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Difficulty: MediumCisco Wireless Architectures and AP Modes

An enterprise deploys a Cisco Lightweight Access Point (LAP) in FlexConnect mode at a remote branch location connected via WAN to a centralized Wireless LAN Controller (WLC). The branch WLAN is configured for local switching and local authentication. If the WAN link fails and the CAPWAP connection to the controller is disconnected, which behavior will the access point exhibit for clients on this WLAN?

  1. The access point operates in standalone mode, continuing to forward data traffic locally and processing new client authentication requests locally.Answer
  2. B
    The access point stops broadcasting all SSIDs and disassociates all connected clients until the CAPWAP tunnel to the central WLC is re-established.
  3. C
    The access point automatically converts to Local mode and buffers all wireless client data frames in memory until controller reachability is restored.
  4. D
    The access point continues forwarding existing client data traffic locally but rejects all new client authentication attempts while disconnected from the WLC.

Answer

The access point operates in standalone mode, continuing to forward data traffic locally and processing new client authentication requests locally.
In Cisco wireless architectures, a FlexConnect AP configured for local switching and local authentication transitions into standalone mode when it loses its CAPWAP control connection to the WLC. In standalone mode, the AP continues to switch client traffic locally at the branch switch and can process new authentication requests locally without WLC intervention.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the AP operating mode and failure scenario.
The AP is in FlexConnect mode and loses its CAPWAP control tunnel to the centralized WLC due to a WAN outage.
FlexConnect mode is designed for branch deployments to handle WAN loss gracefully.
2
Evaluate the traffic switching configuration.
The WLAN is configured for local switching, meaning user data packets are bridged directly onto the local trunk/VLAN rather than encapsulated in CAPWAP to the WLC.
Local switching allows data plane forwarding to function independently of the CAPWAP data tunnel.
3
Evaluate the authentication configuration during standalone mode.
Because local authentication is configured, the FlexConnect AP acts as a local authenticator when disconnected from the controller.
Local authentication ensures both existing client sessions and new client join requests continue operating normally during a WAN link disruption.

Key Concept

Cisco FlexConnect AP Standalone Mode Operations
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Topics

Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP Modes

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