Configuring the CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER provides backwards compatibility in an existing
customer deployment. When an access point receives an IP address and DNS information from a DHCP
server, it contacts the DNS to resolve CISCO-CAPWAP-CONTROLLER.localdomain. When the DNS
sends a list of controller IP addresses, the access point sends discovery requests to the controllers.
Deploying the Access Point on the Wireless Network
After you have mounted the access point, follow these steps to deploy it on the wireless network:
Procedure
Step 1
Connect and power up the access point.
Step 2
Observe the access point LED.
For LED status descriptions, see
Checking the Access Point LEDs, on page 22
• When you power up the access point, it begins a power-up sequence that you can verify by observing
the access point LED. If the power-up sequence is successful, the discovery and join process begins.
During this process, the LED blinks green, red, and off sequentially. When the access point joins a
controller, the LED is green if no clients are associated, or blue if one or more clients are associated.
• If the LED is not on, the access point is most likely not receiving power.
• If the LED blinks sequentially for more than 5 minutes, the access point is unable to find its primary,
secondary, and tertiary Cisco Wireless Controller. Check the connection between the access point and
the Cisco Wireless Controller, and be sure that the access point and the Cisco Wireless Controller are
either on the same subnet or that the access point has a route back to its primary, secondary, and tertiary
Cisco Wireless Controller. Also, if the access point is not on the same subnet as the Cisco Wireless
Controller, ensure that there is a properly configured DHCP server on the same subnet as the access
point.
For additional information, see
Configuring DHCP Option 43, on page 27
Step 3
Reconfigure the Cisco Wireless Controller so that it is not the primary.
A primary Cisco Wireless Controller should be used only for configuring access points and not in
a working network.
Note
Checking the Access Point LEDs
The location of the access point status LED is shown in
Figure 1: C9136I Face View, on page 6
Regarding LED status colors, it is expected that there will be small variations in color intensity and hue from
unit to unit. This is within the normal range of the LED manufacturer’s specifications and is not a defect.
However, the intensity of the LED can be changed through the controller.
Note
Cisco Catalyst 9136I Series Access Point Hardware Installation Guide
22
Configuring and Deploying the Access Point
Deploying the Access Point on the Wireless Network