Basic Wireless–WLC-1

I am going to setup a wireless network.  This would be a very basic network with very minimalistic operations.  It includes

1. Light weight Access Point
2. Wireless Controller WLC
3. Layer 3 switch (Any Layer 2 switch can also be used)
4. Laptop

No configurations are needed on Light weight Access Point or on Layer 3 switch.  Steps for configuring can be defined like

1. WLC – Management Interface
2. WLC – DHCP Configuration
3. WLC – Wireless Configuration
4. WLC – AP Discovery
5. Laptop – Connecting
6. Ping Test

1. WLC – Management Interface

Click WLC –> Config –> Management.  Configure IP Parameters.

2. WLC – DHCP Configuration

Click WLC –> Config –> DHCP
Create a DHCP Pool ‘Pool192’ for 200 users starting from 192.168.1.5.  Set any DNS Server IP Address, though it is of no use here.  Without this, it gives error and we cannot proceed further.
Click ‘Add’, so that an entry will be created in the lower table.

3. WLC – Wireless Configuration

Click WLC –> Config –> Wireless LANs
Create a Wireless profile ‘AP’ with SSID ‘AP-SSID’.  Let other parameters be as default.  It would be a no-encryption wireless network.
Click ‘Save’ to save the profile.

4. WLC – AP Discovery

Click WLC –> Config –> AP Groups
Wait for few seconds.  The Light  Weight Access Point will be listed in the group.

5. Laptop – Connecting

Now all the configurations are done.  We have to connect Laptop to wireless network.
Click Laptop –> Config –> Wireless0.
Type SSID name –> ‘AP-SSID’
Uncheck and check ‘Port Status’
Laptop will receive the IP Address from DHCP server configured in WLC.  It will be reflected in ‘IP Configuration’

6. Ping Test

Click Laptop –> Desktop –> Command Prompt
Issue ping to WLC’s IP address ‘192.168.1.1’.  It will be a success.