topic C5210 Wireless Controller in ExtremeWireless (Identifi)

C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:57:00 GMT

How many Access Points can entrasys C5210 controller support by default without any license.

How to create management vlan on entrasys c5210 controller for accessing the device from network.

How to configure HA for 2 - entrasys C5210

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ronald_Dvorak — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 15:17:00 GMT

Hi,

with no license the controller will run in demo mode.
You should never do that as is has only limited functionality i.e. not all channels are available.

If you mean no additional AP license and only the region license key then the answer is 100 local APs.
In an availability pair with a 2nd controller also 1000 foreign APs are supported without another license.

Mgmt Access:
You'd either use the dedicated mgmt port (default https://192.168.10.1:5825) or configuer a new topology and checkmark the "managment traffic" field to allow access via web.

I strongly recommend to get someone with the right skill onsite to support you with the integration of the WLAN controller into your network.
It's not exactly brain surgery but if you've never used the system before I see no way that you do it by yourself.

Kind regards,
Ron

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 16:56:00 GMT

Hi Thanks for the Reply,

I am used to WM series controllers, C5210 is completely new to me.

-> What license has to be added to controller apart from AP license.
-> Can I test adoption of AP's with the new controller out of Box.
-> I dont want to use mgmt port ip address, I want to create a new L3 vlan for mgmt.

Thanks
Sai Prasad Rao Rapolu

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ronald_Dvorak — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:30:00 GMT

Let's try but I'm not sure whether we'd get everything up&running with just some forum posts...

-> What license has to be added to controller apart from AP license.
The first license that you need is the "Regulatory Domain Key" which tells the controller the country settings that should be supported - most of the time either NA (North America) or ROW (Rest of World i.e. EU)
https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/How_To/How-To-Redeem-IdentiFi-Wireless-Controller...

-> Can I test adoption of AP's with the new controller out of Box.
Yes&No, you need to install the license and should upgrade to some newer software version.

Easy example = AP and controller in the same subnet/VLAN 10.10.10.0/24
- add a new topology
> Controller > Network > Topology > new
- mode = phyical
- VLAN ID = 1234 (doens't matter if untagged)
- untagged
- Port = PortX (1-2 are 1GB, 3-4 are 10GB, so choose the one that you'd like to use)
- Layer3 = checkmark
- interface IP = 10.10.10.1
- mask = 255.255.255.0
- DHCP = local server
- AP registration = checkmark
- Managment Traffic = checkmark
- SAVE

Connect the AP to the same VLAN, the AP will get a IP from the controller DHCP and should connect to the controller.

-> I dont want to use mgmt port ip address, I want to create a new L3 vlan for mgmt
As we've set "Managment Traffic" to enable (in the example above) you should be able to get GUI access via the https://1010.10.1:5825

-Ron

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Jason1 — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 18:11:00 GMT

Ron's guidance is exactly what you need to get started! These articles (and others you will find via search) are good references if needed.

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/Q_A/Using-the-Console-Port-on-the-IdentiFi-Wirele...

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/How_To/How-to-login-to-the-management-port-of-the...

Regards,
Jason

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 20:03:00 GMT

Thanks Ron and Jason for your valuable answers, really appreciate your support. Will get back to you for any further queries.........

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 19:42:00 GMT

Can I have single said with multiple vlans on c5210.....is yes how ?

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Jason1 — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:01:00 GMT

Yes you can.

There are several ways to accomplish that. You can use Radius authentication and return back filter attributes for specific users, mapping them to a specific VLAN.

These threads discuss that, including a video that will also assist:
https://community.extremenetworks.com/extreme/topics/one-ssid-redirect-to-two-different-vlans

https://community.extremenetworks.com/extreme/topics/flexible-ssid-multiple-active-directory

In addition, without Radius authentication, you can create multiple Virtual Network Services (VNS) that are mapped to multiple WLAN Services. Each WLAN service can contain the same SSID name, but would be mapped to different access points. This allows you to direct users to different VLAN's depending on what AP they connect too.

Regards,
Jason

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ronald_Dvorak — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:19:00 GMT

There are different methods but it depend on what you want to do with a single SSID and many VLANs.

1) single SSID to assign different roles (=topology, policy, ACL) to clients
This will allow you to seperate the mobile clients and also assign different roles i.e. student VLAN#10 & could only access the internet, staff VLAN#20 and could access everything

You'd do that with RADIUS as mentioned before but I prefer to use Netsight NAC.

2) single SSID with different topology (VLANs) to have more/smaller broadcast domains
There is a new feature in v9.21 that allows to create a topology pool (which include many topolgies) and clients get assigned i.e. round-robin to a different topology

-Ron

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 21:23:00 GMT

Hi Ron can I have the procedure for creating topology pool and assigning that to single said. and what about the switch port to which ap is connected, will it carry all those multiple vlans.....

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ronald_Dvorak — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 23:18:00 GMT

Please refer to page#215 "Creating a Topology Group" in the IdentiFi Wireless User Guide v9.21.

-Ron

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 08:54:00 GMT

Hi Ron where is the book........ or link .......

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Scott_Whall — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 14:04:00 GMT

Hi Sai -

If you have your Extranet account information, you can find the User Guide here:

https://extranet.extremenetworks.com/downloads/Pages/dms.ashx?download=c2513a5a-1186-4e25-ae97-dc9e1b1d972d

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 15:57:00 GMT

Is it mandatory to set time zone before installing controller license. If there are 2 - say c5210 controllers and 800 ap licenses have to be installed, will all ap licenses be installed on one controller (OR) 50/50. Can anyone share download link for latest stable software for C5210..

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ronald_Dvorak — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:02:00 GMT

It's a good idea to set the timezone before installing the license key so the messages in the log have the correct timestamp in case you run into a problem.

Also in your case with 2x C5210 in a pair it's mandatory to set an extrenal NTP server so the controller pair is in sync.

V9 of the controller software introduced the license pool feature = the controller availabilty pair share the licenses into one pool.
So in your case it doesn't matter on which controller you activate the AP licenses, they will share a pool together as soon as availabilty is activated.

You'd find the controller firmware on the Exrtranet....
https://extranet.extremenetworks.com/downloads/Pages/WirelessControllers.aspx

I don't run into any major issue with the latest code V9.21.01.0179.

If you don't have an account please contact the partner who sold you the hardware.

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Saiprasad_Rao_R — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:02:00 GMT

Hi Ron
Once controllers are upgraded to 9.X will the newly installed access points upgrade automatically to 9.X or any extra config has to be done......

I have read the guide which have referred to, I cannot find how to setup an active-active high availability.......

And regarding your earlier answer for same SSID with different vlans, do I need a trunk port on controller carrying all those vlans or single L3 management interface IP pointing route towards core is enough..

And what about switch side port on which ap is connected. Is ap vlan as untagged is enough or I need to create user vlans also as tagged on that port.

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:02:00 GMT

Hi Ron

I have downloaded v9.01 and 9.21 from the link u have shared

9.21 is a .bge file
9.01 is a .rue file

after extraction of zip file.......

have i downloaded the correct one, what would be the extension name of the files.

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Sai_Prasad_Rao_ — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 23:45:00 GMT

Hi Ron Once controllers are upgraded to 9.X will the newly installed access points upgrade automatically to 9.X or any extra config has to be done...... I have read the guide which have referred to, I cannot find how to setup an active-active high availability....... And regarding your earlier answer for same SSID with different vlans, do I need a trunk port on controller carrying all those vlans or single L3 management interface IP pointing route towards core is enough.. And what about switch side port on which ap is connected. Is ap vlan as untagged is enough or I need to create user vlans also as tagged on that port.

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ronald_Dvorak — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:50:00 GMT

Hi Sai,

there are far too many things to consider for deploying the WLAN controller pair from scratch to your network which isn't possible in a forum post.

So please get a Extreme Networks partner or Extreme Networks professional service onsite to support you and also give you a short training on the system.

1-2 days should be sufficient as you've mentioned that you've already knowledge on WLAN technology.

You'd also attend the official wirless jumpstart (1day) or wirless (4days) class which are both are also available in an virtual classroom environment.
Here the link to the trainings page....
http://www.extremenetworks.com/education/courses

Kind regads,
Ron

RE: C5210 Wireless Controller

Ryan_Mathews — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:50:00 GMT

Ron's got a great post here. A solid RF Design is crucial for the long-term success of your WLAN.

Just to round it out and compliment the education recommendation, here's a link to the Extreme PS data sheet: http://learn.extremenetworks.com/rs/extreme/images/Professional%20Services%20Data%20Sheet.pdf