CHAPTER 5
Configuring and Deploying the Access Point
This section describes how to connect the AP to a controller. For instructions on how to configure the AP,
see the relevant release's Cisco Wireless Controller Configuration Guide.
• Controller Discovery Process, on page 61
• Deploying the Access Point in a Wireless Network, on page 62
• Checking the Access Point LEDs, on page 62
Controller Discovery Process
The Cisco AP must join a controller to function as an AP and start serving clients. Cisco uses a process called
controller discovery process to join a controller. The devices use Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP)
to communicate with each other. The AP can be plugged associated to a controller regardless of the physical
location or logical location in the network. A new AP, out of the box, can be plugged in anywhere regardless
of the subnet. After it is plugged in, it locates the controller, receives the controller version of the software
image and configuration. After this is sent to the AP, it can start serving clients.
Guidelines and Limitations
• You cannot edit or query any AP using the controller CLI if the AP's name contains a space.
• Make sure that the controller is set to the current time. If the controller is set to a time that has already
occurred, the AP might not join the controller because its certificate might not be valid for that time.
The controller must discover AP before it can become an active part of the network. The AP supports the
following controller discovery processes:
• Locally stored controller IP address discovery: If the AP was previously joined to a controller, the primary,
secondary, and tertiary controllers' IP addresses are stored in the AP's non-volatile memory. This process
of storing controller IP addresses on an AP for later deployment is called priming the AP. For more
information about priming, see Performing a Preinstallation Configuration (Optional), on page 22.
• DHCP server discovery: This feature uses DHCP option 43 to provide controller IP address to the AP.
Cisco switches support a DHCP server option that is typically used for this capability. For more information
about DHCP option 43, see Configuring DHCP Option 43, on page 66.
• DNS discovery: The AP can discover controllers through your domain name server (DNS). For the AP
to do so, you must configure your DNS to return controller IP addresses in response to
CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER.localdomain, where localdomain is the AP domain name. Configuring
Cisco Catalyst 9124AX Series Outdoor Access Point Hardware Installation Guide
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