Autonomous AP as repeater

[probie]

For the life of me, I cannot get the configuration for repeater ap and root ap to work.  My configuration is simple. It's just 2 APs and no Cisco switches involved and therefore no vlan is involved.  It's just 2 aps and 1 ssid on DotRadio 1.

I tried both root bridge and non-root bridge configuration as well and it doesn't seem to work.  The repeater AP or non-bridge root keeps on associating and disassociating.

Any advice is much appreciated.

[marce1000]

 - Check if the configuration-example from this thread can help you :

          https://community.cisco.com/t5/other-wireless-mobility-subjects/autonomous-ap-repeater-with-client-access-to-backhaul-ssid/td-p/2626119

 M.

[probie]

Thank you for the reply. I read that as well and it doesn't seem to work.

Below is my configurarion.  It's very simple.  My switch is over counter desktop switch with no vlan or trunk configuration.

-----------------------------
Root AP 3702 i
-----------------------------
!
dot11 ssid Fast.Five
authentication open
authentication key-management wpa version 2
guest-mode
wpa-psk ascii <remmoved>
!
!
interface Dot11Radio1
no ip address
!
encryption mode ciphers aes-ccm
!
ssid Fast.Five
!
antenna gain 0
peakdetect
dfs band 3 block
channel width 80
channel dfs
station-role root
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
bridge-group 1 block-unknown-source
no bridge-group 1 source-learning
no bridge-group 1 unicast-flooding
!
interface GigabitEthernet0
no ip address
duplex auto
speed auto
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
no bridge-group 1 source-learning
!
interface BVI1
ip address dhcp client-id GigabitEthernet0
!
bridge 1 route ip
!

-----------------------------
Repeater AP 1142N
-----------------------------
dot11 ssid Fast.Five
authentication open
authentication key-management wpa version 2
guest-mode
infrastructure-ssid
wpa-psk ascii <remmoved>
!
interface Dot11Radio1
no ip address
!
encryption mode ciphers aes-ccm
!
ssid Fast.Five
!
antenna gain 0
peakdetect
dfs band 3 block
channel dfs
station-role repeater
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
!
interface GigabitEthernet0
no ip address
duplex auto
speed auto
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
!
interface BVI1
ip address dhcp client-id GigabitEthernet0
!
bridge 1 route ip
!

Below are the log from Repeater AP:

Jul 7 14:47:47.557: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:47:58.552: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:07.588: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:18.591: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:28.590: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:39.574: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:51.595: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:00.603: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:11.604: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:20.609: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:31.625: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:43.611: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:55.610: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:04.608: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:15.608: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:27.607: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:38.618: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:48.609: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:59.613: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:10.568: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:22.608: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:37.610: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:46.574: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]

Below are the logs from Root AP

Jul 7 14:48:50.610: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:58.602: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:48:59.614: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:09.595: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:49:10.607: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:18.595: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:49:19.606: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:29.614: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:49:30.622: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:41.598: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:49:42.610: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:49:53.598: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:49:54.610: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:02.598: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:50:03.610: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:13.596: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:50:14.607: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:25.599: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:50:26.607: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:36.607: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:50:37.619: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:46.599: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:50:47.611: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:57.603: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:50:58.615: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:08.559: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:51:09.571: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:20.600: %DOT11-6-DISASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Deauthenticating Station acf2.c573.2eea Reason: Sending station has left the BSS
Jul 7 14:51:21.612: %DOT11-6-ASSOC: Interface Dot11Radio1, Station ap1142n-NonRBAP acf2.c573.2eea Associated KEY_MGMT[WPAv2 PSK]

[probie]

It doesn't appear to work.  Below is the cofiguration.  What am I missing?

-----------------------------
Root AP 3702 i
-----------------------------
dot11 ssid Fast.Five
vlan 1
authentication open
authentication key-management wpa version 2
guest-mode
infrastructure-ssid
wpa-psk ascii 7 0231257720233D601E1D
!
!
interface Dot11Radio1
no ip address
!
encryption vlan 1 mode ciphers aes-ccm
!
ssid Fast.Five
!
antenna gain 0
peakdetect
dfs band 3 block
channel width 80
channel dfs
station-role root
!
interface Dot11Radio1.1
encapsulation dot1Q 1 native
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
bridge-group 1 block-unknown-source
no bridge-group 1 source-learning
no bridge-group 1 unicast-flooding
!
interface GigabitEthernet0
no ip address
duplex auto
speed auto
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
no bridge-group 1 source-learning
!
interface BVI1
ip address dhcp client-id GigabitEthernet0
!
bridge 1 route ip
!

-----------------------------
Repeater AP 1142N
-----------------------------
dot11 ssid Fast.Five
vlan 1
authentication open
authentication key-management wpa version 2
guest-mode
infrastructure-ssid
wpa-psk ascii 7 046C2A2A24047E0F5B4A
!
interface Dot11Radio1
no ip address
!
encryption vlan 1 mode ciphers aes-ccm
!
ssid Fast.Five
!
antenna gain 0
peakdetect
station-role repeater
!
interface Dot11Radio1.1
encapsulation dot1Q 1 native
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
bridge-group 1 block-unknown-source
no bridge-group 1 source-learning
no bridge-group 1 unicast-flooding
!
interface GigabitEthernet0
no ip address
duplex auto
speed auto
bridge-group 1
bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
no bridge-group 1 source-learning
!
interface BVI1
ip address dhcp client-id GigabitEthernet0

!
bridge 1 route ip

[patoberli]

Make sure aironet extensions are enabled on both:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/atnms-ap-82/configuration/guide/cg-82-book/cg-chap19-wgb-standby.html

[probie]

patoberli, I have it on and it's on by default.

[patoberli]

How close are the two AP while testing? It's also possible that the signal is to weak.
The passwords are the same, so that looks ok (btw. type 7 strings can easily be decrypted, I know what that string is now clear string).

[probie]

patoberli, I am very close to the AP.  I am not too worry about the PW, I am still in testing and something easy to remember.

I have the root AP (or root bridge) in one room and repeater (or non bridge) in another.  I in same room as the repeater (or non bridge).  It does connect but I get constant error between the child and parent APs causing client like iphone/pc connect with no IP address and default to 169.254.x.x.

Jul 7 14:48:39.574: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:48:51.595: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]

Thank you for the reply.

[patoberli]

As far as I can tell, your configuration should be ok. Can you connect a normal client to the root and does the network for that client work?
What software versions are you using on the root and repeater?

[probie]

 patoberli, yes to your first question.  I am running the latest version ap3g2-k9w7-tar.153-3.JPJ3a.tar

[patoberli]

On both models?
I sadly can't help you further, because this feature wasn't anymore really improved and used in recent years.

[probie]

Thank you patoberl for your replies and efforts.

[Scott Fella]

Without seeing the full configuration it is hard... One thing I didn't see was the infrastructure-ssid command. You should look at the other examples that are on the internet from some top wireless engineer whom blog: https://rscciew.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/autonomous-ap-as-repeater-with-wpa2/ https://mrncciew.com/2013/01/20/autonomous-ap-repeater/ I'm not a fan of repeaters... I tried it once and the performance was horrible. I decided to look at other alternatives like indoor mesh. Some times its best to get rid of old equipment and just buy something off the shelf like Orbi or Google WiFi, etc.

[probie]

HI Scott.  The infrastructure-ssid in the SSID config section above  I am doing this on the 2702i ans 3702i.  These are still good and solid devices. I also went by the link below as well and tried both root/repeater and root bridge wireless client/non-root bridge wireless client as well and still getting constant log below.  Going to make another attempt to reset to manuf default and start from scractch again.

Jul 7 14:50:48.609: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:50:59.613: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:10.568: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:22.608: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:37.610: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]
Jul 7 14:51:46.574: %DOT11-4-UPLINK_ESTABLISHED: Interface Dot11Radio1, Associated To AP ap3702i-RBAP1 fc5b.39c6.cb80 [None WPAv2 PSK]

[Scott Fella]

You should factory reset and follow exactly what the post or blog shows just to get it working. Then you can always change the SSID’s.