Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) is a protocol that can control multiple
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for Wireless LAN, local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by ...
wireless access point
In Computer networking device, computer networking, a wireless access point (WAP) (also just access point (AP)) is a networking hardware device that allows other Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network or wireless network. As a standalone ...
s at once. This can reduce the amount of time spent on configuring, monitoring and troubleshooting a large network. The system will also allow network administrators to closely analyze the network.
This system is installed in a central server that gathers data from RF devices from different brands and settings. The server can command a selected group of devices to apply given settings simultaneously.
Standardization
LWAPP was proposed by
Airespace, as a standard protocol to provide interoperability between any brands of access point. Airespace was purchased by
Cisco
Cisco Systems, Inc. (using the trademark Cisco) is an American multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, s ...
Systems. Its purpose was to standardize "lightweight" access points with the Internet Engineering Task Force (
IETF
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is a standards organization for the Internet standard, Internet and is responsible for the technical standards that make up the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP). It has no formal membership roster ...
), but it was approved as a standard. Sponsored by Cisco Systems, it has been submitted to IETF in RFC 5412.
Although this protocol has so far not been popular beyond the Airespace/Cisco product lines, the
CAPWAP
The Control And Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol is a standard, interoperable networking protocol that enables a central wireless LAN controller to manage a collection of ''Wireless Termination Points (WTPs)'', more commonly ...
standard is based on LWAPP. Support for LWAPP is also found in analysis products from
AirMagnet, who has implemented a software based on this protocol to analyze Cisco wireless products.
Still considered proprietary, LWAPP systems compete with other non-standard lightweight wireless mechanisms from companies like Meru Networks and Aruba Networks.
LWAPP Layer 2
On
Layer 2
The data link layer, or layer 2, is the second layer of the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. This layer is the protocol layer that transfers data between nodes on a network segment across the physical layer. The data link layer pr ...
, LWAPP only requires a data link connection in order to transfer frames and Layer 2 broadcasts. Even if IP connectivity is not established it will still operate at layer 2.
LWAPP Layer 3 and 4
Layer 4 UDP 12222 (data channel) and 12223 (control channel) connectivity must be established to work with this form of the protocol. Broadcasts or
DHCP
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network management protocol used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks for automatically assigning IP addresses and other communication parameters to devices connected to the network using a clie ...
option 43 can be used to prime the access-points of the network. The controller must be on the same subnet if DHCP is not configured to handle layer 3 LWAPP provisioning. Another option for directing an AP to the controller is by defining the controller on the DNS server of the network.
See also
*
CAPWAP
The Control And Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol is a standard, interoperable networking protocol that enables a central wireless LAN controller to manage a collection of ''Wireless Termination Points (WTPs)'', more commonly ...
- Control and provisioning of wireless access points (CAPWAP) protocol specification
References
External links
Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide, Release 4.0*
Lightweight Access Point Protocol IETF Standard Control And Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP)Protocol Specification
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Internet protocols