Chapter 1 Introduction
NWA5000 / WAC6500 Series User’s Guide
12
You can set the NWA/WAC to operate in either standalone AP or managed AP mode. When the
NWA/WAC is in standalone AP mode, it can serve as a normal AP, as an RF monitor to search for
rouge APs to help eliminate network threats (if it supports monitor mode and rogue APs detection),
or even as a root AP or a wireless repeater to establish wireless links with other APs in a WDS
(Wireless Distribution System). A WDS is a wireless connection between two or more APs.
Your NWA/WAC’s business-class reliability, SMB features, and centralized wireless management
make it ideally suited for advanced service delivery in mission-critical networks. It uses Multiple
BSSID and VLAN to provide simultaneous independent virtual APs. Additionally, innovations in
roaming technology and QoS features eliminate voice call disruptions.
The NWA/WAC controls network access with Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering, and
rogue Access Point (AP) detection. It also provides a high level of network traffic security,
supporting IEEE 802.1x, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data
encryption.
Your NWA/WAC is easy to install, configure and use. The embedded Web-based configurator
enables simple, straightforward management and maintenance. See the Quick Start Guide for how
to make hardware connections.
1.1.1 Management Mode
The NWA/WAC is a unified AP and can work either in standalone AP mode or in managed AP mode.
If the NWA/WAC and a ZyXEL AP controller, such as the NXC2500 or NXC5500, are in the same
subnet, it will be managed by the controller automatically.
An AP controller uses Control And Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP, see RFC 5415)
to discover and configure multiple managed APs.
To set the NWA/WAC to be managed by an AP controller in a different subnet or change between
management modes, use the
AC
(AP Controller)
Discovery
When the NWA/WAC is in standalone AP mode and connects to a DHCP server, it uses the IP
address assigned by the DHCP server. Otherwise, the NWA/WAC uses the default static
management IP address (192.168.1.2). You can use the
AC Discovery
screen to have the NWA/
WAC work as a managed AP.
Number of Wireless Radios
2
2
2
2
Monitor Mode & Rogue APs Detection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Layer-2 Isolation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
External Antennas
Yes
No
No
Yes
Internal Antenna
No
Yes
Yes
No
Maximum number of log messages
512 event logs or 1024 debug logs
Table 2
WAC Series Comparison Table
FEATURES
WAC6502D-E
WAC6502D-S
WAC6503D-S
WAC6553D-E
Table 3
NWA/WAC Management Mode Comparison
MANAGEMENT MODE
DEFAULT IP ADDRESS
UPLOAD FIRMWARE VIA
Standalone AP
Dynamic or
Static (192.168.1.2)
Web Configurator or FTP
Managed AP
Dynamic
CAPWAP or FTP
Summary of Contents for NWA5121-N
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