Configuring a Preferred Parent 69

Related Commands 69

Co-Channel Interference 70

Wireless Mesh Network Coverage Considerations 71

Cell Planning and Distance 71

Assumptions for the AP1522 Range Calculator 83

Assumptions for the AP1552 Range Calculator 84

Collocating Mesh Access Points 86

Special Considerations for Indoor Mesh Networks 87

Wireless Propagation Characteristics 89

CleanAir 89

CleanAir AP Modes of Operation 90

Pseudo MAC (PMAC) and Merging 91

Event Driven Radio Resource Management and Persistence Device Avoidance 92

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CleanAir Access Point Deployment Recommendations 92

CleanAir Advisor 93

Enabling CleanAir 94

Licensing 94

Wireless Mesh Mobility Groups 94

Multiple Controllers 95

Increasing Mesh Availability 95

Multiple RAPs 96

Indoor Mesh Interoperability with Outdoor Mesh 97

CHAPTER 5

Connecting the Cisco 1500 Series Mesh Access Points to the Network 99

Adding Mesh Access Points to the Mesh Network 100

Adding MAC Addresses of Mesh Access Points to MAC Filter 101

Adding the MAC Address of the Mesh Access Point to the Controller Filter List

(GUI) 101

Adding the MAC Address of the Mesh Access Point to the Controller Filter List

(CLI) 102

Defining Mesh Access Point Role 102

General Notes about MAP and RAP Association With The Controller 102

Configuring the AP Role (GUI) 103

Configuring the AP Role (CLI) 104

Configuring Multiple Controllers Using DHCP 43 and DHCP 60 104

Backup Controllers 105

Configuring Backup Controllers (GUI) 106

Configuring Backup Controllers (CLI) 107

Configuring External Authentication and Authorization Using a RADIUS Server 109

Configuring RADIUS Servers 110

Adding a Username to a RADIUS Server 111

Enabling External Authentication of Mesh Access Points (GUI) 112

Enable External Authentication of Mesh Access Points (CLI) 112

View Security Statistics (CLI) 113

Configuring Global Mesh Parameters 113

Configuring Global Mesh Parameters (GUI) 113

Configuring Global Mesh Parameters (CLI) 116

Viewing Global Mesh Parameter Settings (CLI) 117

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Universal Client Access 118

Configuring Universal Client Access (GUI) 119

Configuring Universal Client Access (CLI) 119

Universal Client Access on Serial Backhaul Access Points 119

Configuring Extended Universal Access (GUI) 120

Configuring Extended Universal Access (CLI) 122

Configuring Extended Universal Access from Cisco Prime Infrastructure 123

Configuring Local Mesh Parameters 124

Configuring Wireless Backhaul Data Rate 124

Configuring Ethernet Bridging 131

Enabling Ethernet Bridging (GUI) 133

Configuring Bridge Group Names 133

Configuring Bridge Group Names (CLI) 134

Verifying Bridge Group Names (GUI) 134

Configuring Public Safety Band Settings 134

Configuring Interoperability with Cisco 3200 136

Enabling AP1522 to Associate with Cisco 3200 (GUI) 138

Enabling 1522 and 1524PS Association with Cisco 3200 (CLI) 138

Configuring Power and Channel Settings 139

Configuring Power and Channel Settings (GUI) 139

Configuring the Channels on the Serial Backhaul (CLI) 140

Configuring Antenna Gain 141

Configuring Antenna Gain (GUI) 141

Configuring Antenna Gain (CLI) 141

Backhaul Channel Deselection on Serial Backhaul Access Point 141

Configuring Backhaul Channel Deselection (GUI) 142

Configuring Backhaul Channel Deselection (CLI) 143

Backhaul Channel Deselection Guidelines 146

Configuring Dynamic Channel Assignment 147

Configuring Advanced Features 149

Using the 2.4-GHz Radio for Backhaul 150

Configuring Ethernet VLAN Tagging 151

Ethernet Port Notes 152

Ethernet VLAN Tagging Guidelines 153

VLAN Registration 154

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Enabling Ethernet VLAN Tagging (GUI) 155

Configuring Ethernet VLAN Tagging (CLI) 156

Viewing Ethernet VLAN Tagging Configuration Details (CLI) 156

Workgroup Bridge Interoperability with Mesh Infrastructure 157

Configuring Workgroup Bridges 158

Guidelines for Configuration 161

Configuration Example 162

WGB Association Check 164

Link Test Result 166

WGB Wired/Wireless Client 167

Client Roaming 168

WGB Roaming Guidelines 168

Configuration Example 169

Troubleshooting Tips 170

Configuring Voice Parameters in Indoor Mesh Networks 170

Call Admission Control 171

Quality of Service and Differentiated Services Code Point Marking 171

Guidelines For Using Voice on the Mesh Network 176

Voice Call Support in a Mesh Network 178

Viewing the Voice Details for Mesh Networks (CLI) 179

Enabling Mesh Multicast Containment for Video 182

Enabling Multicast on the Mesh Network (CLI) 183

IGMP Snooping 183

Locally Significant Certificates for Mesh APs 184

Guidelines for Configuration 184

Differences Between LSCs for Mesh APs and Normal APs 185

Certificate Verification Process in LSC AP 185

Getting Certificates for LSC Feature 185

Configuring a Locally Significant Certificate (CLI) 187

LSC-Related Commands 189

Controller GUI Security Settings 191

Deployment Guidelines 192

CHAPTER 6

Checking the Health of the Network 193

Show Mesh Commands 193

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Viewing General Mesh Network Details 194

Viewing Mesh Access Point Details 195

Viewing Global Mesh Parameter Settings 196

Viewing Bridge Group Settings 197

Viewing VLAN Tagging Settings 197

Viewing DFS Details 197

Viewing Public Safety Setting 198

Viewing Security Settings and Statistics 198

Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point 199

Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point (GUI) 199

Viewing Mesh Statistics for an Mesh Access Point (CLI) 202

Viewing Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point 203

CHAPTER 7

Viewing Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point (GUI) 203

Viewing the Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point (CLI) 204

Troubleshooting 207

Installation and Connections 207

Debug Commands 208

Remote Debug Commands 209

AP Console Access 209

Cable Modem Serial Port Access From an AP 210

Configuration 210

Mesh Access Point CLI Commands 212

Mesh Access Point Debug Commands 213

Defining Mesh Access Point Roles 213

Backhaul Algorithm 214

Passive Beaconing (Anti-Stranding) 215

Dynamic Frequency Selection 216

DFS in RAP 216

DFS in MAP 217

Preparation in a DFS Environment 218

Monitoring DFS 219

Frequency Planning 219

Good Signal-to-Noise Ratios 220

Access Point Placement 220

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Check Packet Error Rate 220

Bridge Group Name Misconfiguration 220

Misconfiguration of the Mesh Access Point IP Address 222

Misconfiguration of DHCP 223

Identifying the Node Exclusion Algorithm 223

Throughput Analysis 225

CHAPTER 8

Managing Mesh Access Points with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 227

Adding Campus Maps, Outdoor Areas, and Buildings with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 227

Adding Campus Maps 228

Adding Outdoor Areas 228

Adding a Building to a Campus Map 229

Adding Mesh Access Points to Maps with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 230

Monitoring Mesh Access Points Using Google Earth 232

Launching Google Earth in Cisco Prime Infrastructure 232

Viewing Google Earth Maps 233

Adding Indoor Mesh Access Points to Cisco Prime Infrastructure 236

Managing Mesh Access Points with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 237

Monitoring Mesh Networks Using Maps 237

Monitoring Mesh Link Statistics Using Maps 237

Monitoring Mesh Access Points Using Maps 238

Monitoring Mesh Access Point Neighbors Using Maps 239

Monitoring Mesh Health 240

Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point 242

Viewing the Mesh Network Hierarchy 247

Using Mesh Filters to Modify Map Display of Maps and Mesh Links 248

Monitoring Workgroup Bridges 250

Multiple VLAN and QoS Support for WGB Wired Clients 251

Workgroup Bridge Guidelines 252

Configuring VLAN and QoS Support (CLI) 252

Workgroup Bridge Output 253

WGB Detail on Controller 255

Troubleshooting Tips 256

Viewing AP Last Reboot Reason 257

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Preface

This document provides design and deployment guidelines for the deployment of secure enterprise, campus,
and metropolitan Wi-Fi networks within the Cisco wireless mesh networking solution, a component of the
Cisco Unified Wireless Network (CUWN).

Mesh networking employs Cisco Aironet 1500 Series outdoor mesh access points and indoor mesh access
points (Cisco Aironet 1040, 1130, 1140, 1240, 1250, 1260, 3500e, 3500i, 3600e, and 3600i series access
points) along with the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller, and Cisco Prime Infrastructure to provide scalable,
central management, and mobility between indoor and outdoor deployments. Control and Provisioning of
Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol manages the connection of mesh access points to the network.

End-to-end security within the mesh network is supported by employing Advanced Encryption Standard
(AES) encryption between the wireless mesh access points and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) clients.
This document also outlines radio frequency (RF) components to consider when designing an outdoor
network.

The features described in this document are for the following products:

• Cisco Aironet 1550 (1552) series outdoor 802.11n mesh access points

• Cisco Aironet 1520 (1522, 1524) series outdoor mesh access points

• Cisco Aironet 1040, 1130, 1140, 1240, 1250, 1260, 3500e, 3500i, 3600e, and 3600i series indoor mesh
access points

• Mesh features in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller

• Mesh features in Cisco Prime Infrastructure

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Audience, page xii

• Organization, page xii

• Conventions, page xii

• Related Documentation, page xv

• Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request, page xv

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Audience

Audience

This document is for experienced network administrators who design and deploy mesh networks and configure
and maintain Cisco mesh access points and Cisco wireless LAN controllers.

Organization

This guide is organized into these chapters:

on page 1

page 47

Preface

DescriptionChapter Title

This chapter describes the components of a mesh network.Mesh Network Components,

This chapter describes the various deployment modes of mesh access points.Mesh Deployment Modes, on

Conventions

This document uses the following conventions:

Table 1: Conventions

page 51

Site Preparation and Planning,
on page 61

Connecting the Cisco 1500
Series Mesh Access Points to
the Network, on page 99

Checking the Health of the
Network, on page 193

Managing Mesh Access Points
with Cisco Prime
Infrastructure, on page 237

This chapter describes the design considerations involved in a mesh network.Design Considerations, on

This chapter describes the implementation details and configuration
examples.

This chapter describes the procedures involved in connecting mesh access
points to a network and configuring the mesh access points.

This chapter describes the commands to enter to check the health of a mesh
network.

This chapter describes the troubleshooting information.Troubleshooting, on page 207

This chapter describes information about managing access points with Cisco
Prime Infrastructure.

italic font

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IndicationConvention

Commands and keywords and user-entered text appear in bold font.bold font

Document titles, new or emphasized terms, and arguments for which you supply
values are in italic font.

Elements in square brackets are optional.[ ]

Preface

Conventions

IndicationConvention

{x | y | z }

[ x | y | z ]

string

!, #

Means reader take note.Note

Means the following information will help you solve a problem.Tip

Required alternative keywords are grouped in braces and separated by vertical
bars.

Optional alternative keywords are grouped in brackets and separated by vertical
bars.

A nonquoted set of characters. Do not use quotation marks around the string or
the string will include the quotation marks.

Terminal sessions and information the system displays appear in courier font.courier font

Nonprinting characters such as passwords are in angle brackets.<>

Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets.[]

An exclamation point (!) or a pound sign (#) at the beginning of a line of code
indicates a comment line.

Caution

Warning

Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might perform an action that could result in equipment
damage or loss of data.

This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury. Before you
work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with
standard practices for preventing accidents. (To see translations of the warnings that appear in this
publication, refer to the appendix "Translated Safety Warnings.")

DescriptionWarning Title

Waarschuwing

Dit waarschuwingssymbool betekent gevaar. U verkeert in een situatie die
lichamelijk letsel kan veroorzaken. Voordat u aan enige apparatuur gaat werken,
dient u zich bewust te zijn van de bij elektrische schakelingen betrokken risico's
en dient u op de hoogte te zijn van standaard maatregelen om ongelukken te
voorkomen. (Voor vertalingen van de waarschuwingen die in deze publicatie
verschijnen, kunt u het aanhangsel "Translated Safety Warnings" (Vertalingen
van veiligheidsvoorschriften) raadplegen.)

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Preface

DescriptionWarning Title

Varoitus

Attention

Warnung

Avvertenza

Tämä varoitusmerkki merkitsee vaaraa. Olet tilanteessa, joka voi johtaa
ruumiinvammaan. Ennen kuin työskentelet minkään laitteiston parissa, ota selvää
sähkökytkentöihin liittyvistä vaaroista ja tavanomaisista onnettomuuksien
ehkäisykeinoista. (Tässä julkaisussa esiintyvien varoitusten käännökset löydät
liitteestä "Translated Safety Warnings" (käännetyt turvallisuutta koskevat
varoitukset).)

Ce symbole d'avertissement indique un danger. Vous vous trouvez dans une
situation pouvant entraîner des blessures. Avant d'accéder à cet équipement,
soyez conscient des dangers posés par les circuits électriques et familiarisez-vous
avec les procédures courantes de prévention des accidents. Pour obtenir les
traductions des mises en garde figurant dans cette publication, veuillez consulter
l'annexe intitulée « Translated Safety Warnings » (Traduction des avis de sécurité).

Dieses Warnsymbol bedeutet Gefahr. Sie befinden sich in einer Situation, die
zu einer Körperverletzung führen könnte. Bevor Sie mit der Arbeit an irgendeinem
Gerät beginnen, seien Sie sich der mit elektrischen Stromkreisen verbundenen
Gefahren und der Standardpraktiken zur Vermeidung von Unfällen bewußt.
(Übersetzungen der in dieser Veröffentlichung enthaltenen Warnhinweise finden
Sie im Anhang mit dem Titel "Translated Safety Warnings" (Übersetzung der
Warnhinweise).)

Questo simbolo di avvertenza indica un pericolo. Si è in una situazione che può
causare infortuni. Prima di lavorare su qualsiasi apparecchiatura, occorre
conoscere i pericoli relativi ai circuiti elettrici ed essere al corrente delle pratiche
standard per la prevenzione di incidenti. La traduzione delle avvertenze riportate
in questa pubblicazione si trova nell'appendice, "Translated Safety Warnings"
(Traduzione delle avvertenze di sicurezza).

Advarsel

Aviso

¡Advertencia!

Dette varselsymbolet betyr fare. Du befinner deg i en situasjon som kan føre til
personskade. Før du utfører arbeid på utstyr, må du være oppmerksom på de
faremomentene som elektriske kretser innebærer, samt gjøre deg kjent med vanlig
praksis når det gjelder å unngå ulykker. (Hvis du vil se oversettelser av de
advarslene som finnes i denne publikasjonen, kan du se i vedlegget "Translated
Safety Warnings" [Oversatte sikkerhetsadvarsler].)

Este símbolo de aviso indica perigo. Encontra-se numa situação que lhe poderá
causar danos fisicos. Antes de começar a trabalhar com qualquer equipamento,
familiarize-se com os perigos relacionados com circuitos eléctricos, e com
quaisquer práticas comuns que possam prevenir possíveis acidentes. (Para ver
as traduções dos avisos que constam desta publicação, consulte o apêndice
"Translated Safety Warnings" - "Traduções dos Avisos de Segurança").

Este símbolo de aviso significa peligro. Existe riesgo para su integridad física.
Antes de manipular cualquier equipo, considerar los riesgos que entraña la
corriente eléctrica y familiarizarse con los procedimientos estándar de prevención
de accidentes. (Para ver traducciones de las advertencias que aparecen en esta
publicación, consultar el apéndice titulado "Translated Safety Warnings.")

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Preface

Related Documentation

DescriptionWarning Title

Varning

Denna varningssymbol signalerar fara. Du befinner dig i en situation som kan
leda till personskada. Innan du utför arbete på någon utrustning måste du vara
medveten om farorna med elkretsar och känna till vanligt förfarande för att
förebygga skador. (Se förklaringar av de varningar som förekommer i denna
publikation i appendix "Translated Safety Warnings" [Översatta
säkerhetsvarningar].)

Related Documentation

These documents provide complete information about the Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution:

•

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide

•

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Command Reference

•

Cisco Prime Infrastructure Configuration Guide

•

Release Notes for Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and Lightweight Access Points

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information,
see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco
technical documentation, at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed
and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free
service and Cisco currently supports RSS version 2.0.

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Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

Preface

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CHAPTER 1

Mesh Network Components

This chapter describes the mesh network components.

The Cisco wireless mesh network has four core components:

• Cisco Aironet 1500 series mesh access points

Note

• Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (hereafter referred to as controller)

• Cisco Prime Infrastructure

• Mesh software architecture

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Mesh Access Points, page 1

• Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, page 40

• Cisco Prime Infrastructure, page 40

• Architecture, page 40

Cisco Aironet 1505 and 1510 mesh access points are not supported because of their
End-of-Life status.

Mesh Access Points

Licensing for Mesh Access Points on a 5500 Series Controller

To use both mesh and nonmesh access points with a Cisco 5500 Series Controller, only the base license
(LIC-CT5508-X) is required from the 7.0 release and later releases. For more information about obtaining
and installing licenses, see the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide at http://www.cisco.com/

en/US/products/ps10315/products_installation_and_configuration_guides_list.html.

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Access Point Roles

Access Point Roles

Access points within a mesh network operate in one of the following two ways:

1

Root access point (RAP)

2

Mesh access point (MAP)

Mesh Network Components

Note

All access points are configured and shipped as mesh access points. To use an access point as a root access
point, you must reconfigure the mesh access point to a root access point. In all mesh networks, ensure that
there is at least one root access point.

While the RAPs have wired connections to their controller, the MAPs have wireless connections to their
controller.

MAPs communicate among themselves and back to the RAP using wireless connections over the 802.11a/n
radio backhaul. MAPs use the Cisco Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP) to determine the best path
through the other mesh access points to the controller.

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Mesh Network Components

This figure shows the relationship between RAPs and MAPs in a mesh network.

Figure 1: Simple Mesh Network Hierarchy

Network Access

Network Access

Wireless mesh networks can simultaneously carry two different traffic types. They are as follows:

• Wireless LAN client traffic

• MAP Ethernet port traffic

Wireless LAN client traffic terminates on the controller, and the Ethernet traffic terminates on the Ethernet
ports of the mesh access points.

Access to the wireless LAN mesh for mesh access points is managed by the following authentication methods:

• MAC authentication—Mesh access points are added to a database that can be referenced to ensure they
are provided access to a given controller and mesh network.

• External RADIUS Authentication—Mesh access points can be externally authorized using a RADIUS
server such as Cisco ACS (4.1 and later) that supports the client authentication type of Extensible
Authentication Protocol-FAST (EAP-FAST) with certificates.

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Network Segmentation

Network Segmentation

Membership to the wireless LAN mesh network for mesh access points is controlled by the bridge group
names (BGNs). Mesh access points can be placed in similar bridge groups to manage membership or provide
network segmentation.

Cisco Indoor Mesh Access Points

Indoor mesh is available on the following access points:

• 802.11a/b/g

• 1130

• 1240

• 802.11n

Mesh Network Components

Note

• 1040

• 1140

• 1250

• 1260

• 802.11n+CleanAir

• 2600

• 3500e

• 3500i

• 3600

For more information about controller software support for access points, see the Cisco Wireless Solutions
Software Compatibility Matrix at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/controller/5500/tech_notes/

Wireless_Software_Compatibility_Matrix.html.

Enterprise 11n mesh is an enhancement added to the CUWN feature to work with the 802.11n access points.
Enterprise 11n mesh features are compatible with non-802.11n mesh but adds higher backhaul and client
access speeds. The 802.11n indoor access points are two-radio Wi-Fi infrastructure devices for select indoor
deployments. One radio can be used for local (client) access for the access point and the other radio can be
configured for wireless backhaul. The backhaul is supported only on the 5-GHz radio. Enterprise 11n mesh
supports P2P, P2MP, and mesh types of architectures.

You have a choice of ordering indoor access points directly into the bridge mode, so that these access points
can be used directly as mesh access points. If you have these access points in a local mode (nonmesh), then
you have to connect these access points to the controller and change the AP mode to the bridge mode (mesh).
This scenario can become cumbersome particularly if the volume of the access points being deployed is large
and if the access points are already deployed in the local mode for a traditional nonmesh wireless coverage.

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Mesh Network Components

The Cisco indoor mesh access points are equipped with the following two simultaneously operating radios:

• 2.4-GHz radio used for client access

• 5-GHz radio used for data backhaul

The 5-GHz radio supports the 5.15 GHz, 5.25 GHz, 5.47 GHz, and 5.8 GHz bands.

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

Cisco outdoor mesh access points comprise of the Cisco Aironet 1500 series access points. The 1500 series
includes 1552 11n outdoor mesh access points, 1522 dual-radio mesh access points, and 1524 multi-radio
mesh access points. There are two models of the 1524, which are the following:

• The public safety model, 1524PS

• The serial backhaul model, 1524SB

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

Note

In the 6.0 release, the AP1524SB access point was launched in A, C, and N domains.
In the 7.0 release, the AP1524SB access point was launched in the -E, -M, -K, -S, and

-T domains.

Cisco 1500 series mesh access points are the core components of the wireless mesh deployment. AP1500s
are configured by both the controller (GUI and CLI) and Cisco Prime Infrastructure. Communication between
outdoor mesh access points (MAPs and RAPs) is over the 802.11a/n radio backhaul. Client traffic is generally
transmitted over the 802.11b/g/n radio (802.11a/n can also be configured to accept client traffic), and public
safety traffic (AP1524PS only) is transmitted over the 4.9-GHz radio.

The mesh access point can also operate as a relay node for other access points not directly connected to a
wired network. Intelligent wireless routing is provided by the Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP). This
Cisco protocol enables each mesh access point to identify its neighbors and intelligently choose the optimal
path to the wired network by calculating the cost of each path in terms9 of the signal strength and the number
of hops required to get to a controller.

AP1500s are manufactured in two different configurations: cable and noncable.

• The cable configuration can be mounted to a cable strand and supports power-over-cable (POC).

• The noncable configuration supports multiple antennas. It can be mounted to a pole or building wall
and supports several power options.

Uplinks support includes Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) and a small form-factor (SFP) slot that can be
plugged for a fiber or cable modem interface. Both single mode and multimode SFPs up to 1000BASE-BX
are supported. The cable modem can be DOCSIS 2.0 or DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 depending upon the type
of mesh access point.

AP1500s are available in a hazardous location hardware enclosure. When configured, the AP1500 complies
with safety standards for Class I, Division 2, Zone 2 hazardous locations.

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Mesh Network Components

Note

See the Cisco Aironet 1520 Series Lightweight Outdoor Access Point Ordering Guide for power, mounting,
antenna, and regulatory support by model: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps5679/

ps8368/product_data_sheet0900aecd8066a157.html

The 1520 and 1550 series access points, can operate, apart from the mesh mode, in the following modes:

• Local mode—In this mode, the AP can handle clients on its assigned channel or while monitoring all
channels on the band over a 180-second period. During this time, the AP listens on each channel for 50
milliseconds for rogue client beacons, noise floor measurements, interference, and IDS events. The AP
also scans for CleanAir interference on the channel.

• FlexConnect mode—FlexConnect is a wireless solution for branch office and remote office deployments.
The FlexConnect mode enables you to configure and control access points in a branch or remote office
from the corporate office through a WAN link without having to deploy a controller in each office. The
FlexConnect mode can switch client data traffic locally and perform client authentication locally when
the connection to the controller is lost. When connected to the controller, the FlexConnect mode can
also tunnel traffic back to the controller.

• Monitor mode—In this mode, the AP radios are in the receive state. The AP scans all the channels every
12 seconds for rogue client beacons, noise floor measurements, interference, IDS events, and CleanAir
intruders.

• Rogue Detector mode—In this mode, the AP radio is turned off, and the AP listens only to the wired
traffic. The controller passes the APs that are configured as rogue detectors as well as lists of suspected
rogue clients and AP MAC addresses. The rogue detector listens for ARP packets and can be connected
to all broadcast domains through a trunk link.

• Sniffer mode—In this mode, the AP captures and forwards all packets on a channel to a remote device
that decodes the packets with packet analyzer software such as Wireshark.

Note

You can configure these modes using both the GUI and CLI. For configuration instructions, see the Cisco
Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide.

Note

MAPs can only be configured in Bridge mode regardless of their wired or wireless backhaul. If the MAPs
have a wired backhaul, you must change their AP role to RAP before you change the AP Mode.

Cisco Aironet 1552 Mesh Access Point

The Cisco Aironet 1550 Series Outdoor Mesh Access Point is a modularized wireless outdoor 802.11n access
point designed for use in a mesh network. The access point supports point-to-multipoint mesh wireless
connectivity and wireless client access simultaneously. The access point can also operate as a relay node for
other access points that are not directly connected to a wired network. Intelligent wireless routing is provided
by the Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP). This enables the access point to identify its neighbors and
intelligently choose the optimal path to the wired network by calculating the cost of each path in terms of
signal strength and the number of hops required to get to a controller.

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The 1550 series access points leverage 802.11n technology with integrated radio and internal/external antennas.
The 1552 outdoor platform consists of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) WLAN radios. It offers 2x3
MIMO with two spatial streams, Beamforming, and comes with integrated spectrum intelligence (CleanAir).

CleanAir provides full 11n data rates while detecting, locating, classifying, and mitigating radio frequency
(RF) interference to provide the best client experience possible. CleanAir technology on the outdoor 11n
platform mitigates Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi interference on 2.4-GHz radios.

The 1550 series access points have two radios—2.4-GHz and 5-GHz MIMO radios. While the 2.4-GHz radios
are used primarily for local access, the 5-GHz radios are used for both local access and wireless backhaul in
mesh mode.

The 2.4-GHz radios cannot be used for backhaul in 1552 APs.Note

The 2-GHz b/g/n radio has the following features:

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

• Operates in the 2.4-GHz ISM band.

• Supports channels 1-11 in the United States, 1-13 in Europe, and 1-13 in Japan.

• Has two transmitters for 802.11b/g/n operation.

• You can configure the output power for 5 power levels.

• The radio has three receivers that enable maximum-ratio combining (MRC).

The 5-GHz a/n radio has the following feature:

• Operates in the UNII-2 band (5.25 to 5.35 GHz), UNII-2 Extended/ETSI band (5.47 to 5.725 GHz), and
the upper ISM band (5.725 to 5.850 GHz).

• Has two transmitters for 802.11a operation.

• Power settings can change depending on the regulatory domain. You can configure the output power
for 5 power levels in 3 dB steps.

• The radio has three receivers that enable maximum-ratio combining (MRC).

The 1550 series access points have the following features:

• Supports modularity of the 1520 series and allows flexibility in radio configuration

• Fully interoperable with the 1520 series access points

• Can also interoperate with legacy clients and offers enhanced backhaul performance

• Multicast VideoStream and HotSpot 2.0 are supported when the AP is configured in Local mode.

• AP1552 is QoS capable of supporting quality VoWLAN calls.

• Band Select, which notifies a connected client to roam from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz, is supported.

• DTLS support allows AP1552 to encrypt data in all supported AP modes except Bridge mode.

• You can enable CleanAir on the 5-GHz radio by navigating to Wireless > Radios > 802.11a > Configure
on the controller GUI.

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• If AP1552 is in Bridge mode, CleanAir Advisor becomes operational. CleanAir Advisor generates
CleanAir reports and identifies interference. The event driven RRM is disabled. Therefore, the radio
does not change the transmission power level or channel.

The models can be classified as models with external antennas and models with built-in antennas. The 1552C
model is configured with an integrated DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 cable modem. The DOCSIS 3.0 cable
modem provides 8 DS and 4 US (8x4), 304x108 Mbps. The EuroDOCSIS 3.0 cable modem provides 4 US
and 4 DS (4x4), 152x108 Mbps. While a DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem could provide throughput of up to 40
Mbps only, a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem can provide a DS throughput of 290 Mbps and a US throughput of
100 Mbps.

The 1552 Access Point is available in these models:

• 1552E, on page 8

• 1552C, on page 9

• 1552I, on page 9

• 1552H, on page 10

• 1552CU, on page 10

Mesh Network Components

• 1552EU, on page 11

For more information about the Cisco 1550 Series Access Points, see http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/

ps11451/index.html.

1552E

The Cisco Aironet 1552E Outdoor Access Point is the standard model, dual-radio system with dual-band
radios that are compliant with IEEE 802.11a/n (5-GHz) and 802.11b/g/n standards (2.4 GHz). The 1552E has
three external antenna connections for three dual-band antennas. It has Ethernet and fiber Small Form Factor
Pluggable (SFP) backhaul options, along with the option of a battery backup. This model also has a PoE-out
port and can power a video surveillance camera. A highly flexible model, the Cisco Aironet 1552E is well
equipped for municipal and campus deployments, video surveillance applications, mining environments, and
data offload.

The 1552E model has the following features:

• Weighs 17.3 lbs (7.9 kg) excluding external antennas

• Two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• Three external dual-band omnidirectional antennas with 4 dBi in 2.4 GHz and 7 dBi in 5 GHz

• Vertical beamwidth: 29° at 2.4 GHz, 15° at 5 GHz

• Aligned console port

• Higher equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP)

• Multiple uplinks with Ethernet and fiber

• An optional Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) fiber module that can be ordered with the AP. The AP
can use SFP fiber or copper module.

• 802.3af-compliant PoE-Out option to connect IP devices (such as video cameras)

• AC Powered (100 to 480 VAC)

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1552C

Where service providers have already invested in a broadband cable network, the Cisco next-generation
outdoor wireless mesh can seamlessly extend network connectivity with the Cisco Aironet 1552C access point
by connecting to its integrated cable modem interface. The Cisco Aironet 1552C Outdoor Mesh Access Point
is a dual-radio system with DOCSIS 3.0/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 (8x4 HFC) cable modem for power and backhaul.
It has dual-band radios that are compliant with IEEE 802.11a/n (5 GHz) and 802.11b/g/n standards (2.4 GHz).
The 1552C has an integrated, three- element, dual-band antenna and easily fits within the 30 cm height
restriction for service providers. This model is suitable for 3G data offload applications and public Wi-Fi.

The 1552C model has the following features:

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

• PoE-In using Power Injector

• Battery backup option (6 AH)

The 1552E model has no cable modem. The 1552E battery cannot be used for 1552H.Note

• AP1552E can be ordered with an Ethernet Passive Optical Network SFP as an add-on. The EPON SFP
provides Gigabit data rates.

The EPON SFP feature must be ordered separately and installed.Note

• Lightweight (14 lbs or 6.4 kg), low-profile AP

• Two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem

• Aligned console port

• It supports cable modem backhaul

• Has an integrated 3-element array antenna with 2 dBi in 2.4 GHz and 4 dBi in 5 GHz

• Input module, power-over-cable supply (40 to 90 VAC)

• Stamped cover with two convenient holes to tighten the seizure screw for stringer connector (RF/Power
Input) and to adjust the fuse pad to attenuate the signal

Note

The 1552C model has no battery backup, no fiber SFP support, no PoE Out, no PoE In
using Power Injector or Ethernet port, and no AC power option.

1552I

The Cisco Aironet 1552I Outdoor Access Point is a low-profile, lighter weight model. The smaller size and
sleeker look helps it blend with the surrounding environment. The smaller power supply also makes it an
energy efficient product. The 1552I does not have PoE-Out or a fiber SFP port.

The 1552I model has the following features:

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• Lightweight (14 lbs or 6.4 kg), low-profile version

• Two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• Aligned console port

• AC powered (100 to 277 VAC)

• Stamped cover with no holes

• Supports street light power TAP

Mesh Network Components

Note

The 1552I model has no battery backup, no fiber SFP support, no cable modem, and no
PoE Out.

1552H

This access point is designed for hazardous environments like oil and gas refineries, chemical plants, mining
pits, and manufacturing factories. The Cisco Aironet 1552H Outdoor Access Point is Class 1, Div 2/Zone 2
hazardous location certified. The features are similar to the 1552E model, with the exception of the battery
backup.

The 1552H model has the following features:

• Weighs 14 lbs (6.4 kg)

• Two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• Hazardous Location (Haz Loc) version.

• Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) input using Power Injector

• Aligned console port

• Three dual-band external omnidirectional antennas

• AC entry module with terminal block

• AC powered (100 to 240 VAC, as per ATEX certification requirement)

• Fiber SFP backhaul option

• 802.3af-compliant PoE Out option to connect IP devices (such as video cameras)

• Battery backup option (special battery for hazardous locations)

For more information about Cisco Aironet 1552 mesh access point hardware and installation instructions, see

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11451/prod_installation_guides_list.html

1552CU

The 1552CU model has the following features:

• Two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• Aligned console port

• AC powered (40 to 90 VAC)

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1552EU

The 1552EU model has the following features:

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

• Stamped cover with no holes

• External high-gain antennas (13 dBi in 2.4 GHz, 14 dBi in 5 GHz)

• Cable modem

• Two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

• Aligned console port

• AC powered (90 to 480 VAC)

• PoE 802.3af

• External high-gain antennas (13 dBi in 2.4 GHz, 14 dBi in 5 GHz)

• Battery

• AP1552EU can be ordered with an Ethernet Passive Optical Network SFP as an add-on. The EPON
SFP provides Gigabit data rates.

The EPON SFP feature must be ordered separately and installed.Note

Cisco 1522 Mesh Access Point

The AP1522 mesh access point (part numbers: AIR–LAP1522AG–X–K9, AIR–LAP1522HZ–X–K9,
AIR–LAP1522PC–X–K9) includes two radios: a 2.4-GHz and a 4.9- to 5.8-GHz radio. The 2.4-GHz (802.11b/g)
radio is for client access and the 5-GHz (802.11a) radio is used as the backhaul. With the 7.0.116.0 release
and later releases, 2.4 GHz is available for backhaul. This feature is applicable only to AP1522.

The 5-GHz radio is a 802.11a radio that covers the 4.9- to 5.8-GHz frequency band and is used as a backhaul.
It can also be used for client access if the universal client access feature is enabled.

Note

AP1522s with serial numbers prior to FTX1150XXXX do not support 5- and 10-MHz channels on the

4.9-GHz radio; however, a 20-MHz channel is supported.

Note

Those AP1522s with serial numbers after FTX1150XXXX support 5-, 10-, and 20-MHz channels.

Cisco 1524PS Mesh Access Point

The AP1524PS mesh access point (part number: AIR–LAP1524PS–X–K9) includes three radios: a 2.4-GHz,
a 5.8-GHz, and a 4.9-GHz radio. The 2.4-GHz radio is for client access (nonpublic safety traffic) and the

4.9-GHz radio is for public safety client access traffic only. The 5.8-GHz radio can be used as the backhaul
for both public safety and nonpublic safety traffic.

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The 4.9-GHz and 5.8-GHz radios are 802.11a subband radios that support a subset of specific 802.11a channels
and include a subband specific filter designed to lessen interference from other 11a subband radios within the
same mesh access point.

The 4.9-GHz subband radio on the AP1524 supports public safety channels within the 5-MHz (channels 1 to

10), 10-MHz (channels 11 to 19), and 20-MHz (channels 20 to 26) bandwidths.

• The data rates supported within the 5-MHz bandwidth are 1.5, 2.25, 3, 4.5, 6, 9, 12, and 13.5 Mbps. The
default rate is 6 Mbps.

• The data rates supported within the 10-MHz bandwidth are 3, 4.5, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 27 Mbps. The
default rate is 12 Mbps.

Cisco 1524SB Mesh Access Point

The AP1524SB mesh access point (part number: AIR–LAP1524SB–X–K9) includes three radios: one 2.4-GHz
radio and two 5-GHz radios.

The 2.4-GHz radio is for client access (nonpublic safety traffic). The two 5-GHz radios serve as serial backhauls:
one uplink and one downlink. The AP1524SB is suitable for linear deployments.

Mesh Network Components

Note

In the 6.0 release, the 5-GHz radios in the –A domain could be operated only in the 5.8-GHz band with
5 channels. In the 7.0 release, these radios cover the whole 5-GHz band.

Each 5-GHz radio backhaul is configured with a different backhaul channel. There is no need to use the same
shared wireless medium between the north-bound and south-bound traffic in a mesh tree-based network.

On the RAP, the radio in slot 2 is used to extend the backhaul in the downlink direction; the radio in slot 1 is
used only for client access and not mesh.

On the MAP, the radio in slot 2 is used for the backhaul in the uplink direction; the radio in slot 1 is used for
the backhaul in the downlink direction.

You only need to configure the RAP downlink (slot 2) channel. The MAPs automatically select their channels
from the channel subset. The available channels for the 5.8-GHz band are 149, 153, 157, 161, and 165.

This figure shows an example of channel selection when the RAP downlink channel is 153.

Figure 2: Channel Selection Example

Fall Back Mode

Slot 1 in a 5-GHz radio in a MAP can act as an uplink radio for the backhaul in any one of the following
scenarios:

• Slot 2 radio fails.

• Antenna for slot 2 radio goes bad.

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When a slot 1 radio takes over a slot 2 radio, it is called Fall Back Mode. The slot 2 radio is made inactive on
a noninterfering channel. The hardware is reduced to AP1522 (two radios). The slot 1 radio (omni antenna)
is extended to the uplink. A period of 15 minutes is set on a timer to attempt a rescan to find a parent on the
slot 2 radio again. The timer is similar to the default BGN timer.

This figure shows an example of the Fall Back Mode.

Figure 3: Fall Back Mode

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

• Slot 2 radio is unable to find the uplink because of a bad RF design.

• Interference and long-term fades disturb the uplink to the extent that the slot 2 radio loses its uplink
connection.

The antenna ports are labeled on the AP1524SB and are connected internally to the radios in each slot.
The AP1524SB has six ports with three radio slots (0, 1, 2) as described in Table 2: AP1524SB Antenna

Ports, on page 13.

Table 2: AP1524SB Antenna Ports

DescriptionRadio SlotAntenna Port

11

5 GHz–Used for backhaul and universal access. Universal access
is configured only on slot 1.

Note

Omni antenna is
required.

2 GHz–Used for client access.02

2 GHz–Used for client access.03

2 GHz–Used for client access.04

Not connected.—5

26

5 GHz–Used for backhaul.

Note

Directional antenna is
required.

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Note

Ethernet Ports

AP1500s support four Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.

You can query the status of these four interfaces in the controller CLI and Cisco Prime Infrastructure.

In the controller CLI, the show mesh env summary command is used to display the status of the ports.

Depending on the product model, the AP1524SB could have either 5-GHz radios or 5.8-GHz subband
radios installed in slot 1 and slot 2. Regardless of the radios installed, the AP1524SB running controller
software release 6.0 is restricted to the UNII-3 channels (149, 153, 157, 161, and 165) in slot 1 and slot

2.

• Port 0 (g0) is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) input port–PoE (in)

• Port 1 (g1) is a PoE output port–PoE (out)

• Port 2 (g2) is a cable connection

• Port 3 (g3) is a fiber connection

• The Up or Down (Dn) status of the four ports is reported in the following format:

◦ port0(PoE-in):port1(PoE-out):port2(cable):port3(fiber)

•

For example, rap1522.a380 in the display below shows a port status of UpDnDnDn. This indicates the
following:

◦ PoE-in port 0 (g0) is Up, PoE-out port 1 (g1) is Down (Dn), Cable port 2 (g2) is Down (Dn), and

Fiber port 3 (g3) is Down (Dn).

(controller)> show mesh env summary
AP Name Temperature(C/F) Heater Ethernet Battery

-------- --------------- -------- ------- ------­rap1242.c9ef N/A N/A UP N/A
rap1522.a380 29/84 OFF UpDnDnDn N/A
rap1522.4da8 31/87 OFF UpDnDnDn N/A

Multiple Power Options

For the 1550 Series

Power options include the following:

• Power over Ethernet (PoE)-In

◦ 56 VDC using a Power Injector (1552E and 1552H)

◦ PoE-In is not 802.3af and does not work with PoE 802.3af-capable Ethernet switch

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