wireless mesh ap's

[suthomas1]

Experts, i did some reading but find it difficult to get a clear view.

i am looking to understand the differences between MAP, RAP & WGB in cisco wireless and what conditions these are used for.

thanks in advance.

[Nicolas Darchis]

Quite easy :

-WGB is a standalone IOS AP. It acts as a client towards the infrastructure (so it connects to other APs, it can roam, etc ...). It provides connectivity to the devices wired in the WGB AP. An example of usage is to put the WGB on a vehicle that drives around a warehouse. On the WGB AP, you plug a switch with several wired devices. All those devices have network connectivity through the WGB which connects to the infrastructure wireless (whether infra is WLC-based or IOS-based).

-MAP and RAP are Mesh so they are working with a controller. The RAP is the AP having wired network connectivity to the controller and rest of the network and the MAP is the AP that connect wirelessly to the RAP.

You can achieve a similar function to WGB with a MAP in the sense that you can connect device to the MAP and they will have connectivity towards the network. However the difference with the wgb is that the MAP is lwapp/capwap AP workign with a controller. the MAP is not made for roaming (it should not be moving around) and that MAP allows another MAP to connect to it. (=wgb is an end client, only wired devices can connect behind it where a MAP can serve as wireless relay for other MAPs).

Nicolas

[suthomas1]

thanks for that good run through.

in case of WGB, is it correct to term it as a relay device that connects Wired & wireless networks.

what defines if the AP is used as RAP or MAP.

any links to understand the configuration & basics would be appreciated.

[Nicolas Darchis · Accepted solution]

The config guide is always underestimated :-)

Mesh : http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/controller/7.0/configuration/guide/c70mesh.html

WGB : http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/access_point/12.4_10b_JA/configuration/guide/scg12410b-chap19-wgb-standby.html

Mesh APs have to be first connected with a cable to the WLC so that they can join the first time. Then you can set their properties to Mesh mode and then to MAP or RAP mode. The MAP will know it has to look for neighbors over the air to connect to and the RAP knows that it has wired connection and will receive connection requests from MAPs.

Mesh allows for a whole topology of APs connected to each other without wires. WGB is just one hop. It act as a client of a wireless infrastructure and allows wired devices behind to have connectivity.

Note that you can have a IOS WGB connecting to lightweight MAPs  connected to other MAPs which finally connect to a RAP which has network access.

Nicolas

[suthomas1]

This is appreciated Nicolas. the material seems very good, should occupy me for a while to assimilate.

thanks for your help.