Quick Start Guide
ZAC
ZyXEL AP Configurator
Version 1.00
Edition 1, 6/2014
User’s Guide
www.zyxel.com
Copyright © 2014 ZyXEL Communications Corporation
IMPORTANT!
READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USE.
KEEP THIS GUIDE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................3
Chapter 1
Quick Start.............................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Overview ...................................... .... ... .......................................................... ... ...................................4
1.2 Commonly Used Terms .......................................................................................................................4
Chapter 2
Installation Guide..................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Installation Instructions ........................................................................................................................5
Chapter 3
Status.....................................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Discovering APs . .... .......................................................... ... ... .... ... ... ...................................................8
3.2 Registering APs ..... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... .......................................................... ... .... ... .........................8
3.3 Removing a Registered AP .................................................................................................................9
3.4 Retrieving Profiles from Registered APs ... ........................................................................................10
3.5 Backing Up AP Configuration File .... ... ... ... ........................................................................................11
3.6 Creating Profiles .................................. ... ... ... ........................................................... ..........................12
3.7 Editing Profiles .................................... ... ... .......................................................... ..............................12
3.8 Removing Profiles ............................ ... ... .......................................................... ... .... ... .......................13
3.9 Saving Profiles onto Local Storage ...................................................................................................13
3.10 Loading Profiles from Local Storage ...............................................................................................14
3.11 Applying a Configuration File ..........................................................................................................14
3.12 Upgrading AP Firmware ..................................................................................................................15
3.13 Changing the Network Interface .............................. .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .................16
3.14 Changing the Webpage Port ...........................................................................................................16
3.15 Changing the Display Language .....................................................................................................17
Chapter 4
Troubleshooting..................................................................................................................................18
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1.1 Overview
Traditionally, Access Points (APs) are managed through a web interface. Managing multiple access
points is a daunting task if each AP is only accessible through its own interface. ZyXEL AP
Configurator simplifies the AP management aspect by centralizing access and configuration in one
easy to use Windows based application.
This manual is structured into three sections:
• Chapter 2--a step-by-step installation guide.
• Chapter 3--lists application features and their use.
• Appendix section--lists common error messages and possible related solutions.
Note: For the latest list of supported devices see the ZAC product page on the ZyXEL
website: http://
CHAPTER 1
Quick Start
www.zyxel.com.
1.2 Commonly Used Terms
The following is a short list of terminology used throughout the manual.
Table 1 Term and abbreviation
ABBREVIATION DESCRIPTION
ZAC ZyXEL AP Configurator
AP Access point
APs Many access points
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This section provides a step-by-step guide to installing ZAC. Before proceeding with the following
instructions, first download the installation software. The software is available through the following
website: http://
Once the software is downloaded, you can continue with the installation instructions.
www.zyxel.com.
2.1 Installation Instructions
To install the software:
1 Double click on the installer. The Welcome Window displays.
2 Click Next. You are asked to read the License Agreement.
Figure 1 Starting the Installation Process
CHAPTER 2
Installation Guide
3 Check I accept the terms in the License Agreement and click Next to continue with the
installation. Otherwise, click I do not accept the terms in the License Agreement and click
Cacnel to cancel the process.
4 The Select Destination Locations window displays. Click Browse to choose the installation
folder. You can select the target installation folder for the ZAC software.
5 Click Next to continue the process.
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Chapter 2 Installation Guide
Figure 2 Selecting a Destination Folder
6 The Select Start Menu Folder window displays. Click Browse to choose the installation folder.
You can select the target folder to install the ZAC shortcuts. Or, check Don't create a Start Menu
folder to skip the shortcut installation process.
7 Click Next to continue the process.
Figure 3 Selecting a Shortcuts Folder
8 The Select Additional Tasks window displays. Check Create a desktop icon to create a desktop
shortcut.
9 Click Next to continue the process.
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Chapter 2 Installation Guide
Figure 4 Selecting Additional Tasks
10 The Ready to Install window displays. Review the installation paths as well as the shortcut
creation options before continuing.
11 Click Install to begin installation or Back to return to the previous window.
Figure 5 Reviewing the Installation Settings
12 After the installation process is complete, the Setup Wizard window displays.
13 Check Launch ZAC to launch the software after completion.
14 Click Finish to exit setup.
During installation, the installer also installs the .NET Framework 4.0 if your operating system does
not currently have the framework installed.
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3.1 Discovering APs
ZAC can scan an IPv4 range for supported APs. This feature runs immediately after ZAC starts.
Also, you can manually start the process.
To discover an AP:
1 Click Add from the AP List tab.
Figure 6 Starting AP Discovery
CHAPTER 3
Status
2 Specify an IPv4 range and the time out period in the IP Input dialog.
Figure 7 Selecting an IPv4 Range
3 Click Next. The scanning process starts. Any discovered APs are listed.
3.2 Registering APs
Before APs can be managed, they must first be registered through ZAC.
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Chapter 3 Status
To register the APs:
1 Scan for the AP(s), refer to Section 3.1 on page 8.
2 In the Discovered APs window, check a discovered AP to select it.
Figure 8 Registering an AP
3 Click Next to register the selected AP(s).
3.3 Removing a Registered AP
Registered APs can be removed or unregistered. ZAC is only able to manage a predefined number
of APs. Creating seating for current APs is maintained by unregistering existing entries.
To remove a registered AP:
1 In the AP List tab, check a target AP(s) to remove.
2 Click Remove. A dialog appears to confirm the process.
Figure 9 Removing a Registered AP
3 Click OK to remove all selected APs or Cancel to cancel the process.
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Chapter 3 Status
3.4 Retrieving Profiles from Registered APs
You can retrieve established profiles from the registered APs list to modify the profiles without
affecting the APs. The retrieved profiles can also be saved locally for later use.
To retrieve a profile:
1 In the AP List tab, select an AP(s) and click Next to continue.
Figure 10 Retrieving a Profile
2 Enter the user name and password to access the FTP servers running on the APs. Different APs may
require a different user name and password. Several user names and passwords may be required if
multiple APs are selected.
Figure 11 Accessing a Selected Profile
Retrieving the profiles may take more than 10 seconds per AP. After every profile has been
successfully retrieved, ZAC automatically displays the related Profile tab.
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Chapter 3 Status
Figure 12 Listing of Retrieved Profiles
3.5 Backing Up AP Configuration File
An AP configuration file stores all AP configuration information. You can upload this file to the AP to
configure it instead of changing the settings through the interface.
To retrieve the current configuration file:
1 In the AP List tab, select the target AP(s).
2 Click Configuration Backup.
Figure 13 Backing Up a Configuration
3 In the pop up window, click Browse to select the folder to save the configuration files.
4 Click Backup to save the configuration files to the selected folder.
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Figure 14 Selecting a Backup Folder
3.6 Creating Profiles
This feature is only available when you are able to select an AP model in the model combo box.
There are five different types of profiles, however, the steps required to create a profile are the
same between the different types.
Chapter 3 Status
To create a profile type:
1 In the Profile tab, select the type of profile to create.
Figure 15 Selecting a Profile Type
2 In the model combo box, select an AP model.
Figure 16 Selecting an AP Model
3 Click Create. Enter the required information for the profile in the popup window.
4 Click OK when you are done. A new profile with the information you entered is created.
Please note that the profiles you created following the steps above are discarded after closing ZAC.
See Section 3.9 on page 13 for information on exporting profiles.
3.7 Editing Profiles
You can edit any profile listed in the Profile tab.
To edit a profile:
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1 In the Profile tab, select the type of the profile you want to edit.
2 Select an AP model in the model combo box.
Figure 17 Selecting a Profile to Edit
3 Select a profile from the available list.
4 Click Edit. A dialog window displays the details of the selected profile.
5 Modify the relevant attributes and click OK. The selected profile is updated with the latest
modifications.
3.8 Removing Profiles
You may want to remove some profiles in the Profile tab to clear things up. Here is how to do that:
1 In the Profile tab, select the type of the profile you to remove.
Chapter 3 Status
2 Select an AP model in the model combo box.
Figure 18 Selecting a Profile to Remove
3 Select the profiles to remove. You can select more than one profile.
4 Click Remove. A popup window displays to confirm the selection.
5 Click OK and the selected profiles are removed.
To save a profile before removing it refer to Section 3.9 on page 13 for further information.
3.9 Saving Profiles onto Local Storage
When ZAC is closed, the profiles in the Profile tab are discarded unless you save the profiles before
closing ZAC. You will be prompted if ZAC is closed with some unsaved profiles. You can also save
the profiles on demand following these steps:
1 In the Profile tab, click Save Profiles List .
Figure 19 Selecting Save Profiles List
2 In the Save As dialog, choose the folder to save the profiles.
3 Enter a name for the selected file and click Save.
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Chapter 3 Status
All profiles in the Profile tab are saved to the specified folder in a single save file. The save file
contains a .zac suffix. This save file may be loaded into ZAC in the future. Section 3. 10 on pa ge 1 4
gives more information about loading a save file.
3.10 Loading Profiles from Local Storage
ZAC saves profiles in the Profile tab as a single ".zac" file (Section 3.9 on page 13).You can load this
file into ZAC to get back the profiles:
1 In the Profile tab, click Load Profiles List from File .
Figure 20 Selecting Load a Profiles List From File
2 The Open window displays. Choose the file to load and click Open. A popup window displays to
confirm the seleciton.
3 Click Yes to remove the profiles in the Profile tab and have the saved profiles loaded.
3.11 Applying a Configuration File
An AP configuration file may have one, two or three radios. Y ou can think of a radio as a set of SSID
profiles. So, roughly speaking, a configuration file is a collection of one, two or three sets of SSID
profiles. And preparing a configuration file to apply to the APs is specifying sets of SSID profiles.
Before you start, it's important to note that the AP may be damaged if the apply process is
interrupted.
To a configuration file:
1 Click Apply Configuration File to view available APs.
2 Click an AP to select it.
3 Click Edit to configure the selection.
Figure 21 Selecting a Profile
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Chapter 3 Status
4 The Edit Configuration window displays. Specify the set(s) of SSID profiles. The first SSID profile
in Radio 1 set must be specified, see the following figure.
Figure 22 Specifying an SSID Profile
5 Click Apply. The apply process starts.
3.12 Upgrading AP Firmware
New AP firmware improves AP features and performance. Y o u can use ZAC to upgrade the firmware
of an AP.
To upgrade firmware:
1 In the Configure tab, select an AP model from the model combo list.
Figure 23 Upgrading AP Firmware
2 Select an AP in the AP list.
3 Click Firmware Upgrade.
4 In the pop up dialog select the firmware by clicking Browse.
5 Click Upgrade to start the upgrade process.
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Chapter 3 Status
Invalid firmware may render the AP unusable and cause irreparable
damage to the device. Confirm the firmware version by visiting ZyXEL
website.
3.13 Changing the Network Interface
You can specify which network interface ZAC must use to communicate with the APs:
1 Click Setting to open the Settings window.
Figure 24 Settings Window
2 Click the Adapter drop-down menu to select an adapter from an available list.
Figure 25 Selecting an Adapter
3 Click OK to finish.
3.14 Changing the Webpage Port
To change the Webpage Port:
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Chapter 3 Status
1 Click Setting to open the Settings window.
2 In the HTTP Port field, enter the port number.
Figure 26 Changing the AP Web Management Port
3.15 Changing the Display Language
You can change the display language through the settings menu.
To change the display language:
1 Click Setting to open the Settings window.
2 Click the Language drop-down menu and select the target language.
Figure 27 Selecting a Display Language
3 Click OK. ZAC must restart to display the selected language.
4 Cllick OK in the popup window to restart ZAC.
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CHAPTER 4
Troubleshooting
This section troubleshoots some common problems you may run into when working with ZAC.
Cannot Discover an AP
Not all discovered AP are shown. Check that your AP(s) are not in the following list:
• APs that are already registered.
• APs that are operating in managed mode.
Multiple network interfaces may also cause problems. Normally, ZAC binds itself to the selected
network interface. If this interface is not connected to your AP(s), the AP(s) can not be discovered.
Make sure you've chosen the correct NIC on the PC which was used during the installation of ZAC.
Fail Status when Upgrading Firmware or Applying a Configuration
When ZAC fails to upgrade an AP firmware or apply a configuration file, it's most likely due to
network settings. Check the connectivity between the computer running ZAC and the AP(s).
In some cases, the AP(s) might have been damaged and you have to reset it to the default state.
Please refer to the AP manual for the instruction on how to reset the AP(s).
Invalid Language File
ZAC displays an error message indicating the language file is invalid if it is damaged. In this
situation, ZAC reverts to the default language and re-starts. Please visit ZyXEL website to download
and replace the damaged file.
Select Network Adapter in the First Running
During first time use, ZAC displays the Initial Setup. Y ou can specify the network interface ZAC
must use to communicate with the APs.
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