Firetide - Reliable Connectivity Anywhere
11
February 2009
Chapter 6 Planning Your Software Deployment
Firetide HotPoint access points can be managed and controlled directly via a wired Ethernet con-
nection, or they can be reached via Firetide Mesh Nodes. A combination of the two is possible as
well. These connection methods are known as:
‘Integrated’ operation - each HotPoint is connected to a HotPort mesh router via Ethernet.
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‘Standalone’ operation - the HotPoints are connected directly to the enterprise LAN.
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‘Mixed’ - a combination of the above.
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Note that these terms do NOT refer to the presence (or absense) of a Firetide WLAN Controller or
HotSwitch Mobility Controller.
Integrated Operation
Connect the HotPoint access points to their respective HotPort mesh routers. The HotPorts will
discover the HotPoints automatically. Manage the APs using either HotView or HotView Pro.
Complete details on the use of HotPoint APs with Firetide’s wireless mesh nodes are given in the
HotView Pro Reference Guide, included on your CD. Please read it before proceeding. This manual
describes only the deployment of standalone HotPoint APs, using a browser for configuration.
Standalone Operation
Connect the HotPoint access points to your enterprise LAN. You will want to connect them one by
one and assign each an IP address. HotPoint nodes can acquire IP addresses from a DHCP server; if
you use this option, you will need to get the assigned IP addresses from the DHCP server.
HotPoint setup requires only a standard browser. However, browser-based management manages
only one HotPoint (per browser window) at a time; it does not offer a global view of all HotPoints,
or information on statistics and performance. HotView and HotView Pro do; for details on their
use refer to the HotView Pro Reference Guide. Note that HotPoint capabilities are the same regard-
less of management method; the only difference is convenience, performance statistics, and error
logs.
Understanding APs, AP Groups, VAPs, & VAP Groups
Firetide APs support virtualization, so that one physical platform can support multiple virtual in-
stances of an access point.
An AP is a physical system - a computer and a radio - which can implement multiple “virtual” ac-
cess points. Virtual Access Points, or VAPs, are the logical systems that wireless clients actually see
and connect to.
Each HotPoint node offers a range of network as well as radio configuration options. The commands
which control these features and options are grouped logically. This makes it easy to manage large
collections of physical nodes and virtual APs, once you understand the concepts.
Access Points
(AP) - certain parameters, such as radio settings, are specific to the hardware on
each particular physical node.
Virtual Access Points
(VAP) - HotPoints support Virtual Access Points.
VAP Groups
- VAPs are grouped together for management purposes. You will create at least one
VAP group, with SSID, encryption, and other parameters. This is the ‘access point’ that will appear
to wireless clients.
Access Point Groups
- In some cases, you may want to grant management access to some nodes
to one person or persons, and other nodes to other persons. This can be done using Access Point
Groups. Each HotPoint may be assigned to an Access Point Group, or AP group. You can specify
different user names and passwords for each group.
All HotPoint commands are grouped based on whether they affect settings on a physical node, a VAP
Group, an AP Group, or an individual VAP.
