Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

Introduction on page 1 Configuring the Wireless LAN Controller for FlexConnect (GUI) on page 2 Configuring an Access Point for FlexConnect (GUI) on page 5 Verifying the client connectivity on page 10

Introduction

FlexConnect is a wireless solution for branch office and remote office deployments. Prior to WLC Release 7.2, FlexConnect was referred as Hybrid REAP (HREAP). Now it is called FlexConnect.

FlexConnect feature enables customers to configure and control Access Points through a wide area network (WAN) link without deploying a controller in each branch office. The FlexConnect access points can switch client data traffic and perform client authentication locally when their connection to the controller is lost. When they are connected to the controller, they can also send traffic back to the controller. In the connected mode, the FlexConnect access point can also perform local authentication.

FlexConnect is supported on the Cisco Aironet 1130AG, 1140, 1240, 1250, 1260, AP801, AP802, AP3550, and Cisco Aironet 600 Series OfficeExtend Access Points on the Cisco WiSM, Cisco 5500, 4400, 2100, 2500, and Flex 7500 Series Controllers, the Catalyst 3750G Integrated Wireless LAN Controller Switch; the Controller Network Module for Integrated Services Routers.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

Configuring the Wireless LAN Controller for FlexConnect (GUI)

1. Choose WLANs from Controller web interface to open the WLANs page.

2. From the drop-down list, select Create New option and click on Go to open the WLANs > New page.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

3. From Type drop-down list, choose WLANS.

4. In the Profile Name text box, enter a unique profile name for the WLAN. In this example Profile Name is Flexcon. 5. In the WLAN SSID Text box, enter a name for WLAN. In our example, SSID is FlexWIFI. 6. From the WLAN ID drop-down list, choose the ID number for this WLAN. Here WLAN ID is 4. 7. Click on Apply to save your changes.

8. Once we apply the changes, Edit page appears. The controller can be configured for FlexConnect in both centrally switched and locally switched WLANs. In this example, lets configure the controller for FlexConnect in a locally switched WLAN.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

9. In the General tab, select the Status check box to enable the WLAN.

10. In the Security > Layer 2 tab, select WPA+WPA2 from the Layer 2 Security drop-down list and then set the WPA+WPA2 parameters as required.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

11. In the Advanced tab, select the FlexConnect Local Switching check box to enable local switching for the WLAN. Click Apply to save your changes. Click Save Configuration to save your changes.

1. We can verify the configuration of the FlexConnect in WLANS tab

Configuring an Access Point for FlexConnect (GUI)

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

1. Select Wireless to open the All APs page. And click the name of the desired access point. In our example click on AP_3500E. The All APs > Details page appears.

1. Select FlexConnect from the AP Mode drop-down list to enable FlexConnect for AP_3500E access point.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

2. Click Apply to save your changes and the AP will reboot.

3. After the reboot the AP will have Flexconnect Tab. Click on FlexConnect tab to open the All APs > Details for (FlexConnect) page. Note: If the access point belongs to a FlexConnect group, the name of the group appears in the FlexConnect Name text box.

Select the VLAN Support check box and enter the number of the native VLAN on the remote network (such as 100) in the Native VLAN ID

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

text box.

1. Click Apply to save the changes. The access point temporarily loses its connection to the controller while its Ethernet port is reset. 2. Click the name of the same access point and then select the FlexConnect tab. 3. Click VLAN Mappings to open the All APs > Access Point Name > VLAN Mappings page.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

Enter the number of the VLAN from which the clients will get an IP address when doing local switching (VLAN 61, in this example) in the VLAN

ID text box

1. Click Apply to commit your changes.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

2. Click Save Configuration to save your changes

Verifying the client connectivity

Choose MONITOR > Clients or MONITOR > Summary to verify whether the clients are getting associated to the Flexconnect AP.

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Wireless LAN FlexConnect Configuration Example

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