Responsible for channel access, addressing, data frame verification, error checking, security mechanism, etc.

Responsible for transmitting bit streams over the air interface, such as specifying the frequency band to be used

Wi-Fi 1

Wi-Fi 2

Wi-Fi 3

Wi-Fi 4

Wi-Fi 5

Wi-Fi 6

Manage tunnels via CAPWAP

Via CAPWAP data tunnel

The AP and AC are on a directly connected or layer 2 network (connected through a switch)

AP discovers AC

AP and AC are located in the three-layer network (through routing and connection)

AP discovers AC

The AP and AC are connected in series, and all traffic must pass through the AC. The AC can easily become a performance bottleneck.

The AC is placed in a network directly connected to the AP and the uplink network. Service traffic does not need to pass through the AC.

3Hz~300GHz

2.4G (2.4GHz~2.4385GHz)

5G (5.154GHz~5.354GHz, 5.7254GHz~5.854GHz)

Basic service set, the range covered by an AP

Basic Service Set Identifier, AP’s MAC address

service set identifier, wireless network name

One physical AP virtualizes multiple APs, and each VAP is a BSS

save costs

Multiple BSSs with the same SSID form a larger BSS

Users can roam between different APs in the same ESS

Configure a DHCP server to assign IP addresses to APs and STAs. You can also configure the AC device as a DHCP server. Configure network communication between the AP and the DHCP server; configure network communication between the AP and the AC.

Each AP will join and can only join one AP group. AP groups are usually used for common configuration of multiple APs.

The country code is used to identify the country where the AP radio frequency is located. Different country codes specify different AP radio frequency characteristics, including the AP's transmit power, supported channels, etc.

Each AC must uniquely specify an IP address or interface. The AP attached to the AC device learns this IP address or the IP address configured under this interface, which is used for communication between the AC and AP and the establishment of CAPWAP tunnels.

Automatic upgrade means that during the online process, the AP automatically compares its own version with the AP version configured on the AC or SFTP or FTP server. If the versions are inconsistent, the AP will be upgraded, and then the AP will automatically restart and go online again.

There are three ways to add APs: offline importing APs, automatically discovering APs, and manually confirming APs in the unauthenticated list.

How to get IP address

Typical solution

AP discovers AC

Establish CAPWAP tunnel

After receiving the Join Request message sent by the AP, the AC will authenticate the validity of the AP. If the authentication is successful, the AC will add the corresponding AP device.

The AC supports three authentication methods for APs.

There are three ways to add an AP to the AC:

The AP determines whether the current system software version is consistent with the one specified on the AC based on the parameters in the Join Response message received. If they are inconsistent, the AP requests the software version by sending an Image Data Request message, and then performs a version upgrade.

After the software version update is completed, the AP restarts and repeats the previous three steps.

Upgrade method

Control tunnel maintenance

Data tunnel maintenance

Domain Management Template

RF template

VAP template

Other templates

RF parameter configuration

scanning phase

Link authentication phase

association stage

Access authentication stage

DHCP

User Authentication

advantage

shortcoming

advantage

shortcoming