Lab 5.2.

2 Assigning an IP address to an Access Point

Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Number of Team Members: Students will work in teams of two.

Objective
In this lab, the student will use the IPSU utility to assign basic parameters to the access point. The
Express Setup page will also be accessed through a web browser to assign the IP address and
SSID to the access point.

Scenario
IP Setup Utility (IPSU) can be used to discover and change the IP address of an access point. IPSU
is useful when an access point does not receive an IP address from a DHCP server, or to change
the default IP address. IPSU can also be used to set the SSID on the access point.
The computer running IPSU must have an IP address of its own. IPSU can only change the IP
address and SSID on the access point from their default settings. After the IP address and SSID
have been changed, IPSU cannot change them again unless the access point is reset to factory
defaults.
Basic configuration of an access point can also be done with an Internet browser. An Internet
browser can be used to configure an access point even when an access point has been changed
from the factory defaults.

Preparation
The instructor should have a working wired network complete with a DHCP server and NAT
implemented.
The access point installation media should be installed on a PC prior to the lab. This PC should be
connected to the wired network.
The instructor will have a table prepared of IP addresses and SSIDs to assign to each team.

Tools and Resources

Each team will need:
• The access point
• The access point power supply or source
• The installation media
• A computer that is connected to the same wired network as the access point

Step 1
Assign an IP Address and SSID

1-4 Fundamentals of Wireless LANs v 1.0 - Lab 5.2.2 Copyright  2003, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 1. What is the MAC address on the bottom of the access point?
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2. What IP address will be assigned to this access point?
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3. What SSID will be assigned to this access point?
_____________________________________________________________________________

Double-click the IPSU icon on the computer desktop to start the utility.
Click the Set Parameters radio button in the Function box.
Enter the access point MAC address in the Device MAC ID field. The access point MAC address is
printed on the label on the bottom of the unit. It should contain six pairs of hexadecimal digits. The
access point MAC address might look like the following example: 004096xxxxxx
Enter the IP address that is to be assigned to the access point in the IP Address field.
Enter the SSID that is to be assigned to the access point in the SSID field.
Click Set Parameters to change the access point IP address and SSID settings.
Click Exit to exit IPSU.

Step 2
Using the Express Setup page to assign the IP address and SSID

2-4 Fundamentals of Wireless LANs v 1.0 - Lab 5.2.2 Copyright  2003, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Open an Internet browser.
Type the access point IP address in the browser address location field. Press Enter.
When the access point Summary Status page appears, click Setup. When the Setup page appears,
click Express Setup.
Type a system name for the access point in the System Name field.
Select a configuration server protocol from the Configuration Server Protocol pull-down menu. The
configuration server protocol that is selected should match the method the network uses for IP
address assignment. Use the Configuration Server link to go to the Boot Server Setup page. This
page is used to configure the access point that is to work with the network BOOTP or DHCP servers
for automatic assignment of IP addresses.
The Configuration Server Protocol pull-down menu options include the following:
• None: The network does not have an automatic system for IP address assignment.
• BOOTP: With Bootstrap Protocol, IP addresses are hard-coded based on MAC addresses.

3-4 Fundamentals of Wireless LANs v 1.0 - Lab 5.2.2 Copyright  2003, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 • DHCP: With Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, IP addresses are “leased” for
predetermined periods of time.
Type an IP address in the Default IP Address field. If DHCP is not enabled for this network, the IP
address entered in this field will be the static IP address for the access point. If DHCP or BOOTP is
enabled, the address entered in this field provides the IP address only when no server responds with
an IP address for the access point.
Enter an IP subnet mask in the Default IP Subnet Mask field. This allows the access point to know
what IP addresses are local and what IP addresses are remote and require assistance from a router.
If DHCP or BOOTP is not enabled, this field is the subnet mask. If DHCP or BOOTP is enabled, this
field provides the subnet mask only when no server responds to the DHCP or BOOTP request from
the access point.
Enter the IP address of the default Internet gateway in the Default Gateway field.
Type an SSID for the access point in the Radio Service Set ID (SSID) field.
Select a network role for the access point from the Role in Radio Network pull-down menu. The
menu contains the following options:
• Access point/root: A wireless LAN transceiver that connects an Ethernet network with
wireless client stations. Use this setting if the access point will be connected to the wired
LAN.
• Repeater/non-root: An access point that transfers data between a client and another access
point. Use this setting for access points not connected to the wired LAN.
• Client/non-root: A station with a wireless connection to an access point. Use this setting for
diagnostics. It is used when the access point needs to be tested by having it communicate
with another access point.
Select an Optimize Radio Network For option to assign either preconfigured settings or customized
settings for the access point radio as follows:
• Throughput: Maximizes the data volume handled by the access point, but might reduce the
range.
• Range: Maximizes the range on the access point, but might reduce throughput.
• Custom: The access point will use the settings entered on the AP Radio Hardware page.
Click the Custom link to go to the AP Radio Hardware page.

To automatically configure the access point to be compatible with other devices on the wireless LAN,
select one of the following Ensure Compatibility With options:
• 2Mb/sec clients: Select this setting if the network contains Cisco Aironet devices that operate
at 2 Mbps.
• Non-Aironet 802.11: Select this setting if there are non-Cisco Aironet devices on the wireless
LAN.

To use Simplified Network Management Protocol (SNMP), enter a community name in the SNMP
Admin. Community field. This name automatically appears in the list of users authorized to view and
make changes to the access point management system. Click the SNMP link to go to the SNMP
Setup page. On this page other SNMP settings can be edited. Other SNMP communities can be
defined with User Management.
Click OK. The Setup page appears. If the Role in Radio Network setting is changed, the access point
reboots.

4-4 Fundamentals of Wireless LANs v 1.0 - Lab 5.2.2 Copyright  2003, Cisco Systems, Inc.