Dell SonicPoint ACi, SonicPoint ACe Getting Started Manual

Dell™ SonicPoint ACi

Getting Started Guide

Regulatory Model Number: APL27-0B1

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SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide
Updated - 11/25/14
232-002616-50 Rev A

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Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

5

Introduction

In this guide

This Getting Started Guide provides instructions for basic installation and configuration of the Dell™ SonicPoint ACi wireless
access point in single-unit or multi-unit wireless deployments.

Chapter 1 Topics

Introduction on page 5 • Wireless overview on page 7

Chapter 2 Topics

Initial Setup on page 11 • Check package contents on page 12

• Deployment requirements on page 12

• SonicPoint ACi available ports/status LEDs on page 13

• Connecting Ethernet cables on page 15

• Wireless access point placement considerations on page 16

• Mounting the SonicPoint ACi on page 18

Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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Chapter 3 Topics

Configuring SonicOS for wireless access on page 23 • Configuring SonicOS for SonicPoint ACi on page 23

• Verifying SonicPoint operation on page 28

• Troubleshooting tips on page 28

Chapter 4 Topics

Support and product registration on page 29 • Registration and support on page 29

• Online support and training on page 30

Chapter 5 Topics

Product safety and regulatory information on page 31 • Mounting the appliance on page 32

• Verwarnung Weitere hinweise zur montage on page 33

• EU and EFTA on page 34

• Declaration of conformity on page 34

Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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Wireless overview

The Dell™ SonicPoint ACi is part of the next evolu tionary generat ion in w ireless acce ss points after the D ell SonicWALL SonicPoint
N and NDR.

The SonicPoint ACi provides physical layer enhancements for higher throughput with a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbps. To achieve
this, the SonicPoint ACi uses:

• Wider channels—80 MHz-wide channels for the 802.11ac radio module, while continuing to support 20/40 MHz channels.
This allows for dynamic per packet negotiation of channel widths so that when there is interference, the SonicPoint can
temporarily fall back to 40 or 20MHz channels.

• More spatial streams—3X3 multiple-input and multiple-output, (MIMO) for the 802.11ac radio module, where the capacity
of a radio link is multiplied using multipath propagation.

Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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Dell SonicWALL wireless firewalling

When a wireless device uses a Dell SonicPoint ACi wireless
access point to communicate with a wireless device on
another subnet or on a completely different network, traffic
between the devices is forced to traverse the Dell SonicWALL
network security appliance. This traversal enables security
services to be enforced by SonicOS.

Standard practice for wireless firewalling (where one wireless
client is communicating with another) bypasses many of the
critical security services. The following illustration shows the
standard practice for wireless firewalling.

Figure 1. Standard wireless firewalling

Many security products on the market share this potential
vulnerability when two users connected by a common hub or
wireless access point wish to exchange data.

Dell SonicWALL addresses this security shortcoming by
managing the SonicPoint access points from the ne twork
security appliance. This allows complete control of the
wireless space, including zone enforcement of security
services and complete firewalling capabilities.

Figure 2. Secure wireless firewalling

WLAN Zone

Security Services

?

Content Filtering Service

Client Anti-Virus Enforcement

Gateway Anti-Virus

Gateway Anti-Spyware

Intrusion Prevention Service

Other Security Appliance

WLAN Zone

Security Services

SonicWALL

appliance

SonicWALL

SonicPoint

Content Filtering Service

Client Anti-Virus Enforcement

Gateway Anti-Virus

Gateway Anti-Spyware

Intrusion Prevention Service

Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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Frequency bands and channels

There are currently five widely adopted standards for 802.11 wireless network types: a, b, g, n, and ac. 802.11n and 802.11ac are
the newest and highest capacity standards, but older client devices may not be able to utilize the newer standards.

Different frequency bands provide varying signal strength and quality over differe nt distance ranges. Signals in the 2.4 GHz range
tend to pass through physical barriers better and carry farther than those in the 5 GHz range, but they do not provide as high a
data rate. Signals in the 5 GHz range provide faster data rates for better throughput, but the signal attenuates faster and is best
suited for open spaces.

Refer to Radio frequency barriers and RF interference on page 17 for detailed information about RF barriers and interference.

Table 1. Wireless standards

802.11 (x) Frequency standard Maximum data rate

802.11a 5 GHz 54 Mbps

802.11b 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps

802.11g 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps

802.11n 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 450 Mbps

802.11ac 5 GHz + multichannel + multipath 1.3 Gbps

Table 2. Strengths and weaknesses of 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz signals

5 GHz 2.4 GHz

Strength Higher speed, more channels Longer Range, stronger signal penetration
Weakness Limited penetration of walls, client compatibility More sources of interference

Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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To allow multiple separate wireless networks in a shared and confined space, the RF med ium is divided into channels . For devices
in the 5 GHz range (802.11a/n/ac), this means the possibility of up to 23 disc rete channels.

For devices using the 2.4 GHz range (802.11b/g/n), the wireless space is limited to a maximum of 14 overlapping channels. As a
result of these overlapping channels, 2.4 GHz technology provides only a total of three discrete channels.

802.11 comparison chart

Table 3. 802.11 signal characteristics

802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n 802.11ac

# of Channels in USA2311111121
# of Channels in EU 23 13 13 13 16
# of Channels in Japan 15 14 14 14 19
Frequency Band 5 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4/5 GHz 5 GHz
Max. Data Rate 54 Mbps 11 Mbps 54 Mbps 450 Mbps (For 3X3

MIMO)

1.3 Gbps (For
QAM-64, MIMO
3X3, and 80 MHz
channels)

Radius (Range) 90ft/25m 120ft/35m 120ft/35m 300ft/90m 120ft/35m

NOTE: Although 802.11b/ g/n standards provide betw een 11 and 14 ch annels, only three of thos e channels are fully discrete

(non-overlapping) channels.

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Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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Initial Setup

This section provides a basic checklist of materials, hardware information, and describes how to connect and configure physical
aspects of the Dell SonicPoint ACi including cabling and mounting.

• Check package contents on page 12

• Deployment requirements on page 12

• SonicPoint ACi available ports/status LEDs on page 13

• Connecting Ethernet cables on page 15

• Wireless access point placement considerations on page 16

• Mounting the SonicPoint ACi on page 18

Dell SonicPoint ACi Getting Started Guide

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Check package contents

Before continuing, ensure that your Dell™ SonicPoint AC i
package contains the following materials:

Any items missing?

If any of the items corresponding to your product are missing
from the package, contact Technical Support at:

https://support.software.dell.com/manage-service-request

A listing of the most current support documents are available
online at: 

https://support.software.dell.com/

Deployment requirements

SonicOS firmware

• Dell SonicPoint ACi access points are centrally ma naged

by Dell SonicW ALL network security appliances runni ng
the following versions of SonicOS:

• SonicOS 5.9.1 or a higher 5.9 release

• SonicOS 6.2.2 or higher

Power over Ethernet

• An 802.3at compliant PoE injector or PoE-capable

switch capable of providing 25 watts of power to each
SonicPoint ACi is required.

Internet connectivity

• An active Internet connection is required for your

firewall to download the latest SonicPoint firmware.

Gigabit Ethernet connectivity

• 802.11ac wireless hardware requires more bandwidth

than a single (or even dual) 10/100 Ethernet
connection can handle. Gigabit Ethernet connectivity
between the WLAN and the LAN is required to take full
advantage of 802.11ac speed.

See Product safety and regulatory information on page 31.

SonicPoint ACi Appliance Checklist

Dell SonicPoint ACi Appliance
Mounting Kit (Ceiling Brackets, Anchor and Screw Kit)
Getting Started Guide