Cisco Autonomous Access Point Vs Lightweight Access Point

Cisco Autonomous Access Point

A solitary or fat access point (AP) is a wireless network device that manages all Wi-Fi tasks without a central controller. Self-contained wireless APs are one of two types.

Core Characteristics and Functionality

1. Standalone Operation and Intelligence: An autonomous access point (AP) is a stand-alone device with all the logic and intelligence required to operate a wireless network.

Independence: Being independent, it can operate without a Wireless LAN Controller (WLC). It does all the WLAN setup and management and has its own OS.

Software: Autonomous APs use Cisco routers‘ Internetworking Operating System (IOS) with wireless capability.

Local Functions: Radio administration, security (WPA2/WPA3), SSID/broadcast, and client handling are all done locally.

Core Services: The AP manages and controls core services like:

• Verifying new gadgets.
• The Service Set ID (SSID) is defined.
• Providing one or more independent, fully functional Basic Service Sets (BSSs).
• RF procedures (such as transmit power and channel selection) that need to be handled manually by the administrator.

2. Traffic and Data Path: The Autonomous AP, its main access point, handles all wireless network traffic.

Bridging: The AP converts 802.11 wireless signals to 802.3 Ethernet frames as a Layer 2 bridge.

VLAN Mapping: A wired VLAN is mapped to a wireless SSID. Vlan 21 may be for business users and Vlan 22 for guests.

Multiple SSIDs: For logical user segmentation, an autonomous access point (AP) can support numerous logical wireless networks (multiple SSIDs), each of which is mapped to a distinct VLAN.

Trunking Requirement: The link that connects the AP to the switch infrastructure needs to be set up as a trunk link in order for the various VLANs to pass via the connection if the AP supports multiple WLANs, which correspond to numerous wired VLANs.

Local Termination: The access point is the only link to the wired network. CAPWAP doesn’t encapsulate frames for autonomous APs because they don’t send data to WLCs.

Also Read About Cisco WLC GUI Security Settings And Advanced WLAN Settings

Deployment and Scalability

Applicability: Small network settings are a great fit for the Autonomous AP design. Retail outlets, branch offices, limited Office/Home Office (SOHO) networks, and any other place that needs just one or a very limited number of access points (usually fewer than three are recommended before switching architectures) fall under this category. They are selected when a centralized WLC would be too costly or complicated.

Management Challenges (Cons): Scalability and management are the main issues with autonomous APs.

• Individual Management: Every AP needs to be kept up to date and managed separately. Use a management IP address, web interfaces, SSH, or Telnet.
• Individual configuration and management become harder, slower, and more error-prone as the network increases. AP administrators must manually configure SSIDs, VLANs, and channels.
• Independent APs lack centralized control and are unaware of other APs, therefore they cannot view the wireless network.
• Restricted roaming: Supporting seamless roaming is difficult. For client mobility, all related access points must have Layer 2 connection (the same VLAN) extended in order for the client to keep the same IP address. In contemporary network architectures, stretching Layer 2 over various buildings or compartments is regarded as a significant scalability constraint.

Alternative Architectures: Some cloud-based AP systems, like as Cisco Meraki, rely on an underlying autonomous AP architecture but centralise the management and control operations via the Internet cloud, in contrast to typical autonomous APs that are handled individually.

Converting autonomous APs to lightweight access points is frequently advised for expanding networks in order to meet scalability needs. With centralized management via a WLC, lightweight APs are built for seamless roaming and maximum scalability.

Also Read About Wireless Principles: 802.11 Standards & WLAN Basics for CCNA

Autonomous vs. lightweight access point