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Business Central Wireless
Manager 2.1 Application
User Manual
July 2016
202-11633-02
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit
www.netgear.com/support
to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Revision History
March 2016, publication part number 202-11633-01, first publication.
July 2016, publication part number 202-11633-02, revision with the addition of the following new features:
•
Support for captive portals that can provide paid-for access through vouchers (see
Voucher Access to a WiFi Network
on page 56). This new feature provides the following capabilities:
-
Capability to generate vouchers with a unique code to deploy paid-for guest WiFi service (see
on page 138).
-
Capability to monitor the status of sold vouchers (see
View the Status of Vouchers and Download All
on page 141).
-
Capability to invite clerk collaborators who can sell vouchers (see
Invite a Manager, Customer, or Clerk to an Account
•
Fast roaming (802.11r with 802.11k) for WiFi networks that are carried by 802.11ac access points (see
Enable Fast Roaming for a WiFi Network
•
Load balancing for a location with the option to specify the maximum number of clients that are allowed to connect to one type of access point model (see
Manage Load Balancing for a Location
on page 38).
•
Enhanced Auto RF management with the option to select individual corporate channels (see
Automatic Radio Frequency Management for a Location
on page 36).
•
Registration of a NETGEAR device while adding the device to a location (see
on page 31 or to inventory (see
Add a Device to Inventory Without Deploying It
•
Capability to add an access point to inventory without deploying it to a location (see
•
Capability to change the management VLAN ID for an access point (see
Change the Management VLAN for an Access Point
on page 71).
•
Enhanced device firmware upgrade management and status view with the following new capabilities:
-
Capability to let upgrades occur automatically when a new major firmware release is available (see
Schedule to Upgrade Devices at a Location to the Latest Firmware Version
on page 42).
-
Capability to select beta firmware for automatic upgrades (see
Schedule to Upgrade Devices at a
Location to the Latest Firmware Version
on page 42).
2
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
•
Improved alarm categorization and alarm notification (see
View Alarms for a Device, Claim Alarms, and
on page 128).
•
Enhanced account management that restricts access of an application user with a customer role to read-only
Invite a Manager, Customer, or Clerk to an Account
•
Support for up to six custom fields for the splash page of a captive portal for free access (see
Portal for Free Access to a WiFi Network
on page 53).
3
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application Concepts.............................8
Automatic Network Provisioning Concepts.......................................................9
Configuring and Managing Functions.............................................................10
Account Management Functions.....................................................................11
Plan a Location With WiFi Networks and Hotspots..............................................12
Determine the Location Requirements............................................................13
Determine the Management VLAN.................................................................13
Plan the Client Authentication and Data Encryption........................................13
Plan the Hotspots With Free Access and Paid-For Access.............................14
Compatible NETGEAR WiFi Access Points.........................................................16
Chapter 2 Get Started With Cloud Management
Manage the Radio and Antenna Settings for a Location......................................33
Run or Schedule Automatic Radio Frequency Management for a Location........36
Upgrade Firmware on Devices at a Location.......................................................40
Upgrade Devices at a Location to a Specific Firmware Version......................40
Schedule to Upgrade Devices at a Location to the Latest Firmware Version...42
Change the Device Credentials for a Location.....................................................45
4
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Chapter 4 Manage WiFi Networks
Change the Broadcast, Advertisement, and VLAN Settings for a WiFi Network...48
Change the Authentication and Encryption for a WiFi Network...........................49
Add a Captive Portal for Free or Paid-For Access to a WiFi Network..................52
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi Network................................53
Add a Captive Portal for Voucher Access to a WiFi Network...........................56
Enable Fast Roaming for a WiFi Network............................................................60
Set Up or Change a Radio On/Off Broadcast Schedule for a WiFi Network........62
Chapter 5 Manage Devices and Device Inventory
Add or Change Building and Floor Labels for a Device.......................................66
Change the Radio and WiFi Settings for a Device...............................................67
Change the IP and Management VLAN Settings for a Device.............................69
Configure a Static IP Address for an Access Point.........................................69
Configure an Access Point as a DHCP Client.................................................70
Change the Management VLAN for an Access Point......................................71
Add a Device to Inventory Without Deploying It..............................................76
Deploy a Device in Inventory at a Location.....................................................77
Decommission a Device From a Location and Keep It in Inventory................79
Remove a Device From Inventory...................................................................80
Chapter 6 Manage Accounts and Licenses
View the Trial Balance and Trial Expiration Date During the Trial Period.........85
What Happens at the End of the Free Trial Period?........................................85
View the Devices Managed Under an Account....................................................92
Invite a Manager, Customer, or Clerk to an Account...........................................92
Accept an Invitation and Sign Up for and Activate a Manager, Customer, or Clerk
Remove a Manager, Customer, or Clerk From an Account.................................95
5
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Change Your Account Email Address and Password...........................................98
Chapter 7 Monitor Your Locations, Networks, and Devices
View Alarms for Your Account, Claim Alarms, and Resolve Alarms...................101
Set Up Email Notification Profiles for License Accounts and Locations.............105
Change or Remove an Email Notification Profile...............................................106
View the Status of All Locations and Devices Under Your Account...................107
View the Status of Devices at a Location......................................................112
View Neighbor and Rogue Access Points at a Location...............................114
View Clients Connected at a Location...........................................................116
View the Event Logs for a Location...............................................................117
Monitor a Single WiFi Network at a Location.....................................................119
View Clients Connected to a WiFi Network...................................................121
View the Event Logs for a WiFi Network.......................................................122
View Clients Connected to a Device.............................................................127
View Alarms for a Device, Claim Alarms, and Resolve Alarms.....................128
Chapter 8 Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Download the Diagnostics File for an Access Point...........................................135
Appendix A Manage Vouchers With a Clerk User Account
View the Status of Vouchers and Download All Vouchers..................................141
Appendix B Cloud-Managed Access Points
View the Access Point Inventory and Connection Status in the Application......145
View the Cloud Connection and Activity Status on a Cloud-Enabled Access
How the Configuration of a Cloud-Managed Access Point Can Be Changed....148
Convert an Access Point From Cloud-Managed to Standalone.........................148
Appendix C Technical Specifications
6
Introduction to the Business Central
Wireless Manager 2.1
1
This chapter provides an introduction to the NETGEAR Business Central Wireless Manager (BCWM) 2.1
application.
For more information about the BCWM 2.1 application, visit
businesscentral.netgear.com
.
For information about preparing your access points for cloud management and subscribing to the BCWM 2.1
application, see the Business Central Wireless Manager How to Start Guide, which you can download from
downloadcenter.netgear.com
.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application Concepts
•
•
on page 10
•
•
Plan a Location With WiFi Networks and Hotspots
•
Compatible NETGEAR WiFi Access Points
on page 16
•
Definitions of Access Point Terms
on page 17
Note
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at
netgear.com/support
.
Note
This manual uses the following conventions:
•
WiFi and wireless are interchangeable terms.
•
A WiFi network provides access without a captive portal.
•
A hotspot is a WiFi network that provides access through a captive portal.
7
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Concepts
The NETGEAR Business Central Wireless Manager (BCWM) 2.1 application is a cloud management application that you can access from any computer to centrally manage cloud-enabled NETGEAR access points. Using the BCWM 2.1 application, you can add, configure, and monitor WiFi networks in the cloud.
The BCWM 2.1 cloud management solution is intended primarily for small and medium-sized businesses and organizations, for example, retail and hospitality businesses and healthcare organizations. This manual is intended primarily for cloud network administrators.
In this manual, the BCWM 2.1 application is referred to as the application.
System Architecture Concepts
The application lets you manage multiple WiFi networks and NETGEAR WiFi access points (APs) over a secure connection using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
You can add existing and new access points to the application, which is based on access point licensing.
You assign both networks and access points to a location.
You can set up multiple locations, each with its own networks and access points, and manage them from the application. By default, an account with a free trial subscription or paid-for subscription can support up to 4,000 access points.
Service Location Concepts
Service locations, in this manual referred to simply as locations, are physical addresses where WiFi networks and access points are installed. In the application, these locations can include multiple Layer 2 or Layer 3 network segments.
When you set up a location with one or more WiFi networks and assign access points to that location, the application automatically assigns the networks to the pool of access points for that location. That is, you do not assign a network to an access point. The application assigns the network automatically to one or more access points, depending on the number of WiFi networks and the number of access points at the location.
You can add multiple locations, for example, for branches and remote offices, which can be in different time zones. The application integrates Google Maps to display the locations. For each location, you can monitor its health, usage, and security, as well as its WiFi networks, building, floors, and access points. You can add a building label and a floor label to an access point that you assign to a location.
The following diagram shows the location-based hierarchy of the application.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
8
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Figure 1. Locations with their access points and WiFi networks
Automatic Network Provisioning Concepts
With standalone access points, you add a WiFi network to an access point. With the application, the entire provisioning process is location based. You add a WiFi network to a location and you add an access point to the same location.
All networks configured at a location are automatically applied to all access points at that location. Typically, a single access point can support eight networks per radio. If an access point supports only a single radio, the application configures the networks only on that radio.
Optional building and floor labels can help you to organize your access points and you can group access points together by building and by floor.
Offline provisioning is possible. You can set up locations and WiFi networks while access points are offline.
Then, add access points and assign them to locations, allowing the networks to go online.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
9
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Key Functions
The application provides key functions such as provisioning, configuring, managing, and monitoring.
Provisioning Functions
Provisioning lets you add locations, WiFi networks, and access points. Typically, you add a location, set up a WiFi network at the location, and bring the WiFi networks online by adding access points to the location.
Get Started With Cloud Management
on page 18.
You could also start by adding access points to a temporary location and decommissioning them just to get them into inventory. (While decommissioned, access points do not use license credits.) Then, add locations, add WiFi networks to the locations, and bring the WiFi networks online by assigning the access points to the locations. For information about managing the inventory, see
on page 74.
Configuring and Managing Functions
You can configure and manage features for each location, each WiFi network, and each access point.
Location Functions
For each location, you can configure and manage multiple features. For detailed configuration procedures,
on page 26, except where otherwise indicated in the following list.
You can configure and manage the following features:
•
Add WiFi networks to the location.
For detailed configuration procedures, see
•
Add access points to the location.
For detailed configuration procedures, see
Manage Devices and Device Inventory
•
Configure and manage global WiFi, access point, and security settings for the location, including the following components:
-
Automatic radio resource management (Auto RRM) for access point radios
-
Management of access point radios, including the WiFi mode, channel frequency, output power, channel bandwidth, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) settings, maximum number of clients, and antenna settings
-
Radio broadcast on/off schedule
-
Access point credentials (that is, setting a global password for accessing the web management interfaces of cloud-managed access points)
-
Firmware management for access points
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
10
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
WiFi Network Functions
For each WiFi network that you set up at a location, you can configure and manage multiple features. For
detailed configuration procedures, see
You can configure and manage the following features:
•
Set the security, including broadcast of the network name (SSID) and client separation for the WiFi network.
•
Specify the tagged VLAN for the WiFi network.
•
Select the radio (for dual-band access points) for the WiFi network.
•
Manage the authentication and encryption for the WiFi network.
•
Create a captive portal for free or paid-for access to the WiFi network.
•
Set upload and download bandwidth caps for the WiFi network.
•
Enable fast roaming for the WiFi network.
•
Enable client isolation for the WiFi network.
•
Set a radio broadcast on/off schedule for the WiFi network.
Access Point Functions
For each access point that you assign to a location, you can configure and manage multiple features. You can also decommission the access point from its current location and deploy it to a different location. For
detailed configuration procedures, see
Manage Devices and Device Inventory
You can configure and manage the following features:
•
Assign a name, building, and floor label to the access point.
•
Manage the IP address settings for the access point, including the DHCP and DNS server settings.
•
Configure the management VLAN (by default, VLAN 1) for the access point.
•
Manage the radio settings for the access point, including the WiFi mode, channel frequency, output power, channel bandwidth, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) settings, maximum number of clients, and antenna settings.
Monitoring Functions
Monitoring lets you display WiFi network and access point health; WiFi network and access point usage;
WiFi network location maps; alarms and alarm trends; and statistics for networks, access points, traffic, clients, and neighboring access points. For detailed configuration procedures, see
Account Management Functions
Account management lets you assign locations to license accounts, manage licenses, and invite application
users (referred to as collaborators). For detailed configuration procedures, see
on page 83.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
11
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Application Roles
The application supports the following roles for users who can log in to the application. These users are different from WiFi users and hotspot users who can connect to a network that is part of the cloud but who cannot log in to the application.
•
Owner. A user who subscribed to the application and owns all license accounts that are set up under his or her application subscription. An owner can perform any action, including inviting collaborators
(managers, customers, and clerks).
•
Manager. A user who can perform most administrative functions. A manager (also referred to as a cloud network administrator) is authorized to perform many application functions for license accounts that he or she does not own.
Although a manager can set up his or her own new license account (and therefore become owner of that account), a manager can also access other license accounts (that is, accounts that were set up by other users) and can invite collaborators for other license accounts. However, a manager cannot add or remove a location from another license account, decommission or remove devices from a location for another license account, or entirely remove another license account.
•
Customer. A user with read-only access to the license account to which he or she was invited, including all locations, WiFi networks, and access points that are assigned to that license account. Although a customer can set up his or her own license account (and therefore become owner of that account), a customer cannot access other license accounts to which he or she was not invited and cannot invite collaborators for other license accounts.
•
Clerk. A user who can only sell, print, and email vouchers and monitor their use for paid-for captive portal access for the license account to which he or she was invited. A clerk is also referred to as a voucher clerk or hotspot clerk. As with other users, a clerk can set up his or her own license account
(and therefore become owner of that account).
Owners, managers, customers, and clerks are referred to as collaborators.
Plan a Location With WiFi Networks and Hotspots
Before you set up a location with one or more large WiFi networks, plan accordingly and perform a site survey so that you can determine how many access points the location requires. Plan the types of network authentication and data encryption for WiFi access, the nature of hotspots, whether you need usage plans, and which user groups you must set up.
The following sections describe planning concepts:
•
Determine the Location Requirements
•
•
Plan the Client Authentication and Data Encryption
•
Plan the Hotspots With Free Access and Paid-For Access
on page 14
•
on page 14
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
12
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Determine the Location Requirements
For each location, before you set up the location, configure the WiFi networks, and assign the access points, determine its requirements:
•
Number of users that must be able to receive WiFi service over managed networks
•
Type of security and encryption for the managed networks
•
Number of users that must be able to receive WiFi service over a WiFi network or hotspot
•
Type of security, encryption, and access for the WiFi network or hotspot
•
Number of access points required to provide seamless coverage for all WiFi networks and hotspots through all buildings and floors of the location
•
Number of licenses required to cover all access points at the location
•
802.11 frequency bands and channels that are optimal for WiFi usage
For each large location that you plan to set up, we recommend that you perform a site survey:
•
To determine the current RF behavior and detect both 802.11 and non-802.11 noise, run a spectrum analysis of the channels of the site.
•
To determine the maximum throughput that is achievable on clients, run a test to check connectivity between access points and clients.
•
Identify potential RF obstructions and interference sources.
•
Determine areas where denser coverage might be required because of heavier usage.
Determine the Management VLAN
To enable all access points at a location to connect over the Internet to the cloud, make sure that the management VLAN is set up correctly at the location and that all access points at the location use the correct management VLAN. The default management VLAN ID is ID 1. However, you can change the management
VLAN for individual access points. For more information, see
Change the Management VLAN for an Access
on page 71.
Plan the Client Authentication and Data Encryption
A WiFi user must authenticate to the WiFi network to be able to access WiFi resources. A WiFi network can support several types of security methods, including those methods that require a RADIUS authentication server. The encryption option that is available depends on the authentication method that you selected. The following table lists the authentication and corresponding encryption methods that you configure through the application.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
13
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Table 1. Authentication and encryption options
Authentication
Method
Open
WPA Personal
WPA Enterprise
Type of
Authentication
None
Network key
(passphrase)
Shared secret
(passphrase)
Encryption
Options
None
TKIP or
TKIP+AES
TKIP or
TKIP+AES
Authentication
Server
None
None
RADIUS server
Plan the Hotspots With Free Access and Paid-For Access
A captive portal blocks clients from accessing a WiFi network until they are verified. Such a WiFi network is often referred to as a hotspot.
Plan the hotspots that you want to offer at a location. The type of hotspots that the application supports are hotspots that offer free access and hotpots that offer paid-for access with a voucher.
The application supports the following authentication methods for hotspots:
•
Click-through. No authentication and no email address are required to click through to a hotspot.
•
Click-through with custom fields. No authentication is required but other information can be required to click through to a hotspot. You can specify up to six fields to customize the required information, which can include a name, email address, mobile phone number, and so on.
•
Voucher. A voucher number is required to sign in to a paid-for hotspot.
Note
Although it is a less common approach, you could also use the voucher option to generate passwords for guest use in an office environment.
For more information, see
Add a Captive Portal for Free or Paid-For Access to a WiFi Network
Other Planning Considerations
The application functions with the following concepts:
•
A WiFi network broadcasts in an entire location, not in an individual building or on a floor only.
•
An access point might be configured with a label for a floor in a building at a location but carries all WiFi networks that broadcast at that location.
•
All access points at a location function with the same WiFi and radio settings for that location (see
Manage the Radio and Antenna Settings for a Location
page 33).
If you disable the broadcast of a WiFi network, the WiFi network stops broadcasting at the entire location.
That is, you cannot stop a WiFi network from broadcasting in a particular building only or on a particular floor only. It’s either on or off for the entire location. However, you can circumvent these limitations by setting up more than one location.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
14
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Consider the following example:
In a single building (for example, a high-rise, multifloor tower) you want to use the application to manage the WiFi networks and hotspots through the cloud. The configuration of companies in the building varies:
Some companies occupy an entire floor, some companies share a floor, and some companies occupy more than one floor. Each floor requires at least one access point and each company requires at least one WiFi network, but some floors require more access points and some companies require more WiFi networks. All companies are connected to the Internet through the same high-speed broadband WAN connection. The following three scenarios cover configuration options for the building:
•
For a single company that occupies a single floor, you can do the following:
1.
Set up one location for the company.
2.
Add all access points that the company requires to the location.
3.
Add all WiFi networks that the company requires to the location.
If one or more simultaneous dual-band access points are assigned to the location, you can set up a maximum of 16 WiFi networks for the location.
•
For a single company that occupies several floors, you can do the following:
1.
Set up one location for the company.
2.
Add all access points that the company requires to the location.
If the company is spread out over floors that are not adjacent, you must set up at least one access point per floor.
3.
Add floor labels to the access points.
Each floor label can represent the floor on which access points are located. Floor labels allow you to organize the access points by floors.
4.
Add all WiFi networks that the company requires to the location.
If the company is spread out over floors that are not adjacent, you must set up at least one WiFi network per floor.
If one or more simultaneous dual-band access points are assigned to the location, you can set up a maximum of 16 WiFi networks for the location.
•
For different companies that share a single floor, you can do the following:
1.
Set up one location for the floor.
2.
Add a sufficient number of access points to the location so that the WiFi requirements for all companies on the floor are covered.
3.
For each company on the floor, add one or more WiFi networks to the location.
If one or more simultaneous dual-band access points are assigned to the location, you can set up a maximum of 16 WiFi networks for the location.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
15
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Compatible NETGEAR WiFi Access Points
Before the application can manage an access point, the access point must run the required firmware version that is cloud enabled.This release supports the following NETGEAR WiFi access points running cloud-enabled firmware:
•
WAC730 ProSAFE 3x3 Dual-Band Wireless AC Access Point
•
WAC720 ProSAFE 2x2 Dual-Band Wireless AC Access Point
•
WNDAP660 ProSAFE Dual-Band Wireless-N Access Point
•
WNDAP360 ProSAFE Dual-Band Wireless-N Access Point
•
WNDAP350 ProSAFE Dual-Band Wireless-N Access Point
•
WNAP320 ProSAFE Wireless-N Access Point
•
WNAP210v2 ProSAFE Wireless-N Access Point
The following table lists the minimum required standalone firmware version that an access point must run for you to be able to upgrade the access point to the required cloud-enabled firmware version.
Table 2. Firmware requirements for upgrade to the cloud-enabled firmware version
Access Point Model Minimum Required Standalone
Firmware for Upgrade to
Cloud-Enabled Firmware
Required
Cloud-Enabled
Firmware
WAC730 ProSAFE 3x3 Dual-Band Wireless AC Access Point v3.1.1.0 or a later standalone version v3.5.6.0 or later
WAC720 ProSAFE 2x2 Dual-Band Wireless AC Access Point v3.1.1.0 or a later standalone version v3.5.6.0 or later
WNDAP660 ProSAFE Dual Band Wireless-N Access Point
WNDAP360 ProSAFE Dual Band Wireless-N Access Point v2.0.5 or a later standalone version v2.1.12 or a later standalone version v3.5.5.0 or later v3.5.5.0 or later
WNDAP350 ProSAFE Dual Band Wireless-N Access Point
WNAP320 ProSAFE Wireless-N Access Point
WNAP210v2 ProSAFE Wireless-N Access Point v2.1.9 or a later standalone version v3.5.5.0 or later v2.1.6 or a later standalone version v3.5.5.0 or later v2.1.5 or a later standalone version v3.5.5.0 or later
If your access point runs a standalone firmware version that is earlier than the minimum required standalone firmware version, you first must upgrade the access point to the minimum required standalone firmware version before you can upgrade the access point to the required cloud-enabled firmware version.
CAUTION:
If you do not first upgrade to the minimum required standalone firmware version but attempt to upgrade directly to the required cloud-enabled firmware version, you might be locked out of the access point. In that situation, you must log in to the access point over an SSH connection with the user name admin and the password that is configured for the access point and issue the
restore-factory-default
command to reset the access point to factory default settings.
If your access point runs the minimum required standalone firmware version, you must load the required cloud-enabled firmware version onto the access point. Using the web management interface of the access
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
16
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
point, upgrade the access point to the cloud-enabled firmware version, and reset the access point to factory default settings. For more information about preparing your access points for cloud management, see the
NETGEAR Business Central Wireless Manager How to Start Guide, which you can download from
downloadcenter.netgear.com
.
Once you perform the one-time cloud-enabled firmware upgrade for the access point, the application can centrally manage future firmware upgrades for the cloud-managed access point.
Note
For more information about cloud-managed access points, see
on page 65.
Definitions of Access Point Terms
This manual uses the following definitions of access point terms:
•
Cloud-managed access point. A NETGEAR access point that is installed at a location and is controlled by the application.
•
Neighbor access point. An access point that is within the radio range of and discovered by a cloud-managed access point. The access point can be another cloud managed access point or an access point that is not cloud managed. The access point can be known, unknown, or rogue.
•
Rogue access point. An access point that is broadcasting an SSID that is identical to the SSID of a cloud-managed access point. This type of rogue access point is also referred to as an evil twin. However, a cloud-managed access point can be rogue if it is deployed at another location or belongs to another user.
•
Known AP. Either a NETGEAR access point that is cloud managed and that the application automatically classified as a known access point or another access point that is not cloud managed and that you or a collaborator classified as a known access point.
•
Unknown AP. An unknown access point that is within the radio range of and discovered by a cloud managed access point and that you or a collaborator could mark as a known access point. A cloud-managed access point can be unknown if it is deployed at another location or belongs to another user.
Introduction to the Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1
17
Get Started With Cloud Management
2
Before you can manage WiFi networks in the cloud, you must set up a least one location, add one or more WiFi networks to the location, and add one or more access points to the location.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
on page 19
•
Add a First WiFi Network to a Location
on page 20
•
Add a First Access Point to a Location
Note
For information about preparing your access points and subscribing to the BCWM application, see the NETGEAR Business Central Wireless Manager How to Start Guide, which you can download from
downloadcenter.netgear.com
.
18
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Add Your First Location
Before you can add WiFi networks and access points, you must set up at least one location. For access points (and therefore WiFi networks) to become active, you must assign the location to a license account.
To add your first location and assign it to a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays and does not yet show any locations.
5.
Click the + New Location button.
6.
In the Location Search field, enter a name or address and select the location that Google search generates.
The location displays on the map.
7.
Make sure that the correct country is selected from the Country menu.
When you complete the Location Search field, the country is automatically selected from the Country menu.
The selection from the Country menu determines the radio settings for access points at the location.
Once the location is created, you cannot change the country selection.
Get Started With Cloud Management
19
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
8.
Enter the location name, contact name, and contact email address that you want to be associated with the location.
9.
In the Device Password field, enter the password for accessing the web management interface of any cloud-managed access point that is assigned to the location.
Click the eye icon to make the password visible.
This password is pushed to all access points that you assign to the location.
Note
The Device Username field shows the fixed user name (admin) for accessing the web management interface of any cloud-managed access point that is assigned to the location. You cannot change this name.
10.
From the Account menu, select the account to which the location must be assigned.
An account is a set of locations that are funded by the same license. Each location must be assigned to an account with an active license (which can be a trial license) for access points to be licensed and active. The Accounts menu lists the available license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account is available from the menu.
11.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. The location displays in the Locations tree on the left. Below the location in the tree, the Wireless Networks and Devices headings display.
Add a First WiFi Network to a Location
on page 19), the application automatically adds a
WiFi Networks heading for the location in the Locations tree on the Configuration page, but you must define one or more WiFi networks that can broadcast at the location.
To add a first WiFi network to a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
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4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays and shows the location that you added (see
on page 19).
5.
In the Locations tree, click Wireless Networks.
The page displays the following message: There are no wireless networks configured for this location.
6.
Click the + New Wireless Network button.
7.
In the SSID field, enter a WiFi network name (SSID).
You can use up to and including 32 ASCII printable (typeable) characters. Do not use extended ASCII characters, control ASCII characters, or ASCII characters that you compose with the Alt key on your keyboard.
By default, the application broadcasts the SSID. If you want to hide the SSID so that only users who know the SSID can access it, clear the Broadcast SSID check box.
8.
From the Bands menu, select the WiFi band or bands.
The default setting is 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Radios, which applies to dual-band access points only. If an access points supports a single band only, the access points broadcasts on that band, unless your selection from the Bands menu disables that band.
9.
To specify a tagged VLAN, select the Specify a tagged VLAN check box, and in the VLAN ID field, enter the VLAN ID.
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The VLAN ID is a 12-bit number that identifies the tagged VLAN. If the connection from the access points to the Internet gateway requires an IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tag, you must specify a VLAN ID. If multiple WiFi networks operate over the same physical Ethernet link, VLANs can provide isolation and separation.
10.
From the Authentication Type menu, select the type of authentication:
•
Open. You do not need to specify any additional information because the network functions without authentication and encryption.
•
WPA Personal. In the Password field, you must specify the password that is required to access the network. You can enter up to 63 alphanumeric and special characters.
The default encryption method is TKIP+AES, but you can select the Change Data Encryption check box and, from the Data Encryption menu, select TKIP.
•
WPA Enterprise. You must specify a RADIUS profile and the network must be connected to a
RADIUS server.
Change the Authentication and Encryption for a WiFi Network
49.
11.
To assign a captive portal to the WiFi network, click the +Add a Captive Portal button.
For information about configuring a captive portal, see
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi
on page 53.
12.
To specify bandwidth caps, select the Enable Bandwidth Caps check box and adjust the upload and download bandwidth caps.
By default, the upload and download bandwidth caps are 1000 Kbps each. For each type of bandwidth cap, the minimum value is 64 Kbps and the maximum value is 10 Gbps.
13.
If you select WPA Personal (with TKIP + AES) or WPA Enterprise from the Authentication Type menu, you can configure fast roaming (802.11r) for the WAC720 and WAC730 access points by doing the following:
a.
Select the Enable Fast Roaming check box.
For more information about fast roaming and associated restrictions, see
Enable Fast Roaming for a WiFi Network
on page 60.
If you select the Enable Fast Roaming check box, the Exchange Fast Roaming Info Over Wired
Network check box displays.
b.
To enable fast roaming information to be exchanged over the wired network, select the Exchange
Fast Roaming Info Over Wired Network check box.
If you enable fast roaming, by default, fast roaming information is exchanged over the WiFi network instead of the wired network.
14.
To enable client isolation, select the Enable Client Isolation check box.
Note
Enabling client isolation on a WiFi network for a location with 802.11ac access points enables client isolation for all WiFi networks for those access points.
15.
To set up a radio on/off broadcast schedule, select the Create Schedule check box.
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For information about configuring a radio on/off broadcast schedule, see
On/Off Broadcast Schedule for a WiFi Network
on page 62.
16.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. In the Locations tree on the left, the WiFi network displays under the Wireless
Networks heading for the location.
Add a First Access Point to a Location
on page 19), the application automatically adds a
Devices heading for the location in the Locations tree on the Configuration page, but you must add at least one access point that can carry the WiFi networks that you configure at the location.
CAUTION:
If you add an access point to a location but do not add a WiFi network to the location, the access point continues to broadcast its default SSIDs and provides open networks
without any security. Make sure that you add a WiFi network to the location (see
Add a First WiFi Network to a Location
on page 20) so that you can control WiFi security.
To add a first access point to a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays and shows the location that you added (see
on page 19).
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5.
In the Locations tree, click Devices.
The page displays the following message: There are no devices configured for this location.
6.
Click the + New Device button.
7.
In the Serial Number field, enter the precise serial number for the access point.
If you do not enter a correct serial number, you cannot add the access point to the network. After you enter a correct serial number, an image of the associated model displays in the Model field, and the gray Invalid Serial button changes into the Save button.
8.
In the Device Name field, enter a name for the access point.
The name does not need to be the factory default name.
9.
To register the access point with NETGEAR, keep the Register this device check box selected and enter your date of purchase in the Purchase Date field.
By default, the Register this device check box is selected. If you do not need or want to register the access point, clear the check box.
10.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. In the Locations tree on the left, the access point displays under the Devices heading for the location.
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Note the following about access point states:
•
If the access point is not connected to the Internet, the application displays the status Waiting.
•
If the location to which you added the access point is assigned to an unlicensed account, the access point
on page 87).
CAUTION:
If an access point remains unlicensed and is not active, it broadcasts its default
SSIDs and provides open networks without any security. Make sure that the account to which you assigned the location is licensed so that the access point becomes active.
•
If the access point is connected to the Internet and connects to the application for the first time, it might take between 5 and 10 minutes before the access point is connected and the application displays the status
Online. During this period, the application might need to push the latest firmware to the access point, automatically reboot the access point, push the configuration to the access point, and automatically reboot the access point again.
The following figure shows the status Online.
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Manage Locations
3
Locations form the key building blocks of your cloud network.You can set up new and manage existing locations, add WiFi networks and access points to a location, manage radio settings for a location, and manage firmware and device credentials for all access points assigned to a location.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
on page 27
•
Add a WiFi Network to a Location
on page 28
•
Add an Access Point to a Location
•
Change the Basic Settings for a Location
on page 33
•
Manage the Radio and Antenna Settings for a Location
•
Run or Schedule Automatic Radio Frequency Management for a Location
on page 36
•
Manage Load Balancing for a Location
on page 38
•
Upgrade Firmware on Devices at a Location
on page 40
•
•
Change the Device Credentials for a Location
•
Note
For information about moving a location from one account to another account, see
Remove a Location From an Account
on page 90.
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Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
Add a Location
A location is a physical address where WiFi networks and access points are installed. You can add multiple locations, for example, for branches and remote offices.
To add a location and assign it to a license account.
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
Click the + New Location button.
6.
In the Location Search field, enter a name or address and select the location that Google search generates.
The location displays on the map.
7.
Make sure that the correct country is selected from the Country menu.
When you complete the Location Search field, the country is automatically selected from the Country menu.
The selection from the Country menu determines the radio settings for access points at the location.
Once the location is created, you cannot change the country selection.
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8.
Enter the location name, contact name, and contact email address that you want to be associated with the location.
9.
In the Device Password field, enter the password for accessing the web management interface of any cloud-managed access point that is assigned to the location.
Click the eye icon to make the password visible.
This password is pushed to all access points that you assign to the location.
Note
The Device Username field shows the fixed user name (admin) for accessing the web management interface of any cloud-managed access point that is assigned to the location. You cannot change this name.
10.
From the Account menu, select the account to which the location must be assigned.
An account is a set of locations that are funded by the same license. Each location must be assigned to an account with an active license (which can be a trial license) for access points to be licensed and active. The Accounts menu lists the available license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account is available from the menu.
11.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. The location displays in the Locations tree on the left. Below the location in the tree, the Wireless Networks and Devices headings display.
Add a WiFi Network to a Location
You can add a WiFi network to a location. The WiFi network becomes active only after you add one or more access points to the location, the location is added to a license account, and the access points are in the active connected state.
To add a WiFi network to a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
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3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
From the Actions menu, select + Add Wireless Network.
7.
In the SSID field, enter a WiFi network name (SSID).
By default, the application broadcasts the SSID. If you want to hide the SSID so that only users who know the SSID can access it, clear the Broadcast SSID check box.
8.
From the Bands menu, select the WiFi band or bands.
The options are 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Radios, 2.4GHz Radio only, and 5.0GHz Radio only. The default setting is 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Radios, which applies to dual-band access points only. If an access points supports a single band only, the access points broadcasts on that band, unless your selection from the Bands menu disables that band.
9.
To specify a tagged VLAN, select the Specify a tagged VLAN check box, and in the VLAN ID field, enter the VLAN ID.
The VLAN ID is a 12-bit number that identifies the tagged VLAN. If the connection from the access points to the Internet gateway requires an IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tag, you must specify a VLAN ID. If multiple WiFi networks operate over the same physical Ethernet link, VLANs can provide isolation and separation.
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10.
From the Authentication Type menu, select the type of authentication:
•
Open. You do not need to specify any additional information because the network functions without authentication and encryption.
•
WPA Personal. In the Password field, you must specify the password that is required to access the network. You can enter up to 63 alphanumeric and special characters.
The default encryption method is TKIP+AES, but you can select the Change Data Encryption check box and, from the Data Encryption menu, select TKIP.
•
WPA Enterprise. You must specify a RADIUS profile and the network must be connected to a
RADIUS server.
For more information about WPA Enterprise, see
Change the Authentication and Encryption for a
on page 49.
11.
To assign a captive portal to the WiFi network, click the +Add a Captive Portal button.
For information about configuring a captive portal, see
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi
on page 53.
12.
To specify bandwidth caps, select the Enable Bandwidth Caps check box and adjust the upload and download bandwidth caps.
By default, the upload and download bandwidth caps are 1000 Kbps each. For each type of bandwidth cap, the minimum value is 64 Kbps and the maximum value is 10 Gbps.
13.
To enable client isolation, select the Enable Client Isolation check box.
Note
Enabling client isolation on a WiFi network for a location with 802.11ac access points enables client isolation for all WiFi networks for those access points.
14.
If you select WPA Personal (with TKIP + AES) or WPA Enterprise from the Authentication Type menu, you can configure fast roaming (802.11r) for the WAC720 and WAC730 access points by doing the following:
a.
Select the Enable Fast Roaming check box.
Although you can configure fast roaming regardless of the access points that you are deploying at a location, fast roaming applies only to the WAC720 and WAC730 access points and to clients that support fast roaming. If you enable fast roaming for a WiFi network that is broadcast on a WAC720 or WAC730 access point only, a client that does not support fast roaming cannot connect to the
WiFi network. In such a situation, you could set up an additional WiFi network without fast roaming to serve the clients that do not support fast roaming.
If you select the Enable Fast Roaming check box, the Exchange Fast Roaming Info Over Wired
Network check box displays.
b.
To enable fast roaming information to be exchanged over the wired network instead of the WiFi network, select the Exchange Fast Roaming Info Over Wired Network check box.
The default setting is that fast roaming information is exchanged over the WiFi network instead of the wired network.
15.
To set up a radio on/off broadcast schedule, select the Create Schedule check box.
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For information about configuring a radio on/off broadcast schedule, see
On/Off Broadcast Schedule for a WiFi Network
on page 62.
16.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. In the Locations tree on the left, the WiFi network displays under the Wireless
Networks heading for the location.
Add an Access Point to a Location
You can add an access point to location. The location must be assigned to a license account with an active
on page 87). Otherwise, the access point that you add remains in the unlicensed state and does not become active (which means that it broadcasts its default SSIDs and provides open networks without any security), preventing WiFi networks that you add to the location from coming up.
CAUTION:
If you add an access point to a location but do not add a WiFi network to the location, the access point continues to broadcast its default SSIDs and provides open networks
without any security. Make sure that you add a WiFi network to the location (see
Add a WiFi Network to a Location
on page 28) so that you can control WiFi security.
To add an access point to a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
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6.
From the Actions menu, select + Add Device.
7.
In the Serial Number field, enter the precise serial number for the access point.
If you do not enter a correct serial number, you cannot add the access point to the network. After you enter a correct serial number, an image of the associated model displays in the Model field, and the gray Invalid Serial button changes into the Save button.
8.
In the Device Name field, enter a name for the access point.
The name does not need to be the factory default name.
9.
To register the access point with NETGEAR, keep the Register this device check box selected and enter your date of purchase in the Purchase Date field.
By default, the Register this device check box is selected. If you do not need or want to register the access point, clear the check box.
10.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. In the Locations tree on the left, the access point displays under the Devices heading for the location.
Note the following about access point states (see
View the Access Point Inventory and Connection Status in the Application
on page 145):
•
If the access point is not connected to the Internet, the application displays the status Waiting.
•
If the location to which you added the access point is assigned to an unlicensed account, the access point
on page 87).
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CAUTION:
If an access point remains unlicensed and is not active, it broadcasts its default
SSIDs and provides open networks without any security. Make sure that the account to which you assigned the location is licensed so that the access point becomes active.
•
If the access point is connected to the Internet and connects to the application for the first time, it might take between 5 and 10 minutes before the access point is connected and the application displays the status
Online. During this period, the application might need to push the latest firmware to the access point, automatically reboot the access point, push the configuration to the access point, and automatically reboot the access point again.
Change the Basic Settings for a Location
You can change the basic settings for a location. These settings include the location address, location name, contact name, and contact email, and the access point credentials for the location (the device password).
To change the settings for a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the orange Edit button.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
7.
Change the information as needed.
8.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage the Radio and Antenna Settings for a Location
You can manage the radio settings that apply to all access points that are assigned to a location. The default settings often work well but situations might occur in which you want to change the settings. Managing the radio settings includes enabling or disabling a radio, changing the WiFi mode, changing the WiFi channel, changing the WiFi bandwidth, changing the transmission output power, changing the Wi-Fi Multimedia
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(WMM) settings, changing the maximum number of supported clients, and specifying the default internal or optional external antenna.
Note
For information about managing the radio settings for an individual access point, see
Change the Radio and WiFi Settings for a Device
To manage the radio settings for a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the Radio Settings tab.
The Configuration page displays the common radio settings.
7.
Click the Edit Radios button.
For information about using automatic radio frequency (Auto RF) management, see
Automatic Radio Frequency Management for a Location
on page 36.
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8.
Change the settings:
•
Radio. A nonconfigurable field that shows the radio number (WLAN0 or WLAN1) for the access point.
•
Enabled. By default, the radio is enabled. To disable the radio, clear the check box.
•
Band. A nonconfigurable field that shows the radio band that is associated with the WiFi mode.
•
Mode. From the menu, select the WiFi mode for the radio. By default, the most advanced WiFi mode is selected.
•
Channel. You can select a static channel from the menu. The supported channels depend on the region of operation for the access point. By default, cloud-managed access points autoconfigure their channels (that is, the channel setting is Auto).
•
Power. By default, the transmission output for an access point is set to maximum power. From the menu, you can select a lower output power for each WiFi band that the access point supports. The supported output options are Full, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Minimum.
•
Bandwidth. From the menu, select the WiFi bandwidth, which is also referred to as the channel width. A wider channel improves the performance, but some legacy devices can operate only in either 20 MHz or 40 MHz. The supported WiFi bandwidths depend on the access point model.
•
WMM Mode. By default, WMM is enabled, allowing time-dependent WiFi traffic such as video and audio to receive a higher priority than data WiFi traffic. You can disable WMM.
•
WMM Power Save. By default, the WMM Power Save feature is enabled, increasing the efficiency and flexibility of data transmission and thereby allowing battery-powered equipment to save power.
You can disable the WMM Power Save feature.
•
Max Clients. A radio on a NETGEAR access point can typically support between 64 and 128 clients.
However, allowing the maximum number of clients might not be the most suitable configuration for a site with a large number of clients. To prevent oversubscription and congestion and to improve throughput and latency, in the Max Clients column, for each radio, use the up and down arows to specify the maximum number of allowed clients, or type a number in the field. For more information,
Manage Load Balancing for a Location
•
Antenna. By default, the setting is Internal. External antennas are optional accessories. If you select
External, the configuration takes effect only if the access point is configured with one or more external antennas.
9.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
10.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprograms their settings.
11.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
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Run or Schedule Automatic Radio Frequency Management for a Location
You can manage the radio settings that apply to all access points that are assigned to a location by running automatic radio frequency (Auto RF) management, which is also referred to as automatic radio resource management (Auto RRM). Auto RF management attempts to configure the optimum radio settings for the access points.You can either allocate all available channels to participate in Auto RF management or select specific channels only. You can run Auto RF management immediately or schedule it to run at time when you expect minimal WiFi traffic. (Running Auto RF management causes connected clients to momentarily lose connection.)
Note
For information about managing the radio settings for an individual access point, see
Change the Radio and WiFi Settings for a Device
To run or schedule Auto RF management for a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the Radio Settings tab.
The Configuration page displays the common radio settings.
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7.
Click the Edit Radios button.
For information about manually changing the radio and WiFi settings for a location, see
Radio and WiFi Settings for a Device
8.
To allocate the channels that must participate in Auto RF management, do the following:
•
To select or clear all available channels, click the All link under 2.4GHz, the All link under 5GHz, or both. By default, all available channels are selected, so the first time that you click an All link, all channels in the radio band are cleared.
•
To select or clear an individual channel, select or clear the check box that is associated with the channel.
9.
To run Auto RF management immediately, do the following:
a.
Click the Auto RF button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
WARNING:
Clients are disconnected when Auto RF management runs.
b.
Click the Save button.
Auto RF management runs and the new settings are saved.
c.
Click the Dismiss button.
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The pop-up window closes.
10.
To schedule Auto RF management to run at a particular time, do the following:
a.
Under Schedule Auto RF, click the Run Auto RF Never button.
A pop-up window displays a seven-day schedule.
b.
Select the check boxes for the days on which you want Auto RF management to run, or select the
Every Day check box.
A time field displays.
c.
Click the time field.
The pop-up window with the seven-day schedule closes and another pop-up window displays options to specify a time.
d.
Specify the time at which Auto RF management must run on the days that you selected.
Specify a time at which you expect a minimum number of clients to connect to the WiFi networks at the location, for example, 4 a.m.
e.
To close the pop-up window, click the x icon in the pop-up window.
f.
Click the Save Schedule button.
Your settings are saved. If the configuration was successful, the page displays the message
Successfully saved schedule.
g.
To remove the schedule and define another one, click the Remove Schedule button and repeat
Manage Load Balancing for a Location
All WiFi networks configured at a location are automatically applied to all access points at that location and therefore to all available radios at that location. Typically, a single access point can support eight networks per radio. If an access point supports only a single radio, the application configures the networks only on that radio.
By default, each access point supports the maximum number of clients that it is capable of. A radio on a
NETGEAR access point can typically support between 64 and 128 clients. However, allowing the maximum number of clients might not be the most suitable configuration for a site with a large number of clients. You can decrease the maximum number of allowed clients to prevent oversubscription and congestion and to improve throughput and latency.
When you balance the client load over different types of access points at a location, take considerations such as the following into account:
•
The total number of access points at the location
•
The types of access points at the location
•
The buildings and floors on which the access points are installed
•
The number of expected clients at each building and floor
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To manage load balancing for a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the Radio Settings tab.
The Configuration page displays the common radio settings.
7.
Click the Edit Radios button.
8.
In the Max Clients column, for each radio, use the up and down arrows to specify the maximum number of allowed clients, or type a number in the field.
The maximum number of clients that a radio can support is stated to the right of the field in which you can specify the number.
9.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
10.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
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Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprograms their settings.
11.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Upgrade Firmware on Devices at a Location
You can upgrade the firmware on one or several types of devices (that is, access point models) at a location.
For each selected access point model, the firmware is upgraded for all access points of that model at the location.
You can upgrade the firmware immediately or schedule a firmware upgrade at time when you expect minimal
WiFi traffic. (The firmware upgrade takes about four minutes, causing connected clients to lose connection during that period.)
For each access point model that you want to upgrade, either select to always upgrade to the latest firmware version when a new version is released or select a specific firmware version to upgrade to. For more information, see the following sections:
•
Upgrade Devices at a Location to a Specific Firmware Version
on page 40
•
Schedule to Upgrade Devices at a Location to the Latest Firmware Version
on page 42
If you scheduled a firmware upgrade, the upgrade occurs for major firmware releases only. The release designation consists of four digits separated by dots (1.2.3.4). A major firmware release is a release in which the third digit increases (1.2.3.4). For example, if access points at a location are running release 3.5.4.3
and release 3.5.4.6 is available, the scheduled firmware upgrade does not occur and you must upgrade manually. However, if access points at a location are running release 3.5.4.3 and release 3.5.5.0 is available, the scheduled firmware upgrade does occur.
Upgrade Devices at a Location to a Specific Firmware Version
You can upgrade the firmware on one or several types of devices (that is, access point models) at a location to a specific firmware version. For each selected access point model, the firmware is upgraded for all access points of that model at the location.
Although you can downgrade to an earlier firmware version, we still refer to this process as an upgrade for the sake of simplicity.
You can upgrade the firmware immediately or schedule a firmware upgrade at time when you expect minimal
WiFi traffic. (The firmware upgrade takes about four minutes, causing connected clients to lose connection during that period.)
To upgrade or schedule to upgrade firmware on one or more types of devices at a location to a specific firmware version:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
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The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the Upgrade Devices tab.
7.
To view the release notes for the current firmware version, do the following:
a.
In the Current Firmware Version column, click the green i (information) icon.
A pop-up window opens and displays the release notes.
b.
When you are done reading, scroll down, and click the Close button.
The pop-up window closes.
8.
For the access point model that you want to upgrade (see the Device Model column), select a specific firmware version from the Upgrade Version menu.
You can either upgrade the firmware immediately or schedule the firmware to be upgraded at a particular time.
The upgrade occurs for all access points of that model at the location.
9.
To upgrade the firmware immediately, do the following:
a.
Make sure that the Now radio button is selected in the When to Upgrade column.
b.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
c.
Click the Save Upgrade Settings button.
Your settings are saved. If the configuration was successful, the page displays the message
Successfully saved upgrade settings.
d.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
10.
To schedule firmware to be upgraded at a particular date and time, do the following:
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Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application a.
In the When to Upgrade column, select the On Date radio button.
A date and time field displays.
b.
Click the date and time field.
A pop-up window displays a monthly calendar.
c.
Select the month and day on which the upgrade must occur.
d.
Click the clock icon at the bottom of the pop-up window.
The pop-up window changes and displays options to specify a time.
e.
Specify the time at which the upgrade must occur.
Specify a time at which you expect a minimum number of clients to connect to the WiFi networks at the location, for example, 4 a.m.
f.
To close the pop-up window, click the x icon in the pop-up window.
You can also return to the calendar by clicking the calendar icon at the top of the pop-up window.
g.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
h.
Click the Save Upgrade Settings button.
Your settings are saved. If the configuration was successful, the page displays the message
Successfully saved upgrade settings.
i.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Schedule to Upgrade Devices at a Location to the Latest
Firmware Version
You can schedule to upgrade the firmware on one or several types of devices (that is, access point models) at a location to the latest firmware version. Such an upgrade recurs whenever a (major) firmware version is available. For each selected access point model, the firmware is upgraded for all access points of that model at the location.
You must schedule to upgrade the firmware at a particular time on one or more days in the week. We suggest that you do this at time when you expect minimal WiFi traffic. (The firmware upgrade takes about four minutes, causing connected clients to lose connection during that period.)
To schedule a firmware upgrade to recur on one or more types of devices at a location to the latest firmware version:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
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The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the Upgrade Devices tab.
7.
To view the release notes for the current firmware version, do the following:
a.
In the Current Firmware Version column, click the green i (information) icon.
A pop-up window opens and displays the release notes.
b.
When you are done reading, scroll down, and click the Close button.
The pop-up window closes.
8.
For the access point model that you want to upgrade (see the Device Model column), select Latest
(recurring) from the Upgrade Version menu to always upgrade to the latest firmware version when a new (major) version is released.
A day field and a time field display in the When to Upgrade column.
9.
If you want to include beta firmware versions in the latest upgrades, select the check box next to the orange beta icon.
Beta firmware versions might be less stable than regular firmware versions.
10.
Schedule to upgrade the firmware at a particular time on one or more days in the week by doing the following:
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Click the day field.
A pop-up window displays a seven-day schedule.
b.
Select the check boxes for the days on which you want upgrades to occur, or select the Every Day check box.
c.
Click the time field.
The pop-up window with the seven-day schedule closes and another pop-up window displays options to specify a time.
d.
Specify the time at which you want upgrades to occur.
Specify a time at which you expect a minimum number of clients to connect to the WiFi networks at the location, for example, 4 a.m.
An upgrade occurs only if a new (major) firmware version is available.
e.
To close the pop-up window, click the x icon in the pop-up window.
f.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
g.
Click the Save Upgrade Settings button.
Your settings are saved. If the configuration was successful, the page displays the message
Successfully saved upgrade settings.
h.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
The scheduled upgrade occurs for all access points of that model at the location.
Reboot a Location
You can reboot an entire location, that is, all access points at the location. The reboot process takes about two minutes, causing connected clients to lose connection during that period.
To reboot all access points at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
From the Actions menu, select Reboot Location.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
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7.
Click the Reboot Location button in the pop-up window.
All access points at the location are rebooted. After about two minutes, they come back online.
8.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Change the Device Credentials for a Location
You can change the device credentials (that is, the password; the user name is fixed) that you specified when you added the location. These credentials are required to access any access point that is assigned to the location, including access to the web management interface or access over an SSH connection.
Note
If you remove an access point from the BCWM inventory, the access point device credentials are reset to their defaults (admin and password). For more information, see
Convert an Access Point From Cloud-Managed to Standalone
on page 148.
To change the device credentials for a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the Device Credentials tab.
The Location-wide device credentials page displays. The Username field shows the fixed user name
(admin). You cannot change this name.
7.
To display the password, click the show/hide icon next to the password.
8.
Click the Edit button.
The page adjusts and the Password field becomes editable.
9.
Change the password.
10.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.
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Remove a Location
You can remove a location that you no longer need. When you remove the location, all WiFi networks that you created for the location are removed and the access points that you assigned to the location are decommissioned and reset to factory defaults but do retain their IP settings and remain connected to the application. These access points do not convert to standalone mode but remain cloud-managed devices in inventory and you can deploy them at another location.
To remove a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
Click the red Delete button.
A pop-up window displays a warning.
7.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The location is removed.
8.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
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Manage WiFi Networks
4
You assign WiFi networks to a location. Therefore, you first must set up a location and then you can add networks
Add a WiFi Network to a Location
on page 28).
For each network, you can manage the WiFi settings, including the SSID and broadcast of the SSID, WiFi radio bands, tagged VLAN, authentication and encryption, captive portal, bandwidth caps, client separation, and radio on/off broadcast schedule.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
Change the Broadcast, Advertisement, and VLAN Settings for a WiFi Network
•
Change the Authentication and Encryption for a WiFi Network
•
Add a Captive Portal for Free or Paid-For Access to a WiFi Network
on page 52
•
Set Bandwidth Caps for a WiFi Network
on page 59
•
Enable Fast Roaming for a WiFi Network
•
Enable Client Isolation for a WiFi Network
on page 61
•
Set Up or Change a Radio On/Off Broadcast Schedule for a WiFi Network
on page 62
•
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Change the Broadcast, Advertisement, and VLAN Settings for a WiFi Network
You can change the network name (SSID) for a WiFi network, specify whether the SSID must be broadcast or is hidden, select the radio bands on which the access points broadcast, and specify a VLAN ID if the gateway connection requires a tagged VLAN.
To change the broadcast and advertisement settings for WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Edit Wireless Network.
8.
To disable broadcast of the SSID, clear the Broadcast SSID check box.
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By default, the SSID is broadcast. If you disable broadcast of the SSID (effectively, hide the SSID from users), only users who know the SSID can connect to the WiFi network. This is a method to enhance security.
9.
To change the network name (SSID), enter a new name in the SSID field.
You can use up to and including 32 ASCII printable (typeable) characters. Do not use extended ASCII characters, control ASCII characters, or ASCII characters that you compose with the Alt key on your keyboard.
10.
From the Bands menu, select the WiFi band or bands.
The options are 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Radios, 2.4GHz Radio only, and 5.0GHz Radio only. The default setting is 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Radios, which applies to dual-band access points only. If an access point supports a single band only, the access point broadcasts on that band, unless your selection from the Bands menu disables that band.
11.
To specify a tagged VLAN, select the Specify a tagged VLAN check box, and in the VLAN ID field, enter the VLAN ID.
The VLAN ID is a 12-bit number that identifies the tagged VLAN. If the connection from the access points to the Internet gateway requires an IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tag, you must specify a VLAN ID. If multiple WiFi networks operate over the same physical Ethernet link, VLANs can provide isolation and separation.
12.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
13.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprogram their settings.
Change the Authentication and Encryption for a WiFi
Network
A cloud-managed WiFi network can function as an open network without authentication and encryption
(which can work well for a public hotspot) or provide authentication and encryption through WPA Personal
(WPA-PSK) or WPA Enterprise. For the latter form of WPA, authentication and accounting occur through a
RADIUS server that you select for the WiFi network. You specify a primary and secondary RADIUS server.
The application must be able to access these RADIUS servers.
If you select either form of WPA, both WPA and WPA2 devices can connect to the WiFi network, that is, the default encryption is TKIP+AES. You can select TKIP only, in which case WPA devices can connect to the WiFi network but WPA2 devices cannot.
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Note
NETGEAR access points that support 802.11ac and 802.11n devices support one
RADIUS profile per WiFi network. However, NETGEAR access points that support
802.11n devices but do not support 802.11ac devices support a single RADIUS profile only for all WiFi networks. On an access point that supports a single RADIUS profile only, the last WPA Enterprise configuration that you specified for any WiFi network with WPA Enterprise applies to all WiFi networks with WPA Enterprise on the access point. If a location must support 802.11n devices, specify the same WPA Enterprise configuration for all WiFi networks at the location.
WARNING:
If you change the authentication method to WPA Personal or WPA Enterprise, connected clients lose their connection and must reconnect using the new authentication method.
To change the authentication and encryption settings for WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
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7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Edit Wireless Network.
8.
From the Authentication Type menu, select the type of authentication:
•
Open. You do not need to specify any additional information because the network functions without authentication and encryption. This option can be useful for a public hotspot, in particular in
combination with a captive portal (see
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi Network
on page 53).
•
WPA Personal. In the Password field, you must specify the password that is required to access the network. You can enter up to 63 alphanumeric and special characters.
The default encryption method is TKIP+AES, which allows both WPA and WPA2 devices to connect to the WiFi network. This encryption method works well for most WiFi networks. However, you can select the Change Data Encryption check box and from the Data Encryption menu, select TKIP.
TKIP is an older and less secure encryption method that allows WPA devices to connect to the WiFi network but prevents WPA2 devices from connecting to the network. Use TKIP only if you expect only legacy devices to connect to the WiFi network.
•
WPA Enterprise.
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To configure WPA Enterprise, do the following:
a.
Configure the primary RADIUS server by entering its IP address, the shared secret (also referred to as the secret key, passphrase, or password), and the port number (the default is 1812) through which the application communicates with the RADIUS server.
b.
As an option, configure the secondary RADIUS server by entering its IP address, the shared secret, and the port number (the default is 1812) through which the application communicates with the
RADIUS server.
c.
Specify the reauthentication time, which is period in minutes after which a client must reauthenticate with the RADIUS server.
The default is 3600 minutes. To disable reauthentication, enter 0.
d.
To enable RADIUS accounting, select the Enable RADIUS Accounting check box.
The RADIUS accounting servers use the same IP addresses as the RADIUS authentication servers but the port numbers are incremented by 1. That is, the default port number for the primary and secondary RADIUS accounting servers is 1813.
e.
To change the encryption method, select the Change Data Encryption check box, and from the
Data Encryption menu, select TKIP.
The default encryption method is TKIP+AES, which allows both WPA and WPA2 devices to connect to the WiFi network. This encryption method works well for most WiFi networks. TKIP is an older and less secure encryption method that allows WPA devices to connect to the WiFi network but prevents WPA2 devices from connecting to the network. Use TKIP only if you expect only legacy devices to connect to the WiFi network.
9.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
10.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. If you changed the authentication method to WPA Personal or WPA Enterprise, connected clients lose their connection and must reconnect using the new authentication method.
Add a Captive Portal for Free or Paid-For Access to a WiFi
Network
A captive portal blocks clients from accessing a WiFi network until they are verified, at which point the captive portal can provide free or paid-for access to the WiFi network. Such a WiFi network is often referred to as a hotspot. You can require users to agree to user terms and you can redirect users to a specific website.
You can add a captive portal to any WiFi network and specify captive portal settings that apply only to that
WiFi network.
For more information, see the following sections:
•
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi Network
on page 53
•
Add a Captive Portal for Voucher Access to a WiFi Network
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Note
Although a WiFi network with a captive portal often is set up as an open network, you
can set up authentication and encryption for such a network in the same way that you
can set it up for any other WiFi network. For more information, see
Authentication and Encryption for a WiFi Network
on page 49.
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi Network
You can set up a captive portal for a WiFi network to offer either free access with click-through or free access with click-through and the requirement to provide information, for example, a name, company name, and email address. (You can customize the information fields.)
To add a captive portal for free access to an existing WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network to which you want to add a captive portal, click the gear icon, and select Edit
Wireless Network.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
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8.
Click the + Add a Captive Portal button.
9.
Configure the settings as described in the following table.
Setting Description
Type From the menu, select one of the following options:
Title
Message
•
Click Through. No authentication is required to click through.
•
Click Through w/Custom Fields. For a captive portal user to be able to click through, the users must provide the information that you can specify in the Custom Fields section.
For information about the Voucher option, see
Add a Captive Portal for Voucher Access to a
on page 56.
Enter a title for the splash page. Captive portal users do see this title.
Enter a message for the captive portal users. The default message is Please click 'Connect'
for free Internet access.
Redirect URL To redirect the captive portal users to a website after login, select the Redirect users after
login check box. In the field that displays, enter the website, beginning with http://.
Session Duration Specify the session duration by entering a period in the left field and selecting a time unit from the right menu. By default, the session duration is 1 day.
Custom Fields The Enter a Custom Field field and the + Add Field button display only if the selection from the Type menu is Click Through w/Custom Fields.
You can specify a maximum of six fields. For a captive portal user to be able to click through, the user must supply information in each field that you specify.
To add a field, click the + Add Field button. To remove a field, click the – button.
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(Continued)
Setting Description
Image To add an image to the splash page, click the Browse button and navigate to and select an image form your computer. The maximum size for an image is 300 KB.
Image Alignment
EULA
This menu displays only if you select an image. From the Image Alignment menu, select the position of the image on the splash page (Middle, Left, or Right).
By default, the Provide a EULA check box is selected and the user can click the Terms of
Use link on the splash page to view the default EULA.
You can change the text of the EULA.
You can also clear the Provide a EULA check box, in which case the EULA is not accessible to the user from the splash page.
10.
To preview the splash page, click the Preview button.
The splash page opens in a new tab.
11.
Click the Save button.
The splash page is saved, the Configure Your Captive Portal Splash Page pop-up window closes, and the configuration page for the WiFi network displays again.
12.
Click the Save button on the configuration page for the WiFi network.
Your settings are saved. The WiFi network becomes a hotspot that is accessible through the splash page. The access points reprogram their settings and are temporarily not available.
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Add a Captive Portal for Voucher Access to a WiFi Network
You can set up a captive portal on a WiFi network to offer paid-for access through a voucher. You can specify the period and unit of time (minute, hour, day, or week) for a single voucher, and you can do so in various currencies. You can also specify if a single voucher allows access for a single or for several devices, and if access time is deducted only when devices are connected to the WiFi network or whether they are connected to the WiFi network or not.
To add a captive portal to an existing WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network to which you want to add a captive portal, click the gear icon, and select Edit
Wireless Network.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
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8.
Click the + Add a Captive Portal button.
9.
Configure the settings as described in the following table.
Setting Description
Type
Title
Message
Redirect URL
Cost
From the menu, select Voucher.
For information about the Click Through and Click Through w/Custom Fields options, see
Add a Captive Portal for Free Access to a WiFi Network
on page 53.
Enter a title for the splash page. Captive portal users do see this title.
Enter a message for the captive portal users.
To redirect the captive portal users to a website after login, select the Redirect users after
login check box. In the field that displays, enter the website, beginning with http://.
The Cost option provides two menus and a field that let you define the cost of a single voucher:
•
From the left menu, select the currency.
•
In the middle field, enter the period that is associated with the unit of time, or use the up and down arrows to specify the period.
•
From the right menu, select the unit of time (minute, hour, day, or week).
Device Limit Enter or use the menu to specify the number of devices that are allowed WiFi access with a single voucher.
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(Continued)
Setting
Deduct Time
Description
From the menu, select one of the following options to specify how usage time is deducted from the voucher balance:
•
only while connected. Usage time is deducted only when a device is connected to the
WiFi network.
•
whether connected or not. Usage time is connected from the moment that the voucher is issued and deducted whether or not a device is connected to the WiFi network.
Image To add an image to the splash page, click the Browse button and navigate to and select an image from your computer. The maximum size for an image is 300 KB.
Image Alignment
EULA
This menu displays only if you select an image. From the Image Alignment menu, select the position of the image on the splash page (Middle, Left, or Right).
By default, the Provide a EULA check box is selected and the user can click the Terms of
Use link on the splash page to view the default EULA.
You can change the text of the EULA.
You can also clear the Provide a EULA check box, in which case the EULA is not accessible to the user from the splash page.
10.
To preview the splash page, click the Preview button.
The splash page opens in a new tab.
11.
Click the Save button.
The splash page is saved, the Configure Your Captive Portal Splash Page pop-up window closes, and the configuration page for the WiFi network displays again.
12.
Click the Save button on the configuration page for the WiFi network.
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Your settings are saved. The WiFi network becomes a hotspot that is accessible through the splash page. The access points reprogram their settings and are temporarily not available.
Set Bandwidth Caps for a WiFi Network
By default, a cloud-managed WiFi network does not impose bandwidth caps on either upload or download traffic. If you enable bandwidth control, the default upload and download bandwidth caps are 1000 Kbps each. For each type of bandwidth cap, you can customize the bandwidth caps with a minimum value of 64
Kbps and a maximum value of 10 Gbps. The actual bandwidth capacity depends on multiple factors such as the number of devices on the WiFi network, the signal strength of the WiFi work, and the physical Ethernet link of the access point.
To change the broadcast and advertisement settings for WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Edit Wireless Network.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
8.
Select the Enable Bandwidth Caps check box.
9.
In the Upload Bandwidth Cap and Download Bandwidth Cap fields, enter numeric values, click the
+ and – buttons to change the values, or use a combination of both methods to set the bandwidth values.
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All bandwidth values are expressed in Kbps.
10.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
11.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprogram their settings.
Enable Fast Roaming for a WiFi Network
Fast roaming can improve voice quality while a client roams between two access points. For fast roaming to be effective, both the client and the access points must support fast roaming (802.11r), and the authentication and encryption method for the WiFi network must be WPA Personal (WPA-PSK) with TKIP
+ AES or WPA Enterprise (see
Change the Authentication and Encryption for a WiFi Network
Although you can configure fast roaming regardless of the access points that you are deploying at a location, fast roaming applies only to the WAC720 and WAC730 access points and to clients that support fast roaming.
If you enable fast roaming for a WiFi network that is broadcast on a WAC720 or WAC730 access point only, a client that does not support fast roaming cannot connect to the WiFi network. In such a situation, you could set up an additional WiFi network without fast roaming to serve the clients that do not support fast roaming.
To enable fast roaming for WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Edit Wireless Network.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
Note
The Enable Fast Roaming check box displays only if the selection from the
Authentication Type menu is WPA Personal or WPA Enterprise.
8.
Select the Enable Fast Roaming check box.
The Exchange Fast Roaming Info Over Wired Network check box displays.
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9.
To enable fast roaming information to be exchanged over the wired network instead of the WiFi network, select the Exchange Fast Roaming Info Over Wired Network check box.
The default setting is that fast roaming information is exchanged over the WiFi network instead of the wired network.
10.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
11.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprogram their settings.
Enable Client Isolation for a WiFi Network
Client isolation is an added security measure that prevents clients on a WiFi network from accessing computers that are connected to the network by a wired connection and from communicating with other clients on the same WiFi network. A public hotspot is one example of an environment in which you might want to enable client isolation.
To enable client isolation for WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Edit Wireless Network.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
8.
Select the Client Isolation check box.
9.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
10.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprogram their settings.
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Set Up or Change a Radio On/Off Broadcast Schedule for a WiFi Network
A radio on/off broadcast schedule lets you specify when a WiFi network must be turned off and back on again. For example, you can set up a schedule that lets you turn off WiFi networks at night and during weekends to save energy and prevent unauthorized network use.
Note
Both when you implement a radio on/off broadcast schedule and when a scheduled blockage begins or ends for a WiFi network, a momentary loss of connection occurs on all access points that serve the WiFi network. That is, even if a client is connected to another WiFi network for which the schedule is not implemented or for which the blockage does not begin or end, a momentary loss of connection still occurs if the
WiFi network is served by the same access points that also serve the WiFi network for which the schedule is implemented or the blockage does begin or end.
To set up or change a radio on/off broadcast schedule for a WiFi network at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Edit Wireless Network.
The page adjusts and the fields become editable.
The nature of the check box for the schedule depends on whether you are setting up a new schedule or are changing an existing schedule.
8.
To set up a new schedule, select the Create Schedule check box.
To change an existing schedule, select the Edit Schedule check box.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
9.
Click the Create Schedule button (or the Edit Schedule button) in the pop-up window.
The page displays a seven-day schedule with hours from 12 a.m. to 11 p.m. The time zone is adjusted for the location.
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10.
For each day that you want the radios to broadcast, in the day column (for example, the Monday column), click the time when you want the radios to begin broadcasting and drag to the time that you want broadcasting to end.
You can specify several broadcasting time slots during a single day.
Broadcasting can begin either at the top of the hour or 30 minutes past the hour. Broadcasting can end either 29 minutes and 59 seconds past the hour or 59 minutes and 59 seconds past the hour. A scheduled broadcasting time slot is shown by a blue color. Clicking again removes the scheduled time slot and the blue color.
The scheduled time is repeated every week.
Note
As an example, to schedule the WiFi network to turn off every night at 9:00 p.m., turn on every morning at 5:30 a.m., and remain off during Saturday and Sunday, do the following: In the Monday column, click the 5:30 time and drag to the 8:30 time so that all times from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. are shown in blue, and repeat this for each weekday.
11.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
12.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access points reprogram their settings. (See also the note at the beginning of this section.)
Remove a WiFi Network
You can remove a WiFi network that you no longer need.
To permanently remove a WiFi network:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
The Configuration page displays any existing WiFi networks.
7.
For the WiFi network that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Delete Wireless Network.
A pop-up window displays a warning.
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8.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The WiFi network is removed.
9.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
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Manage Devices and Device Inventory
5
You assign devices (access points) to a location. Therefore, you first must set up a location, and then you can
add access points to that location (see
Add an Access Point to a Location
on page 31).
For each access point, you can change the name, assign building and floor labels, change the IP address from a DHCP-assigned IP address to a static IP address or the other way around, and manage the radio settings for the access point (as opposed to the radio settings for a WiFi network that is served by the access point).
You can also manage the device inventory (all access points that are cloud managed), including adding devices to inventory without deploying them to a location, decommissioning devices from one location and redeploying them at another location, and removing devices from inventory altogether.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
on page 66
•
Add or Change Building and Floor Labels for a Device
•
Change the Radio and WiFi Settings for a Device
on page 67
•
Change the IP and Management VLAN Settings for a Device
on page 69
•
on page 72
•
Remove a Device From a Location
on page 73
•
on page 74
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Change the Device Name
When you first add an access point to a location, you must specify a device name, which does not need to be the default device name (usually in the format netgearXXXX, in which X can be a numeric or alphanumeric value). You can change that device name.
To add or change the device name for an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
For the device that you want to change, click the gear icon, and select Change Short Name.
A pop-up window opens.
8.
In the upper field, in which the existing name displays, enter a new name.
As an option, you can add a description in the lower field. (This description is not displayed on any monitoring pages.)
9.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved.
Add or Change Building and Floor Labels for a Device
To help you organize your access point by physical location, you can add building and floor labels to an access point.
To add or change building and floor labels for an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
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4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
Select the access point.
The Configuration page displays the access point details.
8.
Click one of the edit icons ( ).
The Device Name, Building, and Floor fields become editable.
9.
Enter a building name, floor name, or both.
10.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.
Change the Radio and WiFi Settings for a Device
You can change the radio and WiFi settings that apply to a single access point that is assigned to a location, as opposed to changing the radio settings for the location, that is, for the entire pool of access points that is assigned to a location.
The default settings often work well but situations might occur in which you want to change the settings.
Managing the radio and WiFi settings includes enabling or disabling a radio, changing the WiFi mode, changing the WiFi channel, changing the WiFi bandwidth, changing the transmission output power, changing the Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) settings, changing the maximum number of supported clients, and specifying the default internal or optional external antenna.
Note
For information about manually changing the radio settings for a location, that is, for the entire pool of access points that are assigned to a location, see
Manage the Radio and Antenna Settings for a Location
on page 33.
To configure a static IP address for an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
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5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
Select the access point.
The Configuration page displays the access point details.
8.
Click the Radios tab.
The radio settings display.
9.
Click the Edit Radios button.
10.
Change the settings as needed:
•
Radio. A nonconfigurable field that shows the radio number (WLAN0 or WLAN1) for the access point.
•
Enabled. By default, the radio is enabled. To disable the radio, clear the check box.
•
Band. A nonconfigurable field that shows the radio band that is associated with the WiFi mode.
•
Mode. From the menu, select the WiFi mode for the radio. By default, the most advanced WiFi mode is selected.
•
Channel. You can select a static channel from the menu. The supported channels depend on the region of operation for the access point. By default, cloud-managed access points autoconfigure their channels (that is, the channel setting is Auto).
•
Power. By default, the transmission output for an access point is set to maximum power. From the menu, you can select a lower output power for each WiFi band that the access point supports. The supported output options are Full, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Minimum.
•
Bandwidth. From the menu, select the WiFi bandwidth, which is also referred to as the channel width. A wider channel improves the performance but some legacy devices can operate only in either 20 MHz or 40 MHz. The supported WiFi bandwidths depend on the access point model.
•
WMM Mode. By default, WMM is enabled, allowing time-dependent WiFi traffic such as video and audio to receive a higher priority than data WiFi traffic. You can disable WMM.
•
WMM Power Save. By default, the WMM Power Save feature is enabled, increasing the efficiency and flexibility of data transmission and thereby allowing battery-powered equipment to save power.
You can disable the WMM Power Save feature.
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•
Max Clients. A radio on a NETGEAR access point can typically support between 64 and 128 clients.
However, allowing the maximum number of clients might not be the most suitable configuration for a site with a large number of clients. From the menu, you can select a lower number to prevent oversubscription and congestion and to improve throughput and latency.
•
Antenna. By default, the setting is Internal. External antennas are optional accessories. If you select External, the configuration takes effect only if the access point is configured with one or more external antennas.
11.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
12.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access point reprograms its settings.
13.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Change the IP and Management VLAN Settings for a Device
For any NETGEAR access point that the application supports, the access point functions as a DHCP client by default. If your network does not include a DHCP server or the network configuration requires a static IP address, you can set a static IP address configuration for an access point, including the gateway IP address and the DNS server IP addresses.
You can also change the management VLAN ID from its default VLAN ID 1 to another VLAN ID.
Configure a Static IP Address for an Access Point
If your network does not include a DHCP server or the network configuration requires a static IP address, you can set a static IP address configuration for an access point.
To configure a static IP address for an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
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The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
Select the access point.
The Configuration page displays the access point details.
8.
Click the IP Settings tab.
The configured IP settings display.
9.
Click the Edit IP Settings button.
The IP Settings menu becomes available.
10.
From the IP Settings menu, select static.
The fields become editable.
11.
Enter the static IP address information, including the gateway and DNS server addresses.
12.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
13.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access point reprograms its settings.
14.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Configure an Access Point as a DHCP Client
For any NETGEAR access point that the application supports, the access point functions as a DHCP client by default. If the access point functions with a static IP configuration and you want to convert it to a DHCP client, follow this procedure. The application must be able to connect to a DHCP server.
To configure an access point at a location as a DHCP client:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
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7.
Select the access point.
The Configuration page displays the access point details.
8.
Click the IP Settings tab.
The configured IP settings display.
9.
Click the Edit IP Settings button.
The IP Settings menu becomes available.
10.
From the IP Settings menu, select DHCP.
The fields are masked out.
11.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
12.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. It might take several minutes before the access point receives an IP address from the DHCP server. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access point reprograms its settings.
13.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Change the Management VLAN for an Access Point
For any NETGEAR access point that the application supports, the default management VLAN ID is ID 1.
You can change this ID to any other VLAN ID that your network supports. Make sure that you enter a correct
VLAN ID. Otherwise, the access point might become unreachable and you might need to reset the access point to factory default settings to recover it.
To change the management VLAN ID for an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
Select the access point.
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The Configuration page displays the access point details.
8.
Click the IP Settings tab.
The configured IP and management VLAN settings display.
9.
Click the Edit IP Settings button.
The IP Settings menu becomes available.
10.
In the Management VLAN field, enter a new VLAN ID.
The default management VLAN ID is ID 1.
11.
Click the Save button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
12.
Click the Save button in the pop-up window.
Your settings are saved. Connected clients lose their connection momentarily while the access point reprograms its settings.
13.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Reboot a Device
You can reboot an access point at a location. The reboot process takes about two minutes, causing connected clients to lose connection during that period.
For information about rebooting a location, that is, the entire pool of access points that is assigned to a
on page 44.
To reboot an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
For the access point that you want to reboot, click the gear icon, and select Reboot Device.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
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8.
Click the Reboot Location button in the pop-up window.
The access point at the location is rebooted. After about two minutes, it comes back online.
9.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
Remove a Device From a Location
You can remove an access point from a location. The access point resets to factory defaults and becomes a standalone access point. That is, the access point does not remain in inventory and is no longer cloud managed. If you want to keep the access point in inventory and cloud managed, do not remove (that is, delete) the access point, but decommission it from the location while preserving the IP settings (see
Decommission a Device From a Location and Keep It in Inventory
on page 79).
CAUTION:
If an access point is removed from a location, it is no longer managed by the application, resets to factory default settings, broadcasts its default SSIDs, and provides open networks without any security. If you do not want open networks, connect to the access point through its web management interface and implement
WiFi security or disable the radios.
To remove an access point from a location and from inventory:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
For the access point that you want to remove, click the gear icon, and select Delete Device.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
8.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The access point is removed from the location and from inventory.
9.
Click the Dismiss button.
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The pop-up window closes.
Manage the Device Inventory
The device inventory consists of cloud-managed access points that can be active and connected or not active but still connected.
The following sections describe how you can manage the device inventory:
•
on page 74
•
Add a Device to Inventory Without Deploying It
on page 76
•
Deploy a Device in Inventory at a Location
•
Decommission a Device From a Location and Keep It in Inventory
on page 79
•
Remove a Device From Inventory
on page 80
View the Device Inventory
The device inventory lets you view the inventory status, connection status, location, building, floor, and firmware version of all access points that were added to the application, whether active or not.
The device inventory consists of cloud-managed access points for which the inventory status can be one of the following:
•
Active. The access point is connected to the application and is added to a location, and the location is assigned to a license account with an active license.
•
Provisioning. The access point is either cloud managed or in the process of becoming cloud managed while the application is pushing a configuration.
•
Upgrading. The access point is either cloud managed or in the process of becoming cloud managed while the application is pushing a firmware upgrade.
•
Rebooting. The access point is either cloud managed or in the process of becoming cloud managed and is rebooting after the application pushed a configuration or a firmware upgrade to the access point.
•
Unlicensed. Even though the access point is connected to the application, the access point is added to a location that is assigned to an unlicensed account. The access point does not become active until you add an active license to the account.
•
Decommissioning. The application is in the process of decommissioning the access point from a location.
•
Decommissioned. Even though the access point is connected to the application, the access point is not added to a location and is not active.
For each access point in inventory, the connection status can be one of the following:
•
Connected. The access point is connected to the application. However, this does not mean that the access point is active.
•
Disconnected. The access point was connected to the application but is now disconnected.
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•
Waiting. The access point is added to a location and is waiting for a connection to the application.
•
Phoned home (and a time indication). The access point is connected to the application but decommissioned (or undeployed).
To view the device inventory:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Inventory.
5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
The table on the Inventory page displays the access points that are in inventory, whether active, decommissioned, or in the process of being provisioned or decommissioned.
For more information, see the following sections:
•
For information about adding an access point to inventory without deploying it, see
Inventory Without Deploying It
•
For information about deploying an access point, see
Deploy a Device in Inventory at a Location
page 77.
•
For information about decommissioning an access point, see
Decommission a Device From a Location and Keep It in Inventory
•
For information about removing an access point from inventory, see
Remove a Device From Inventory
on page 80.
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Add a Device to Inventory Without Deploying It
You can add an access point to the inventory without immediately deploying it to a location. For example, you can add access points to the inventory, set up locations and WiFi networks, and then deploy the access points to the locations.You can also keep spare access points in the inventory so that you quickly can deploy an access point if one at a location fails.
CAUTION:
While an access point is in inventory but undeployed (decommissioned), the access point broadcasts its factory default SSIDs and provides open networks without any security. Because the access point is managed by the application, you cannot access its web management interface to implement security. Once you deploy the access point to a location, the security configurations of the WiFi networks at the location are pushed to the access point.
To add an access point to inventory:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Inventory.
5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
6.
Click the +New Device button.
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7.
In the Serial Number field, enter the precise serial number for the access point.
If you do not enter a correct serial number, you cannot add the access point to the inventory. After you enter a correct serial number, an image of the associated model displays in the Model field, and the gray Invalid Serial button changes into the Save button.
8.
In the Device Name field, enter a name for the access point.
The name does not need to be the factory default name.
9.
To register the access point with NETGEAR, keep the Register this device check box selected and enter your date of purchase in the Purchase Date field.
By default, the Register this device check box is selected. If you do not need or want to register the access point, clear the check box.
10.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. The access point is added to the inventory. Because the access point is not deployed at a location, the Inventory Status field in the table shows Decommissioned. After the access point reconnects to the application, the Connection Status field in the table shows Phoned home (and a time indication), which confirms that the access point is connected to the application.
Deploy a Device in Inventory at a Location
If an access point is in inventory and decommissioned, you can deploy it at a location. During the provisioning process, the application upgrades the access point to the cloud-managed firmware version for the location, reboots the access point, pushes the location settings to the access point, and reboots the access point again. This process might take between 5 and 10 minutes.
To deploy one or more access points at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
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The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Inventory.
5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
The table on the Inventory page displays the access points that are in inventory, whether active, decommissioned, or in the process of being provisioned or decommissioned.
6.
To limit the access points in the table to the decommissioned ones, from the Showing menu, select
Decommissioned.
The table on the Inventory page displays decommissioned access points only.
7.
Select the check boxes for the access points that you want to deploy at the same location.
8.
From the Deploy menu, select the location.
A pop-up window opens and lets you confirm your selection.
9.
Click the Deploy button in the pop-up window.
The application starts the deployment process.
10.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
After the access points are deployed, on the Monitoring page, the Inventory Status fields in the table shows
Active and the Connection Status fields in the table shows Connected.
However, if the location to which you added the access points is assigned to an unlicensed account, the
Inventory Status fields shows Unlicensed and the access points do not become active until you add a license to the account (see
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CAUTION:
If access points remain unlicensed and are not active, they broadcasts their default
SSIDs and provide open networks without any security. Make sure that the account to which you assigned the location is licensed so that the access points become active.
Decommission a Device From a Location and Keep It in
Inventory
If an access point is assigned to a location and active, you can decommission it from the location. Upon decommissioning, the access point is reset to factory defaults but with a few configuration exceptions: The cloud mode remains enabled and you can choose to let the access point keep its IP address configuration or reset the IP address configuration to defaults. In either case, the access point remains cloud managed and in inventory. You can redeploy this access point by assigning it to another location. While decommissioned, the access point does not use license credits.
If you choose to reset the IP address configuration to defaults during the decommissioning process, the access point remains in inventory but you might need to reconfigure the access point before you can redeploy it. This option might be useful if the access point requires a static IP address configuration for the location to which you want to deploy it. In such a situation, you might need to access the web management interface of the access point, disable the access point for the cloud, specify a static IP address configuration, and reenable the access point for the cloud before you can deploy the access point at the new location.
CAUTION:
While an access point is in inventory but decommissioned (undeployed), the access point broadcasts its factory default SSIDs and provides open networks without any security. Because the access point is managed by the application, you cannot access its web management interface to implement security. Once you deploy the access point to a location, the security configurations of the WiFi networks at the location are pushed to the access point.
To decommission one or more access points from a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
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4.
Select Inventory.
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5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
The table on the Inventory page displays the access points that are in inventory, whether active, decommissioned, or in the process of being provisioned or decommissioned.
6.
To limit the access points in the table to the active ones, from the Showing menu, select Active.
The table on the Inventory page displays active access points only.
7.
Select the check boxes for the access points that you want to decommission.
The Decommission button becomes available.
8.
Click the Decommission button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
9.
To keep the IP address configurations after the access points are decommissioned, select the Preserve
IP Config check box.
10.
Click the Decommission button in the pop-up window.
The application start the decommissioning process.
11.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
After the access points are decommissioned, the Inventory Status fields in the table show
Decommissioned - IP (that is, if you preserved the IP configurations). After the access points reconnect to the application, the Connection Status fields in the table show Phoned home (and a time indication), which confirms that the access points are connected to the application.
Remove a Device From Inventory
You can remove an access point from inventory. The access point resets to factory defaults and becomes a standalone access point. That is, the serial number is removed from the application and the access point is no longer cloud managed. If you want to keep the access point in inventory and cloud managed, do not
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remove (that is, delete) the access point, but decommission it from the location (see
From a Location and Keep It in Inventory
on page 79).
CAUTION:
If an access point is removed from inventory, it is no longer managed by the application, resets to factory default settings, broadcasts its default SSIDs, and provides open networks without any security. If you do not want open networks, connect to the access point through its web management interface and implement
WiFi security or disable the radios.
To remove one or more access points from inventory:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Inventory.
5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
The table on the Inventory page displays the access points that are in inventory, whether active, decommissioned, or in the process of being provisioned or decommissioned.
6.
To limit the access points in the table to the decommissioned ones, from the Showing menu, select
Decommissioned.
The table on the Inventory page displays decommissioned access points only.
7.
Select the check boxes for the access points that you want to remove from inventory.
The Delete button becomes available.
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8.
Click the Delete button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
9.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The access points are removed from inventory.
10.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
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Manage Accounts and Licenses
6
The application provides one default account. Unless you specify otherwise, all locations, licenses, and collaborators are added to the default account. However, you can set up multiple accounts (also referred to as license accounts) under the application. For managed service providers (MSPs), also referred to as value added resellers (VARs), working with multiple accounts allows for management of a variety of customers. For more information, see
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
on page 84
•
•
on page 84
•
•
•
View License Information for an Account
•
•
Remove a Location From an Account
on page 91
•
View the Devices Managed Under an Account
on page 92
•
Invite a Manager, Customer, or Clerk to an Account
on page 92
•
Accept an Invitation and Sign Up for and Activate a Manager, Customer, or Clerk Account
on page 93
•
Remove a Manager, Customer, or Clerk From an Account
•
Change the Name for an Account
on page 96
•
on page 97
•
Change Your Account Email Address and Password
on page 98
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Accounts Overview
If you sign up for a BCWM application account, you become the owner of the account. Under the umbrella of that account, you can set up multiple license accounts. The application provides one default license account under which all locations, licenses, and collaborators are placed. If you set up additional license accounts, you can specify the locations for each account, add licenses to each account, and invite managers and customers for each account.
If you manage a tenant account (that is, an account for a single business or organization), a single license account might be sufficient even if you set up multiple locations for that business or organization, or various conditions might require you set up multiple license accounts. Consider the example in which you manage the WiFi networks for a hotel chain with multiple locations in various countries:
•
If you centrally manage the WiFi networks and access points for all individual properties in the hotel chain and the business cost of WiFi management is charged to a single department in the hotel chain, a single license account for the entire hotel chain is sufficient.
•
If the business cost of WiFi management is charged to each individual property in the hotel chain, set up a license account for each property and add the required licenses to each license account.
•
If each individual property in the hotel chain must be able to manage its own WiFi networks and access points through a collaborator, set up a license account for each location and add a collaborator account to each license account.
If you manage the WiFi networks and access points for multiple tenants (that is, separate businesses and organizations), you do want to set up a separate license accounts for each individual business and organization, even if that business or organization consists of a single location. Even though you use a single BCWM application account, all license accounts are segmented and secure, that is, data is confined within each partition.
Licenses Overview
A license consists of credits. Each access point that the application manages requires one credit per day.
That is, each credit provides one access point with one day of cloud usage.
After all credits are used up, the licence must be renewed for you to continue to use the application.
For example, if you purchased 3 licenses for 10 access points for 3 years (resulting in a credit balance of
10,950 credits) and the application manages 24 access points per day, you must renew your licenses after
438 days. Another example: If you purchased 12 licenses for 1 access point for 1 year (resulting in a credit balance of 4,380 credits) and the application manages 6 access points per day, you must renew your licenses after 2 years (730 days).
You can purchases licenses in the form of license keys for 1, 10, or 50 access points for either 1 or 3 years.
About the Trial Period
The trial period starts when you set up and activate your BCWM subscription and lasts 90 days.
NETGEAR does not impose any special limits to the number of locations, networks, and access points that you can add during the trial subscription. An account with a free trial subscription or paid-for subscription can support up to 4,000 access points.
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View the Trial Balance and Trial Expiration Date During the Trial
Period
Your trial period starts when you subscribe to the application and lasts 90 days. At any time during the trial period, you can view how many days are left in the trial period and you can view the trial expiration date.
To view the trial balance and expiration date:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default trial license account displays. By default, the Locations tab is selected.
5.
Click the Licenses tab.
6.
To display details about the trial license, click the triangle icon to the left of the license key.
For information about adding a purchased license to an account with a trial subscription, see
What Happens at the End of the Free Trial Period?
Two weeks before the end of the trial period, the application displays alerts about the scheduled end of the trial period and you start to receive email messages notifying you of the pending end of the trial period.
Before the end of the trial period, you can purchase access point licenses to continue with the application without service interruption. That is, you can convert your account with a free trial subscription to an account with a paid-for subscription. For more information, see
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If you decide not to purchase access point licenses, you eventually lose full access to the application and its WiFi networks, as follows:
•
When the trial period ends, the one-month grace period starts. During this period, you are still granted full access to the application and can purchase and add access point licenses.
•
When the grace period ends, the access points stop being managed by the application, are removed from inventory, reset to their factory default configuration, and start functioning in standalone mode. As a consequence, the cloud-managed WiFi networks no longer function. However, you can still access the application, add access point licenses, and reprovision the access points and WiFi networks.
To use the access points after they are removed from the application, you can reprovision them on an account with a paid-for subscription (that is, an account with access point licences), reprovision them with a NETGEAR hardware-based wireless controller platform, or manually reconfigure them for standalone service.
Note
During the free trial period, you can provision an access point for a single BCWM account only. You cannot reprovision the same access point for another BCWM account, that is, you cannot set up successive accounts with trial subscriptions and keep adding the same access points to different accounts.
Create a New Account
If you manage one or more locations for a single business or organization (that is, you manage a tenant account), a single account might be sufficient. However, if you manage multiple businesses and organizations
(that is, you manage multiple tenants), each with one or more locations, set up separate license accounts.
You can create multiple license accounts to which you can add locations (and therefore access points that are assigned to those locations), licenses, and collaborators.
To create a new license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
5.
At the top of the page, in the New Account Name field, enter a name for the account.
6.
Click the + Create button.
The new account displays.
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For more information about configuring the new account, see the following sections:
•
•
•
Invite a Manager, Customer, or Clerk to an Account
on page 92
Add a License to an Account
You can add one or more licenses to a single license account.
Note
If you add a purchased license to a trial account, any remaining days in the trial period are forfeited. The license period starts on the day that you add the license.
CAUTION:
If you created multiple license accounts, make sure that you add the license to the correct license account. Once added, you cannot move the license to another license account.
To add a license to a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
The Credits Available, Renewal Date, and Credits Used Per Day boxes display under the license account name.
5.
For the license account to which you want to add a license, under the boxes described in the previous step, click the Licenses tab.
The page displays the active licenses for the license account. If you did not yet add any licenses, none are shown.
6.
Click the + Add License button.
A field displays.
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7.
Copy or type your license key in the field.
8.
Click the green check icon.
The license is added and the following information is shown in the boxes:
•
Credits Available. The total number of available credits for all licenses added to the license account.
(In the previous figure, only a single license is shown for the license account.)
•
Renewal Date. The date on which you run out of credits for the license account.
•
Credits User Per Day. The total number of credits that are consumed per day for the license account.
Only active access points consume credits. An access point that is in inventory but not assigned to a location does not consume credits.
In the previous figure, to the right of the license key, a green bar displays, indicating that the full license is still available and that no credits were used yet. If credits were used already, the bar would be orange.
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View License Information for an Account
For each license account, you can view the license information.
To view license information for a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
The following information displays for the license account:
•
Credits Available. The total number of available credits for all licenses added to the license account.
•
Renewal Date. The date on which you run out of credits for the license account.
•
Credits User Per Day. The total number of credits that are consumed per day for the license account.
Only active access points consume credits. An access point that is in inventory but not assigned to a location does not consume credits.
Note
If you added more than one license account to the application, the credit and renewal date information that is shown for this license account does not apply to the other license accounts. Each license account provides its own credit and license information.
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To the right of the license key, either an orange bar or a green bar displays:
•
Orange bar. The license is being used, that is, credits were used already.
•
Green bar. The full license is still available, that is, no credits were used yet.
5.
To display details about a license, click the triangle icon to the left of the license key.
Add a Location to an Account
When you add a location, you must assign it to a license account. Therefore, you can add an existing location to a license account only if the location is no longer assigned to another license account because you
removed the location from the other license account (see
Remove a Location From an Account
91).
IMPORTANT:
If you do not add at least one license to the license account (see
on page 87), access points that you add to the location remain in the unlicensed state, broadcast their default SSIDs, provide open networks without any security, and do not become active, preventing WiFi networks that you add to the location from coming up.
To add a location to a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays. By default, the Locations tab is selected.
5.
For the license account to which you want to add a location, select the location from the Add Location menu.
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Only unassigned locations display in the menu.
6.
Click the blue + button.
The location is added and displays under the Locations tab. The devices that are assigned to the location display automatically under the Devices tab.
Remove a Location From an Account
If you want to add a location to another license account, you first must remove the location from the default license account or any other license account that it might be assigned to.
CAUTION:
If you remove a location from a license account but do not assign it to another license account, access points that you added to the location remain in the unlicensed state, broadcast their default SSIDs, provide open networks without any security, and do not become active, preventing WiFi networks that you added to the location from coming up.
To remove a location from a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays. By default, the Locations tab is selected.
5.
For the license account from which you want to remove the location, click the x to the right of the location.
The location is removed from the license account but is added as a selection in the Add Location menu that is available for any license account.
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If you want to add the location to another license account, simply select the location from the Add Location menu for that license account, and click the blue + button.
View the Devices Managed Under an Account
You cannot add devices to a license account. You can add devices to a location. When you assign a location to a license account, all devices that you added to the location are automatically assigned to the license account.
By default, all locations are assigned to the default license account. Therefore, by default, all devices are also assigned to the default license account.
To view the devices that are managed under a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
5.
For the license account for which you want to view the managed devices, click the Devices tab.
The managed devices display.
Invite a Manager, Customer, or Clerk to an Account
The application supports the following roles for users who can log in to the application. These users are different from WiFi users and hotspot users who can connect to a network that is part of the cloud but who cannot log in to the application.
•
Owner. A user who subscribed to the application and owns all license accounts that are set up under his or her application subscription. An owner can perform any action, including inviting collaborators
(managers, customers, and clerks).
•
Manager. A user who can perform most administrative functions. A manager (also referred to as a cloud network administrator) is authorized to perform many application functions for license accounts that he or she does not own.
Although a manager can set up his or her own new license account (and therefore become owner of that account), a manager can also access other license accounts (that is, accounts that were set up by other users) and can invite collaborators for other license accounts. However, a manager cannot add or remove a location from another license account, decommission or remove devices from a location for another license account, or entirely remove another license account.
•
Customer. A user with read-only access to the license account to which he or she was invited, including all locations, WiFi networks, and access points that are assigned to that license account. Although a customer can set up his or her own license account (and therefore become owner of that account), a
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customer cannot access other license accounts to which he or she was not invited and cannot invite collaborators for other license accounts.
•
Clerk. A user who can only sell, print, and email vouchers and monitor their use for paid-for captive portal access for the license account to which he or she was invited. A clerk is also referred to as a voucher clerk or hotspot clerk. As with other users, a clerk can set up his or her own license account
(and therefore become owner of that account).
Owners, managers, customers, and clerks are referred to as collaborators.
To invite a collaborator to an account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
5.
For the license account for which you want to invite a collaborator, click the Collaborators tab.
Any existing collaborators for the license account display. (An owner of a license account is not a collaborator.)
6.
Click the Invite Collaborator button.
7.
From the Select role menu, select Manager, Customer, or Clerk, and in the field next to the menu, enter the email address of the collaborator.
8.
Click the green check icon.
The collaborator is added to the license account and receives an invitation email message.
For information about how to accept an invitation and sign up for the application account, see
Accept an Invitation and Sign Up for and Activate a Manager, Customer, or Clerk Account
on page 93.
Accept an Invitation and Sign Up for and Activate a
Manager, Customer, or Clerk Account
A user with an owner account or manager account can send an invitation email to invite someone to set up a manager, customer, or clerk account. A user with a customer account can send an invitation email to someone only to set up a clerk account. For information about these types of application users, which are
referred to as collaborators, see
If you receive such an invitation, before you can access the application, you must accept the invitation, sign up for a user account, and activate the user account.
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To accept an invitation and sign up for an activate a manager, customer, or clerk account:
1.
Go to your email inbox and open the invitation email message.
Make sure that you are online.
2.
Click the Get Started button in the email. message.
The Create Account page displays.
If the page does not display, open a browser and enter https://bc.qa.netgear.com/#/user/signup in the address bar.
3.
Complete all fields.
The password length can be from 6 to128 symbols. Valid symbols are a–z, A–Z, and 0–9, and the following special characters:
* ! @ # $ % ^ & ( )"
4.
If you are a VAR, reseller, or managed service provider and you are managing one or more end user accounts, select the Managed Service Provider radio button. Otherwise, select the End User radio button.
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After you complete all fields, the Create Account button becomes available.
5.
To view the terms and conditions, do the following:
a.
Click the Terms and Conditions link.
The END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR NETGEAR Cloud Management Platform page displays.
b.
Scroll through and read the agreement, and if you agree, click the Agree button.
The page closes and the Create Account page displays again.
6.
Click the Create Account button.
The Welcome to Business Central! message displays and an email message is sent to the email address that you specified.
7.
Go to your email inbox and open the email message.
8.
Click the Activate Account button in the email message.
The application login page displays again and shows the message Email Confirmed. Please log in.Your
email address and password are entered automatically.
9.
To log in to the application, click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
Remove a Manager, Customer, or Clerk From an Account
You can remove a manager, customer, or clerk (referred to as collaborators) from an account if his or her involvement is no longer required.
To remove a collaborator from an account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
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The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
5.
For the license account for which you want to remove a collaborator, click the Collaborators tab.
Any existing collaborators for the license account display. (An owner of a license account is not a collaborator.)
6.
To the right of the collaborator that you want to remove, click the x.
The collaborator is removed and can no longer log in to the BCWM.
Change the Name for an Account
You can change the name for an account that you added.
Note
The default name for a trial license account is My First Account. You cannot change that name until you purchase a license and add it to the account.
To change the name for a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
5.
For the license account for which you want to change the name, click the edit icon .
The name becomes editable.
6.
Enter a new name in the field.
7.
Click the green check icon.
Your settings are saved.
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Remove an Account
If absolutely required, you can remove a license account that you no longer need.
WARNING:
Deleting a license account is a serious operation! All licenses that you added to this account will be lost and the remaining balance of unused credits will be forfeited.
Locations that were added to the account are not deleted but can be added to another account. However, collaborator accounts are deleted.
Rather than entirely removing an account to which you added licenses, alternate solutions exist. Consider a situation in which a managed service provider (MSP) services a customer for which a license account exists and for which the MSP added a license, a location, and a collaborator. If the customers decides to stop service, rather than entirely removing the license account, the MSP can do the following:
•
The MSP removes the customer as a collaborator from the license account.
•
The MSP removes the customer’s location (and customer’s access points) from the license account.
Until the MSP decides to add a new customer and location to the license account, the license account remains idle an no license credits are used. In this way, the license account does not need to be removed and no unused credits are forfeited.
To remove a license account:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Accounts.
The Accounts page displays the license accounts. If you did not create a license account, only the default license account displays.
5.
To the right in the pane of the license account that you want to remove, click the x.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
6.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The license account is removed.
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Change Your Account Email Address and Password
Your account settings include the email address and password to access the BCWM.You can change these settings.
To change your account email address and password:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the upper right of the page, click the menu with your name, and select Account Settings.
The Accounts Settings page displays.
5.
Change the settings as needed:
•
Current Password. To make any changes on the page, enter your current password.
To make the passwords on the page visible, click the Show Passwords button.
•
New Email Address. To change your current email address, enter a new email address.
•
New Password. To change your current password, enter a new password.
•
Confirm New Password. If you are changing your password, repeat the new password.
6.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.
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Monitor Your Locations, Networks, and
Devices
7
You can view summary and detailed information about all locations and about individual locations, WiFi networks, and devices that you manage under your account, including real-time and historical information, performance statistics, and traffic usage.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
Overview of the Monitoring Options
on page 100
•
View Alarms for Your Account, Claim Alarms, and Resolve Alarms
•
Set Up Email Notification Profiles for License Accounts and Locations
•
Change or Remove an Email Notification Profile
on page 106
•
View the Status of All Locations and Devices Under Your Account
•
on page 110
•
Monitor a Single WiFi Network at a Location
on page 119
•
Monitor a Single Device at a Location
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Overview of the Monitoring Options
The monitoring options of the application let you view the status of your WiFi networks and devices for all locations and for a specific location, WiFi network, and device. You can also view, claim, and resolve alarms for all locations or for a specific location and device. The following table shows the monitoring options, each of which is described in detail in this chapter.
Table 3. Monitoring options
Component and Drill Down
View the Status of All Locations and Devices Under Your Account
•
Device status (Online, Offline, Waiting, and Upgrading) for all locations
•
Alarm status (critical alarms and noncritical alarms) for all locations
•
Critical alarms for all locations
•
Location map for all locations
Single Location
Usage (See
•
Number of connected clients
•
Total network usage
•
Usage per wireless network
•
Usage per radio band
Health (See
View the Status of Devices at a Location
on page 112.)
•
Device status (Online, Offline, Waiting, and Upgrading)
•
Alarm status (critical alarms and noncritical alarms)
•
Critical alarms
Neighborhood (See
View Neighbor and Rogue Access Points at a Location
114.)
•
Number of neighbor access points
•
Number of rogue access points
View Clients Connected at a Location
on page 116.)
Event logs (See
View the Event Logs for a Location
on page 117.)
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Table 3. Monitoring options (Continued)
Component and Drill Down
Wireless networks WiFi networks assigned to the location
Single wireless network
Usage (See
on page 119.)
•
Number of connected clients
•
Wireless network usage
Devices
Single device
View Clients Connected to a WiFi Network
on page 121.)
Event logs (See
View the Event Logs for a WiFi Network
Devices assigned to the location
Usage (See
on page 126.)
•
Number of connected clients
•
Average wireless usage over time per wireless network
•
Average wireless usage over time per radio
View Clients Connected to a Device
on page 127.)
View Alarms for a Device, Claim Alarms, and Resolve Alarms
128.)
Event logs (See
View the Event Logs for a Device
View Alarms for Your Account, Claim Alarms, and Resolve
Alarms
You can view the alarms table for your account and filter the table by time, location, and whether or not alarms were claimed. You can also claim and resolve alarms.
Claiming or resolving an alarm means the following:
•
Claim an alarm. You take responsibility for the alarm and can add an optional note. Others can open the pop-up window for the alarm and view the note. The alarm remains in the alarms table and the
Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
•
Resolve an alarm. You mark the alarm as resolved and can add an optional resolution note. (A future release will support historical alarm tables in which you can view the resolution notes.) The alarm is removed from the alarms table.
Alarms are classified in four categories or severity levels: Critical (for example, a device disconnected),
Major (for example, a device command failure occurred), Minor (for example, a device rebooted), and Info
(for example, a device reconnected).
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To view the alarms for your account, filter the alarms table, claim or resolve alarms, copy alarm table entries, or download the entire alarm table:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the top menu bar next to your name on the right, click the bell icon.
The total number of alarms for your account is stated next to the bell icon.
The table is sorted by the time the alarm occurred.You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
5.
To filter the alarms by type of user account, in the Role menu, select owner, manager, or customer.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Alarms page.
6.
To filter the alarms table by time, in the Filter by Time menu, select Last Hour, Last 24 Hours, or Last
72 Hours.
By default, the selection is All Time.
7.
To filter the alarms table by location, in the Filter by Location menu, select the location.
You can also search for a location. By default, the selection is All (locations).
8.
To filter alarms by severity level, in the Filter by Level menu, select All, Info, Minor, Major, or Critical.
By default, alarms of all severity levels (All) are displayed.
9.
To filter the table by claimed or unclaimed alarms, in the Filter by Claimed menu, select Claimed or
Unclaimed.
By default, the selection is All (alarms).
10.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
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11.
To claims alarms, do the following:
To claim a single alarm, do the following:
a.
Click the alarm row in the table.
b.
In the Optional notes field, enter a message for management purposes only.
c.
Click the Claim button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
To claim several or all alarms simultaneously, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select groups of entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the Claim button above the table.
A pop-up window opens.
c.
Enter an optional message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Claim button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The Claimed by fields in the table shows your email address.
12.
To resolve alarms, do the following:
To resolve a single alarm, do the following:
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Click the alarm row in the table.
The previous figure shows a claimed alarm. If the alarm was not claimed, the pop-up window would show both the Claim and Resolve buttons.
b.
In the Resolution message field, enter a message for management purposes only.
c.
Click the Resolve button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The alarm is removed from the table.
To resolve several or all alarms simultaneously, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select groups of entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the Resolve button above the table.
A pop-up window opens.
c.
Enter an optional message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Resolve button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The alarms are removed from the table.
13.
To copy some or all of the table entries, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select multiple entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the copy icon ( , the leftmost icon).
The selected entries are placed on the Clipboard.
14.
To download the entire table as a CSV file, do the following:
a.
Click the download icon ( , the rightmost icon).
A pop-up window opens.
b.
Navigate to a location and save the file.
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Set Up Email Notification Profiles for License Accounts and Locations
You can set up multiple email notification profiles that allow you to receive alarms that occur for specific license accounts, locations, or both.
To set up an email notification profile:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Notifications.
The Notifications page displays.
5.
Click the + New button.
6.
In the Contact Name field, enter your name.
7.
In the Email Address field, enter the email address at which you want to receive notifications.
8.
From the Notify On menu, select the severity levels of the alarms for which you want to be notified:
•
All Alarms. This is the default setting.
•
Minor, Major, and Critical Alarms.
•
Major & Critical Alarms.
•
Critical Alarms Only.
9.
Select the check boxes for the license accounts and locations for which you want to receive notifications.
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To receive notifications for all license accounts or all locations, select the check box in a table heading.
10.
Click the Save button.
The email notification profile is saved and you start to receive email messages when alarms occur.
Change or Remove an Email Notification Profile
You can change or remove an email notification profile. However, you cannot select which types of alarms you will receive notifications for.
To change or remove an email notification profile:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Notifications.
5.
Select the check box for a contact name.
6.
To change an email notification profile, do the following:
a.
Click the Edit button.
The Edit Notification page displays
b.
Make the changes as needed.
c.
Click the Save button.
7.
To delete an email notification profile, do the following:
a.
Click the Delete button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
b.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The email notification profile is removed.
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View the Status of All Locations and Devices Under Your
Account
To give you a high-level overview of the status of all locations and devices under your account, you can monitor the following components for all locations together:
•
Device status (Online, Offline, Waiting, and Upgrading)
•
Alarm status (critical alarms and noncritical alarms)
•
List of critical alarms for all locations
•
Location map
Claiming or resolving an alarm means the following:
•
Claim an alarm. You take responsibility for the alarm and can add an optional note. Others can open the pop-up window for the alarm and view the note. The alarm remains in the alarms table and the
Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
•
Resolve an alarm. You mark the alarm as resolved and can add an optional resolution note. (A future release will support historical alarm tables in which you can view the resolution notes.) The alarm is removed from the alarms table.
To view the status of all locations and networks under your account, claim an alarm, or resolve an alarm:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
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4.
At the very top of the Locations tree on the left, make sure that All is selected.
5.
Drill down for more detailed information as explained in the following table.
Component
Device Status
Alarm Status
Information
The total number of devices that are managed under the BCWM account is stated.
Click the Online, Offline, Waiting, or Upgrading tab to view a list of devices. Devices that are offline, waiting, or upgrading cannot broadcast WiFi networks.
In the list of devices, click a device to view detailed information about the device. For more
Monitor a Single Device at a Location
on page 125.
The total number of alarms for devices that are managed under the BCWM account is stated.
Click the Critical Alarms or Non-Critical Alarms tab to view a list of alarms.
In the list of alarms, scroll down to view more alarms. Click an alarm to view more information about the alarm, claim the alarm (see Step 6), or resolve the alarm (see Step 7).
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(Continued)
Component
Critical Alarms
Information
The total number of critical alarms for devices that are managed under the BCWM account is stated.
View the same list of alarms and scroll down to view more alarms. Click an alarm to view more information about the alarm, claim the alarm (see Step 6), or resolve the alarm (see Step 7).
Location Map The total number of locations that are managed under the BCWM account is stated.
Each location is indicated by a marker. A green marker indicates that all devices at the location are up. A red marker indicates that one or more devices at the location are down.
Click a marker to open a pop-up window with information. Click the location link in the pop-up
window to view information about the location. For more information, see
6.
To claim an alarm, do the following:
a.
Select the check box for the alarm.
b.
Click the Claim button.
c.
In the Optional notes field, enter a message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Claim button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
7.
To resolve an alarm, do the following:
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Select the check box for the alarm.
b.
Click the Resolve button.
c.
In the Resolution message field, enter a message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Resolve button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The alarm is removed from the table.
Monitor a Single Location
You can the monitor the following components for a single location:
•
Usage. Number of connected clients, total WiFi network usage, usage per WiFi network, and usage per radio band.
•
Health. Device status, alarms status, and critical alarms.
View the Status of Devices at a Location
on page 112.
•
Neighborhood. Number of neighbor access points and number of rogue access points.
View Neighbor and Rogue Access Points at a Location
•
Connected clients. Details about connected clients.
View Clients Connected at a Location
on page 116.
•
Event logs. Details about events that occurred.
View the Event Logs for a Location
on page 117.
View WiFi Usage at a Location
You can view the WiFi usage for a location, broken out into the following components:
•
Number of connected clients at the entire location
•
Total WiFi network usage at the entire location
•
Usage per WiFi network
•
Usage per radio band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
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To view WiFi usage at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click a location.
By default, the Usage tab is selected.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
5.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
6.
To view information for a previous or following period (that is, hour, day, week, or month), click the Older button on the left or the Newer button on the right until you find the period for which you want to view information.
7.
To see more information, point to a graph.
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View the Status of Devices at a Location
You can view the status of devices (also referred to as the health status) at a location, broken out into the following components:
•
Device status (Online, Offline, Waiting, and Upgrading)
•
Alarm status (critical alarms and noncritical alarms)
•
List of critical alarms
Claiming or resolving an alarm means the following:
•
Claim an alarm. You take responsibility for the alarm and can add an optional note. Others can open the pop-up window for the alarm and view the note. The alarm remains in the alarms table and the
Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
•
Resolve an alarm. You mark the alarm as resolved and can add an optional resolution note. (A future release will support historical alarm tables in which you can view the resolution notes.) The alarm is removed from the alarms table.
To view the status of devices at a location, claim an alarm, or resolve an alarm:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
5.
Click the Health tab.
6.
Drill down for more detailed information as explained in the following table.
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Component
Device Status
Alarm Status
Critical Alarms
Information
The total number of devices that are managed at the location is stated.
Click the Online, Offline, Waiting, or Upgrading tab to view a list of devices. Devices that are offline, waiting, or upgrading cannot broadcast WiFi networks.
In the list of devices, click a device to view detailed information about the device. For more
Monitor a Single Device at a Location
on page 125.
The total number of alarms for devices at the location is stated.
Click the Critical Alarms or Non-Critical Alarms tab to view a list of alarms.
In the list of alarms, scroll down to view more alarms. Click an alarm to view more information about the alarm, claim the alarm (see Step 7), or resolve the alarm (see Step 8).
The total number of critical alarms for devices at the location is stated.
View the same list of alarms and scroll down to view more alarms. Click an alarm to view more information about the alarm, claim the alarm (see Step 7), or resolve the alarm (see Step 8).
7.
To claim an alarm, do the following:
a.
Select the check box for the alarm.
b.
Click the Claim button.
c.
In the Optional notes field, enter a message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Claim button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
8.
To resolve an alarm, do the following:
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Select the check box for the alarm.
b.
Click the Resolve button.
c.
In the Resolution message field, enter a message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Resolve button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The alarm is removed from the table.
View Neighbor and Rogue Access Points at a Location
You can view the details about neighbor and rogue access points at a location:
•
Neighbor access point. An access point that is not cloud managed and that is a known or access point that is broadcasting a managed SSID or an unknown access point that is broadcasting an SSID.
•
Rogue access point. An access point that is not cloud managed and that is broadcasting an SSID that is identical to the SSID of a cloud-managed access point. This type of rogue access point is also referred to as an evil twin.
You can mark an unknown neighbor access point or a rogue access point as a known access point.
An access point that is cloud managed at the location is automatically marked as known.
To view neighbor and rogue access points at a location and mark an unknown neighbor access point or a rogue access point as a known access point:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
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5.
Click the Neighborhood tab.
•
•
•
•
By default, the Hour button is selected.
The number of neighbor access points and the number of rogue access points, if any, are stated.
The table is sorted by the time the access point was last detected. You can resort the table by clicking a column heading. The labels in the Type column mean the following:
A rogue access point (none are shown in the previous figure).
An unknown access point.
A known access point that is cloud managed and that was automatically marked as known.
A known access point that was manually marked as known.
6.
To view more table columns, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
7.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
8.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
9.
To see more information, point to the graph.
10.
To mark one or more unknown or rogue access point as known access points, do the following:
a.
Select the check boxes for the access points.
To select all unknown and rogue access points, select the check box in the table heading.
b.
Click the Mark as Known button.
The label in the Type column changes from or to .
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View Clients Connected at a Location
You can view details about clients that are connected to the WiFi networks at a location. You can filter the information and search by client MAC address.
To view details about clients that are connected to the WiFi networks at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
5.
Click the Connected Clients tab.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
The table is sorted by the time the client was last detected.You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
6.
To view more table columns, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
7.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
8.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
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9.
To search and filter the table, take one of the following actions:
•
To search for a client by MAC address, do the following:
a.
Click the drop-down button next to All.
A pop-up window opens.
b.
In the Search field in the pop-up window, enter the MAC address or part of a MAC address of a client.
c.
Select the check box next to the client MAC address.
The information in the table is limited to the selected client.
•
To filter the table and show a selected client only, select the check box next to the client MAC address.
You can repeat this action and add another selected client to the table.
10.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
View the Event Logs for a Location
You can view the logs for events that occur on devices at a location. You can filter the information, search the events log, copy all or selected entries, and download the entire events log as a CSV file.
To view the event logs for a location, copy entries, or download the entire events log:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
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5.
Click the Event Logs tab.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
The table is sorted by the time the event occurred.You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
6.
To view more of the Message column, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
7.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
8.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
9.
To search and filter the table, take one of the following actions:
•
To search by client MAC address, in the Client MAC Address field, enter the MAC address of the client.
The information in the table is limited to the selected client.
•
To search for a term in the message text, in the Search field, enter the term, IP address, or MAC address.
All occurrences of the term or address are highlighted in the table.
•
To search for an access point serial number, name, or part of a serial number or name, do the following:
a.
Click the drop-down button next to All.
A pop-up window opens.
b.
In the Search field in the pop-up window, enter the access point serial number, name, or part of the serial number or name.
c.
Select the check box next to the access point serial number and name.
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The information in the table is limited to the selected access point.
•
To filter the table and show a selected access point only, select the check box next to the access point serial number and name.
You can repeat this action and add another selected access point to the table.
10.
To copy some or all of the table entries, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select multiple entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the copy icon ( , the leftmost icon).
The selected entries are placed on the Clipboard.
11.
To download the entire table as a CSV file, do the following:
a.
Click the download icon ( , the rightmost icon).
A pop-up window opens.
b.
Navigate to a location and save the file.
12.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
Monitor a Single WiFi Network at a Location
You can the monitor the following components for a single WiFi network at a location:
•
Usage. Number of connected clients and WiFi network usage.
on page 119.
•
Connected clients. Details about connected clients.
View Clients Connected to a WiFi Network
on page 121.
•
Event logs. Details about events that occurred.
View the Event Logs for a WiFi Network
•
Captive portal (CP) sessions. Details about clients that are connected to a captive portal.
on page 124.
View Usage of a WiFi Network
You can view the usage of a WiFi network at a location, broken out into the following components:
•
Number of connected clients
•
WiFi network usage
To view usage of a WiFi network:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
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The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Wireless Networks.
The Monitoring page displays any existing WiFi networks.
6.
Select the WiFi network.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays. If you configured a captive portal on the WiFi network, the page also displays the CP Sessions tab (not shown in the following figure), which lets you monitor active captive portal sessions.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
7.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
8.
To view information for a previous or following period (that is, hour, day, week, or month), click the Older button on the left or the Newer button on the right until you find the period for which you want to view information.
9.
To see more information, point to a graph.
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View Clients Connected to a WiFi Network
You can view details about clients that are connected to a WiFi network at a location. You can filter the information and search by client MAC address.
To view details about clients that are connected to a WiFi network:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Wireless Networks.
The Monitoring page displays any existing WiFi networks.
6.
Select the WiFi network.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays. If you configured a captive portal on the WiFi network, the page also displays the CP Sessions tab (not shown in the following figure), which lets you monitor active captive portal sessions.
7.
Click the Connected Clients tab.
By default, the Hour button is selected. The table is sorted by the time the client was last detected. You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
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8.
To view more table columns, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
9.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
10.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
11.
To search and filter the table, take one of the following actions:
•
To search for a client by MAC address, do the following:
a.
Click the drop-down button next to All.
A pop-up window opens.
b.
In the Search field in the pop-up window, enter the MAC address or part of the MAC address of the client.
c.
Select the check box next to the client MAC address.
The information in the table is limited to the selected client.
•
To filter the table and show a selected client only, select the check box next to the client MAC address.
You can repeat this action and add another selected client to the table.
12.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
View the Event Logs for a WiFi Network
You can view the logs for events that occur on a WiFi network at a location. You can filter the information, search the events log, copy all or selected entries, and download the entire events log as a CSV file.
To view the event logs for a WiFi network, copy entries, or download the entire events log:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Wireless Networks.
The Monitoring page displays any existing WiFi networks.
6.
Select the WiFi network.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays. If you configured a captive portal on the WiFi network, the page also displays the CP Sessions tab (not shown in the following figure), which lets you monitor active captive portal sessions.
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7.
Click the Event Logs tab.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
The table is sorted by the time the event occurred.You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
8.
To view more of the Message column, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
9.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
10.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
11.
To search and filter the table, take one of the following actions:
•
To search by client MAC address, in the Client MAC Address field, enter the MAC address of the client.
The information in the table is limited to the selected client.
•
To search for a term in the message text, in the Search field, enter the term, IP address, or MAC address.
All occurrences of the term or address are highlighted in the table.
•
To search for an access point serial number, name, or part of a serial number or name, do the following:
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Click the drop-down button next to All.
A pop-up window opens.
b.
In the Search field in the pop-up window, enter the access point serial number, name, or part of the serial number or name.
c.
Select the check box next to the access point serial number and name.
The information in the table is limited to the selected access point.
•
To filter the table and show a selected access point only, select the check box next to the access point serial number and name.
You can repeat this action and add another selected access point to the table.
12.
To copy some or all of the table entries, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select multiple entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the copy icon ( , the leftmost icon).
The selected entries are placed on the Clipboard.
13.
To download the entire table as a CSV file, do the following:
a.
Click the download icon ( , the rightmost icon).
A pop-up window opens.
b.
Navigate to a location and save the file.
14.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
View Captive Portal Sessions
If you configured a captive portal on a WiFi network, you can view information about active client sessions, if any exist. You can download the client session table as a CSV file.
To view information about active client sessions or the client session table for a captive portal on a WiFi network:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Wireless Networks.
The Monitoring page displays any existing WiFi networks.
6.
Select the WiFi network.
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By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
7.
Click the CP Sessions tab.
By default, the Day button is selected. (The previous figure shows the Month button selected.)
The table is sorted by the start time of the captive portal sessions. You can resort the table by clicking a column heading. The information that is displayed in the table depends on the nature of the captive portal (offering free access or paid-for access with a voucher).
8.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
9.
To view information for a different period, click the Hour, Week, or Month button.
10.
To download the client session table as a CSV file, do the following:
a.
Click the download icon to the left of the Refresh button.
A pop-up window opens.
b.
Navigate to a location and save the file.
11.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
Monitor a Single Device at a Location
You can the monitor the following components for a single device at a location:
•
Usage. Number of connected clients, average WiFi usage per WiFi network, and average WiFi usage per radio.
•
Connected clients. Details about connected clients.
View Clients Connected to a Device
on page 127.
•
Alarms. Details about alarms that occurred.
View Alarms for a Device, Claim Alarms, and Resolve Alarms
on page 128.
•
Event logs. Details about events that occurred.
View the Event Logs for a Device
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View WiFi Usage on a Device
You can view the WiFi usage on a device, broken out into the following components:
•
Number of connected clients
•
Average WiFi usage over time per WiFi network
•
Average WiFi usage over time per radio
To view usage of a WiFi network:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Devices.
The Monitoring page displays any existing devices.
6.
Select the device.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
7.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
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8.
To view information for a previous or following period (that is, hour, day, week, or month), click the Older button on the left or the Newer button on the right until you find the period for which you want to view information.
9.
To see more information, point to a graph.
View Clients Connected to a Device
You can view details about clients that are connected to a device at a location. You can filter the information and search by client MAC address.
To view details about clients that are connected to a device:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Devices.
The Monitoring page displays any existing devices.
6.
Select the device.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
7.
Click the Connected Clients tab.
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By default, the Hour button is selected. The table is sorted by the time the client was last detected. You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
8.
To view more table columns, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
9.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
10.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
11.
To search and filter the table, take one of the following actions:
•
To search for a client by MAC address, do the following:
a.
Click the drop-down button next to All.
A pop-up window opens.
b.
In the Search field in the pop-up window, enter the MAC address or part of the MAC address of the client.
c.
Select the check box next to the client MAC address.
The information in the table is limited to the selected client.
•
To filter the table and show a selected client only, select the check box next to the client MAC address.
You can repeat this action and add another selected client to the table.
12.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
View Alarms for a Device, Claim Alarms, and Resolve Alarms
You can view the alarms that occur on a device at a location. You can claim an alarm, mark an alarm as resolved, copy all or selected alarms, and download the entire alarm list as a CSV file.
Claiming or resolving an alarm means the following:
•
Claim an alarm. You take responsibility for the alarm and can add an optional note. Others can open the pop-up window for the alarm and view the note. The alarm remains in the alarms table and the
Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
•
Resolve an alarm. You mark the alarm as resolved and can add an optional resolution note. (A future release will support historical alarm tables in which you can view the resolution notes.) The alarm is removed from the alarms table.
Alarms are classified in four categories or severity levels: Critical (for example, a device disconnected),
Major (for example, a device command failure occurred), Minor (for example, a device rebooted), and Info
(for example, a device reconnected).
To view the alarms for a device, claim or resolve alarms, copy alarm table entries, or download the entire alarm table:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
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3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Devices.
The Monitoring page displays any existing devices.
6.
Select the device.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
7.
Click the Alarms tab.
The table is sorted by the time the alarm occurred.You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
8.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
9.
To claims alarms, do the following:
To claim a single alarm, do the following:
a.
Click the alarm row in the table.
b.
In the Optional notes field, enter a message for management purposes only.
c.
Click the Claim button in the pop-up window.
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The pop-up window closes. The Claimed by field in the table shows your email address.
To claim several or all alarms simultaneously, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select groups of entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the Claim button above the table.
A pop-up window opens.
c.
Enter an optional message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Claim button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The Claimed by fields in the table shows your email address.
10.
To resolve alarms, do the following:
To resolve a single alarm, do the following:
a.
Click the alarm row in the table.
The previous figure shows a claimed alarm. If the alarm was not claimed, the pop-up window would show both the Claim and Resolve buttons.
b.
In the Resolution message field, enter a message for management purposes only.
c.
Click the Resolve button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The alarm is removed from the table.
To resolve several or all alarms simultaneously, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select groups of entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the Resolve button above the table.
A pop-up window opens.
c.
Enter an optional message for management purposes only.
d.
Click the Resolve button in the pop-up window.
The pop-up window closes. The alarms are removed from the table.
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11.
To copy some or all of the table entries, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select multiple entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the copy icon ( , the leftmost icon).
The selected entries are placed on the Clipboard.
12.
To download the entire table as a CSV file, do the following:
a.
Click the download icon ( , the rightmost icon).
A pop-up window opens.
b.
Navigate to a location and save the file.
View the Event Logs for a Device
You can view the logs for events that occur on a device at a location. You can search the events log, copy all or selected entries, and download the entire events log as a CSV file.
To view the event logs for a device, copy entries, or download the entire events log:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
In the Locations tree on the left, click the location.
5.
In the Locations tree, click Devices.
The Monitoring page displays any existing devices.
6.
Select the device.
By default, the Usage tab is selected and WiFi usage information displays.
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7.
Click the Event Logs tab.
By default, the Hour button is selected.
The table is sorted by the time the event occurred.You can resort the table by clicking a column heading.
8.
To view more of the Message column, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the bottom of the table to the right.
9.
To view more table rows, point to the table and move the gray pop-up slider at the right of the table to the bottom.
10.
To view information for a different period, click the Day, Week, or Month button.
11.
To search the table, take one of the following actions:
•
To search by client MAC address, in the Client MAC Address field, enter the MAC address of the client.
The information in the table is limited to the selected client.
•
To search for a term in the message text, in the Search field, enter the term, IP address, or MAC address.
All occurrences of the term or address are highlighted in the table.
12.
To copy some or all of the table entries, do the following:
a.
Select one table entry, use the Shift and Ctrl keyboard keys to select multiple entries, or click the toggle icon ( , the middle icon) to select all entries.
b.
Click the copy icon ( , the leftmost icon).
The selected entries are placed on the Clipboard.
13.
To download the entire table as a CSV file, do the following:
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Click the download icon ( , the rightmost icon).
A pop-up window opens.
b.
Navigate to a location and save the file.
14.
For a large table, move through the table by clicking a page number button at the bottom right.
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Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
This chapter provides diagnostics and troubleshooting information.
The chapter includes the following sections:
•
Download the Diagnostics File for an Access Point
•
Troubleshooting a WiFi Network
8
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Download the Diagnostics File for an Access Point
You can download the diagnostics file for an access point. If connectivity issues occur with the access point, analyzing the file might help you or NETGEAR support to find a solution.
To add or change building and floor labels for an access point at a location:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
For the device for which you want to download the diagnostics file, click the gear icon, and select
Download Diagnostics.
The application retrieves the diagnostics file of the access point.
Depending on your browser settings a window might open or another action might occur.
8.
Save the diagnostics file to your computer.
The name of the file includes the serial number of the access point and the date. The file extension is
.tar.gx
. An example is
244244N44001A_2016-02-15T23-44-18-4.tar.gz
.
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Troubleshooting a WiFi Network
If a WiFi network does not broadcast at a location, check the following:
1.
Did you add the location to which you added the WiFi network (and one or more access points) to a license account with an active license? If the account is unlicensed, the access points remain in the unlicensed state, preventing the WiFi network from coming up.
For more information, see the following sections:
•
View the Access Point Inventory and Connection Status in the Application
on page 145
•
2.
Is any access point connected and active at the location?
For more information, see the following sections:
•
View the Access Point Inventory and Connection Status in the Application
on page 145
•
View the Cloud Connection and Activity Status on a Cloud-Enabled Access Point
3.
Is broadcast of the WiFi network disabled because a radio on/off broadcast schedule turned off the broadcast?
Set Up or Change a Radio On/Off Broadcast Schedule for a WiFi Network
on page 62.
4.
Is the SSID of the WiFi network being broadcast or is it hidden?
Change the Broadcast, Advertisement, and VLAN Settings for a WiFi Network
on page 48.
5.
Does the event log for the WiFi network indicate a specific reason why the WiFi network does not broadcast?
View the Event Logs for a WiFi Network
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136
Manage Vouchers With a Clerk User
Account
A
If you are assigned a clerk user account, you can sell, generate, and view the status of vouchers for a paid-for captive portal.
For information about signing up for a clerk account after you received an invitation email, see
Accept an Invitation and Sign Up for and Activate a Manager, Customer, or Clerk Account
on page 93.
This appendix includes the following sections:
•
Sell, Generate, and Print a Voucher
•
View the Status of Vouchers and Download All Vouchers
on page 141
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Sell, Generate, and Print a Voucher
As a clerk, you can sell a voucher, email it to the customer, and print it. You can also set the duration of the voucher and specify whether the expiration time of the voucher must be enforced.
As a clerk, you cannot change the price of a time unit (minute, hour, day, or week) for a voucher, nor can you specify whether usage time is being deducted only while the customer is connected to the WiFi network or regardless of the connectiom status. These settings are defined by the owner, manager, or customer of the location where the WiFi network with its captive portal is set up.
To sell, generate, and print a voucher:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
7.
In the Locations tree, click the WiFi network.
You can also click the tab for the WiFi network. If a WiFi network is a captive portal, the tab states
Captive Portal under the network name.
The settings page for the WiFi network displays. With a clerk user account, you can only view these settings, not modify them.
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8.
Click the Vouchers tab.
By default, the page shows the voucher table with vouchers that were sold during the past hour. You can click the Day, Week, or Month button to display vouchers that were sold during that period. If no vouchers were sold, the page does not show any.
9.
Click the Sell Vouchers button.
10.
Configure the settings as described in the following table.
Setting Description
Customer Name Enter the name of the customer.
Customer Email Enter the email address of the customer.
Send Vouchers to
Customer Email
To send the voucher to the customer email address, select the Send Vouchers to Customer
Email check box.
When you click the Save button, the email is sent.
Time Unit From the menu, select the time unit (minute, hour, day, or week).
The voucher cost is nonconfigurable on this page and is automatically adjusted, depending on the time unit selected.
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(Continued)
Setting
Duration
Number of
Vouchers
Description
Enter or specify the period that is associated with the unit of time.
Enter the number of vouchers that you are selling to the customer.
11.
If the voucher must expire on a particular day and time (which does not need to coincide with the duration of the voucher), do the following:
a.
Select the Force Expiration check box.
The Voucher Expires At field becomes available.
b.
Click the Voucher Expires At field.
A pop-up window displays a monthly calendar.
c.
Select the month and day on which the voucher must expire.
d.
Click the clock icon at the bottom of the pop-up window.
The pop-up window changes and displays options to specify a time.
e.
Specify the time at which the voucher must expire.
f.
To close the pop-up window, click the x icon in the pop-up window.
You can also return to the calendar by clicking the calendar icon at the top of the pop-up window.
12.
Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved. The voucher is added to the voucher table and, if you specified so, sent to the email address of the customer.
13.
To print one or more vouchers, do the following:
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Select the vouchers by clicking their table rows.
The selected table vouchers are highlighted. (The previous figure shows only a single voucher selected.)
b.
Click the print icon to the left of the Sell Vouchers button.
c.
In the pop-up window, click the Print button.
Depending on your local printing configuration, the vouchers are printed.
View the Status of Vouchers and Download All Vouchers
As a clerk, you can view the status of sold vouchers and download all vouchers as a CSV file.
To view the status of vouchers and download all vouchers:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Wireless Networks.
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7.
In the Locations tree, click the WiFi network.
You can also click the tab for the WiFi network. If a WiFi network is a captive portal, the tab states
Captive Portal under the network name.
The settings page for the WiFi network displays. With a clerk user account, you can only view these settings, not modify them.
8.
Click the Vouchers tab.
By default, the page shows the voucher table with vouchers that were sold during the past hour. You can click the Day, Week, or Month button to display vouchers that were sold during that period. If no vouchers were sold, the page does not show any.
The following table describes the nonconfigurable information in the voucher table.
Setting
Created
Customer Name
Customer Email
Code
Status
Start Time
Expiry Time
Duration
Description
The time at which the voucher was created (sold).
The name of the customer.
The email address of the customer.
The voucher code with which the customer can gain access to to the WiFi network.
The status of the voucher (Created, Activated, or Expired).
The time at which the voucher was activated by the customer.
The time at which the voucher expires or expired.
The period that is associated with the unit of time for the voucher.
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(Continued)
Setting
Remaining
Cost
Description
The remaining time balance on the voucher.
The total cost of the voucher.
9.
To download all vouchers as a CSV file, do the following:
a.
Click the download icon to the left of the Sell Voucher button.
b.
Follow the directions of your browser to download and save the CSV file.
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Cloud-Managed Access Points
This appendix includes the following sections:
•
View the Access Point Inventory and Connection Status in the Application
on page 145
•
View the Cloud Connection and Activity Status on a Cloud-Enabled Access Point
•
How the Configuration of a Cloud-Managed Access Point Can Be Changed
on page 148
•
Convert an Access Point From Cloud-Managed to Standalone
Note
For information about preparing your NETGEAR WiFi access points for cloud management, see the NETGEAR Business Central Wireless Manager How to Start Guide, which you can download from
downloadcenter.netgear.com
.
The following sections also provide information about access points:
•
Compatible NETGEAR WiFi Access Points
on page 16
•
Definitions of Access Point Terms
on page 17
B
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View the Access Point Inventory and Connection Status in the Application
The access point status is the cloud-management state of the access point in the application. The status is made up of two components:
•
Inventory status. The inventory status can be one of the following:
-
Active. The access point is connected to the application and is added to a location, and the location is assigned to a license account with an active license.
-
Provisioning. The access point is either cloud managed or in the process of becoming cloud managed while the application is pushing a configuration.
-
Upgrading. The access point is either cloud managed or in the process of becoming cloud managed while the application is pushing a firmware upgrade.
-
Rebooting. The access point is either cloud managed or in the process of becoming cloud managed and is rebooting after the application pushed a configuration or a firmware upgrade to the access point.
-
Unlicensed. Even though the access point is connected to the application, the access point is added to a location that is assigned to an unlicensed account. The access point does not become active until you add an active license to the account.
-
Decommissioning. The application is in the process of decommissioning the access point from a location.
-
Decommissioned. Even though the access point is connected to the application, the access point is not added to a location and is not active.
•
Connection status. The connection status can be one of the following:
-
Connected. The access point is connected to the application. However, this does not mean that the access point is active.
-
Disconnected. The access point was connected to the application but is now disconnected.
-
Waiting. The access point is added to a location and is waiting for a connection to the application.
-
Phoned home (and time indication). The access point is connected to the application but decommissioned (or undeployed).
To view the access point inventory and connection status in the application:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
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4.
Select Inventory.
Business Central Wireless Manager 2.1 Application
5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
The Inventory Status and Connection Status fields display the cloud-management states of the access points.
View the Cloud Connection and Activity Status on a
Cloud-Enabled Access Point
When an access point is cloud enabled, its web management interface is a restricted cloud management interface that shows the cloud connection status and cloud activity status.
To view the cloud connection and activity status on a cloud-enabled access point:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Configuration.
The Configuration page displays any existing locations.
5.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
6.
In the Locations tree, under the location, click Devices.
The Configuration page displays any existing access points.
7.
Select the access point.
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The Configuration page displays the access point details.
8.
Next to LAN IP Address, click the IP address, which is a hyperlink.
If your computer is on the same network as the access point, the login window for the access point opens. If it does not, try changing your browser settings.
If your computer is not on the same network as the access point, do the following:
a.
Access the network that the access point is part of.
b.
Open a browser on your computer.
c.
In the address bar, enter the IP address of the access point.
9.
Enter the user name and password.
Depending on your browser settings, the user name and password might be automatically entered. If they are not, the user name is admin and the password is specific to the location to which the access point is assigned.
If you do not know this password, do the following:
a.
In the Locations tree, click the location.
The Configuration page displays the settings for the selected location.
b.
Click the Device Credentials tab.
The Location-wide device credentials page displays.
c.
Click the show/hide password icon next to the password.
The password displays.
10.
Click the LOGIN button.
The General page displays. The web management interface is the restricted cloud management interface.
When the access point is cloud enabled, the web management interface can indicate the cloud activation status and cloud connectivity status for the access point as described in the following table.
Setting
Cloud Activation
Status
Pending
Description
The access point is not yet registered with the application and not yet cloud managed but is either waiting to be connected or in the process of being connected to the application.
If you reset an access point to the factory default state, the access point restarts in the Pending state.
Activated The access point is registered with the application and is cloud managed.
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(Continued)
Setting
Cloud Connectivity
Status
Connected
Description
The access point is registered with the application, cloud managed, connected to the Internet, and connected to the application.
Disconnected Although the access point is registered with the application and is cloud managed, it is disconnected from the application. This situation could occur when a cable is unplugged, the Internet connection is down, a gateway cannot be reached, a DNS name cannot be resolved, and so on.
If you reset an access point to the factory default state, the access point restarts in the Disconnected state.
How the Configuration of a Cloud-Managed Access Point
Can Be Changed
The configuration of a cloud-managed access point can be changed in the following ways:
•
BCWM application. The BCWM application can configure the access point settings but provides only a subset of the complete configurable settings of an access point.
•
Web management interface of the access point. When an access point is cloud managed, its web management is in restricted mode, allowing you to configure only a few select settings.
•
CLI through an SSH, Telnet, or console session to the access point. You can configure all access points settings through the CLI, using an SSH, Telnet, or console session to the access point (not all these access options are available on all access point models). However, when the BCWM application pushes a configuration to the access point (for example, after the access point restarts), all settings that you made through the CLI are overwritten and lost.
•
SNMP management station connected to the access point. You can configure all access point settings through SNMP commands from an SNMP management station that is connected to the access point. However, when the BCWM application pushes a configuration to the access point (for example, after the access point restarts), all settings that you made through SNMP commands are overwritten and lost.
Convert an Access Point From Cloud-Managed to
Standalone
You can convert an access point from a cloud-managed access point to a standalone access point. Once converted, the access point is running the same firmware version that was used for the cloud-managed mode but is now in standalone mode with a full rather than restricted web management interface.
To convert an access point from a cloud-managed access point to a standalone access point:
1.
Open a browser on your computer.
2.
In the address bar, enter https://bc.netgear.com.
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The application login page displays.
3.
Enter the email address and password for your BCWM and click the Login button.
The Monitoring page displays.
4.
Select Inventory.
5.
To filter the devices that are displayed in the table on the Inventory page, from the Role menu, select the type of user account (owner, manager, or customer) that is associated with the inventory that you want to display.
The Role menu is meaningful if you are assigned more than one user account. For example, you might be the owner of one location, manager for another location, and customer for a third location. The type of role determines the actions that are available to you on the Inventory page.
The table on the Inventory page displays the access points that are in inventory, whether active, decommissioned, or in the process of being provisioned or decommissioned.
6.
To limit the access points in the table to the decommissioned ones, from the Showing menu, select
Decommissioned.
The table on the Inventory page displays decommissioned access points only.
7.
Select the check boxes for the access points that you want to remove from inventory.
The Delete button becomes available.
8.
Click the Delete button.
A pop-up window opens and displays a warning.
9.
Click the Delete button in the pop-up window.
The access points are removed from inventory.
10.
Click the Dismiss button.
The pop-up window closes.
11.
Open a browser on your computer.
12.
In the address bar, enter the IP address of the access point.
By default, the access point functions as a DHCP client. If the access point is installed in a network that includes a DHCP server, the IP address of the access point is issued by the DHCP server.
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If the access point is not connected to a DHCP server or is accessible only over its default IP address, do the following:
a.
Change the IP address of your computer to an IP address in the 192.168.0.x subnet, which is the subnet in which the access point’s default IP address is located.
For example, change the computer’s IP address to 192.168.0.210.
b.
Connect your computer to the access point with an Ethernet cable.
c.
In the address bar of the browser, enter the default IP address of the access point:
•
WAC730. 192.168.0.100
•
WAC720. 192.168.0.100
•
WNDAP660. 192.168.0.100
•
WNDAP360. 192.168.0.100
•
WNDAP350. 192.168.0.237
•
WNAP320. 192.168.0.100
•
WNAP210v2. 192.168.0.236
A login window opens.
13.
Enter the user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.
14.
Click the LOGIN button.
If the Change Password page displays, go to Step 14.
If the General page displays, go to Step 15.
15.
If the Change Password page displays, specify a new password by doing the following:
a.
In the Current Password field, enter the existing password, which is the default password.
b.
In the New Password and Repeat New Password fields, specify the new password.
c.
Click the APPLY button.
A login window opens again.
d.
Enter the user name and new password.
The user name is admin. The new password is the one that you just specified.
e.
Click the LOGIN button.
The General page displays.
16.
On the General page, click the No radio button.
By default, the Yes radio button is selected, the access point is enabled for the cloud (even though it is disconnected from the cloud), and the access point functions with a restricted web management interface
(only the Configuration and Monitoring main menu tabs display).
17.
Click the APPLY button.
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The access point restarts with factory default settings but retains its IP configuration and management
VLAN.
CAUTION:
The access point broadcasts its default SSIDs and provides open networks without any security. If you do not want open networks, implement WiFi security or disable the radios.
The access point is now ready for standalone operation with a full web management interface. If you log back in to reconfigure the access point, the Change Password page might display again (because the access point was reset to factory default settings), in which case you once again must specify a new password.
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Technical Specifications
C
The following table lists the technical specifications of the application.
Table 4. Technical specifications
Item
System architecture and supported devices
Browser support
OS support
Management interface support
Language support
Specification
WiFi management as a service: Cloud hosted with an embedded agent on
NETGEAR cloud-managed access points
For information about the supported access point and required firmware versions,
Compatible NETGEAR WiFi Access Points
The desktop versions of the following browsers:
•
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or later
•
Mozilla Firefox 15 or later
•
Google Chrome 15 or later
•
Apple Safari 5 or later
•
Microsoft Edge 13 or later
Any OS with one of the supported browsers
Desktop web management interface
English
152
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Key Features
- Cloud-based management
- WiFi network and access point management
- Monitoring and reporting
- Access point licensing
- Voucher-based guest access
- Load balancing for access points
- Automatic radio frequency management
- Enhanced firmware upgrade management
- Improved alarm categorization and notification
