Cisco WAP581 Service Manual

Quick Start Guide

Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC/N Dual Radio
Access Point with 2.5GbE LAN

Welcome

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Thank you for choosing the Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC/N Dual Radio
Wave 2 Access Point with 2.5GbE LAN. The Cisco WAP581 is an indoor
dual radio 802.11acWave2 + 802.11acWave1 access point with Power
over Ethernet (PoE). -PoE Supplied by UL Listed I.T.E.

NOTE The unit should be connected to PoE networks only, without routing to

the outside plant.

This guide is designed to familiarize you with the general layout of the
access point, describe how to deploy the device in your network, and
describe how to configure the device. Your access point has more features
and functionality than what is described in this guide. For additional
information, see the Administration Guide. A link to the Administration
Guide is found in Where to Go from Here.

Package Contents

• Wireless Access Point

• Mounting kit

• This Quick Start Guide

• Ethernet cable

• Pointer Card with China RoHS

• Technical Support Contacts

• EU Directives 1999/5/EC Compliance Information (for EU SKU only)

Before You Begin

Before you begin the installation, make sure that you have the following
equipment and services:

• A computer with one of the following browser support:

– Internet Explorer 9.0 or later

– A recent version of either Chrome, Firefox or Safari

• Tools for installing the hardware

• One or more Ethernet network switches with either PoE, PoE injector or

external power adapter

Cisco WAP581 Wireless Access Point 1

Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC/N Premium

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Dual Radio Access Point with PoE Setup
Features

Front Panel

The front panel of the device consists of a single system LED. For a full
description of the colors of the light and its indications, see Verifying the

Hardware Installation.

Back Panel

The back panel of the device has two RJ-45 Ethernet ports. Facing the
back of the device, the right port (labeled “ETH0/PD”) is an 2.5GbE with

802.3at & 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) port which is used to power
your device. The left port (labeled “ETH1”) is a general Gigabit Ethernet
LAN interface. Both are auto-sensing, Gigabit Ethernet (802.3) ports used
to connect your WAP devices to network devices, such as computers,
routers, or switches. We strongly recommend that you use a Category
5e or better cable for Gigabit connectivity.

Side Panel

The side panel of the device consists of the following:

• Kensington Lock Slot—Helps to secure the unit physically using a cable
attached to the device.

• Reset button—See Rebooting the Devices or Returning them to their

Factory Default Settings for information on the Reset button.

Default Setting

Parameter Default Value

Username cisco
Password cisco
LAN IP Address DHCP address assigned

by server
Fallback LAN IP 192.168.1.245
Subnetwork Mask 255.255.255.0

If you are using a Cisco RV Series router, the default range for the DHCP
assigned address is from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.254. Any device
connecting to the same LAN will be assigned an IP address in this range.

Cisco WAP581 Wireless Access Point 2

If your network does not have an existing DHCP server, the WAP581 will

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start a DHCP server for WLAN stations and stop the DHCP client when
WAP581 is in factory default. The DHCP server will assign the IP address
from 192.168.1.20 to 192.168.1.100.

Mounting the Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC/ N Premium Dual Radio Access Point with PoE Setup

You can place your access point on a desktop, or mount it on a wall or
ceiling.

Placement Tips

• Ambient Temperature—To prevent the access point from overheating,

do not operate it in an area that exceeds an ambient temperature of
104°F (40°C).

• Mechanical Loading—The device should be level, stable, and secure
to prevent it from sliding or shifting out of position.

Wall and Ceiling Mounting

The Cisco WAP581 can be wall or ceiling-mounted. There is a mounting kit
packed with your device. The kit is designed to install your device to the
wall or the ceiling.

The mounting bracket has some flexibility so that you can reuse existing
holes drilled for a Cisco WAP551 or WAP561 device. The installer can
remove the Cisco WAP551 or WAP561 and mount the Cisco WAP581. You
will need 4pcs of anchors and screws to mount the device.

The dimensions for the mount kit screws are as follows

Cisco WAP581 Wireless Access Point 3