Copyright (c) 2026 MindMesh Academy. All rights reserved. This content is proprietary and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.
2.1.4. Access Points
Wireless Access Points (APs) are translators—they convert 802.11 Wi-Fi signals into 802.3 Ethernet frames and vice versa. Every wireless client in your network is actually talking to an AP, which then forwards that traffic onto the wired network.
The key question is: where does the intelligence live?
AP Deployment Models:
- Autonomous: Each AP is configured independently. Simple for small deployments, nightmare at scale (imagine configuring 500 APs one by one)
- Lightweight: APs are "dumb" and controlled by a Wireless LAN Controller (WLC). Change the SSID once on the controller, and all 500 APs update instantly
- Cloud-managed: Similar to lightweight, but the controller is in the cloud (Cisco Meraki). Great for distributed sites with no on-prem IT staff
What happens when APs fail: Users lose wireless connectivity. In a lightweight deployment, if the WLC fails, APs can continue operating in a limited mode—but no new clients can join.
Cisco AP Platforms: Catalyst 9100 series (enterprise), Meraki MR series (cloud-managed)