Meru Technical Note - AP pre-configured with dataplane encryption

[nmichael]

Description

What happens when AP is pre-configured with dataplane encryption?

Scope

KB ARTICLE TYPE: Troubleshooting

RELATED PRODUCTS: AP301, AP302, AP310, AP311 and AP320

RELATED SOFTWARE VERSIONS: 4.x, 5.0-x, 5.1-x

KEYWORDS: Data-plane encryption, DHCP, AP connect,
Solution

1. This occurs because of an unsupported configuration.

2. When you pre-configure an AP, Dataplane encryption is ON by default.

3. Data-plane encryption as a feature is supported on AP200 but is not supported on AP300s.

4. Therefore, if this setting is left ON, sometimes the AP does not complete its connection with the controller (stays in Disabled-Online mode).

5. The trick is to switch off the APs and then turn Data-plane Encryption OFF.

6. When you turn the AP ON again, the AP connects to the controller.

7. Sometimes, the AP may connect with Data-plane Encryption turned ON but clients may not receive an IP via DHCP after wireless association.

8. Here too, turning OFF Data-plane Encryption resolves the issue.

9. Note that toggling the Data-plane Encryption parameter value after the AP auto-connects (as against pre-configuration) seems to have none of the aforementioned effects.