Initial Settings

Cisco APs contain pages and pages of configuration settings. These settings are good when you need to fine tune your AP's performance and role in the network; however, if you want to get started right away, the AP contains two express pages:

• Express Set-Up

• Express Security Set-Up

Express Security Set-Up was covered earlier in this chapter. Express Set-Up is the page you want to use when you first configure your Cisco AP.

Express Set-Up

Express Set-Up is shown in Figure 5-4. This page allows you to manage such details as:

• Host name

• How an IP address is acquired (dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP], or statically)

• IP address

• IP subnet mask

• Default gateway

• SNMP community

• The radio's role in the network (AP or repeater)

• Options for general AP performance optimization

• Whether Aironet extensions are enabled or disabled

Figure 5-4. Express Set-Up Allows You to Quickly Enter AP Information in One Place

Express Security Set-Up

Express Security Set-Up is used to quickly manage your AP's security features. Similar to Express Set-Up, this screen is used to manage the broad strokes of your device's security functions. The details are managed from elsewhere on the device. Figure 5-3 shows the Express Security Set-Up screen.

This page allows you to:

• Establish your AP's SSIDs

• Enable and specify VLANs

• Set up security protocols

  - WEP (including specifying WEP keys)

  - WPA

  - 802.1X

• View a table that shows your AP's SSIDs