FortiWiFi Wireless Plus FortiAP Wireless

[SecurityPlus]

If a FortiWiFi is in place and the FortiWiFi wireless is in use, can one or more FortiAP‘s be added using wireless provided by the FortiWiFi wireless as well as the FortiAP wireless? Can this arrangement function as it does with 2 or more FortiAP’s including roaming and the same SSID’s on all access points?

[Dave_Hall · Accepted solution]

On FortiWifi side - Only 2.4 or 5.0 but not both, at least on 6.0 firmware.  FortiAPs can broadcast on both.

[Dave_Hall]

If you asking if a FortiWiFi model can act as a wiireless controller for FortiAP models then yes, but it depends on the model and firmware compatibility between the two.   

Here is my 30E, which is running on 6.0.x firmware, it can manage 2 FortiAP devices.  I still have to setup the wifi/SSID options via FortiAP Profiles.

[SecurityPlus]

Thanks. I knew that the FortiWiFi could act as a controller for FortiAP devices. I did not know if it could simultaneously do this while using the built in FortiWiFi wireless. I’m glad to know that this is works. Thanks.

[Toshi_Esumi]

Just keep in mind FortiWiFi provides one RADIO, while APs might offer 2-3 RADIOs, in case one SSID is broadcasted by both.

[SecurityPlus]

Thanks for the reminder. Can an SSID broadcast on 2.4 and 5 GHz from the AP and on only 2.4 GHz from the FortiWiFi? Or would we need to use just one frequency if using a mixture of FortiWiFi and FortiAP?

[Toshi_Esumi]

I don't remember the default setting on the FortiWiFi  profile ("11n only"?) but you can change it to 5GHz if the default is 2.4GHz. You don't have to change anything special on the AP side, which might have both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. They can co-exist.

[Dave_Hall · Accepted solution]

On FortiWifi side - Only 2.4 or 5.0 but not both, at least on 6.0 firmware.  FortiAPs can broadcast on both.

[Toshi_Esumi · Accepted solution]

Sorry if I created a confusion. I meant both "one RADIO of FortiWifi" and "two RADIOs on APs" can co-exist.

[SecurityPlus]

Thank you