Question: when a Cisco AP is called "lightweight"

[thomasdzubin]

Do the Cisco 1000 series (eg: 1010, 1020, and 1030) Lightweight Access Points need a separate controller box to operate?

(or can you set them up by pointing a web browser at them or something similar?)

I say yes, they do need a separate controller but a co-worker says no and since I'm a relatively newbie when it comes to wireless, I thought I would ask here.

[jakew]

Yes.

[Sushil Kumar Katre]

Hi Thomas,

Cisco Lightweight APs definitely need a Wireless LAN Controller to work.

They are called Lightweight Access Point because -

The amount of processing within an access point is reduced, enabling the limited computing resources within these devices to focus on wireless access, as opposed to filtering and policy enforcement

It enable a scheme whereby traffic handling, authentication, encryption, and policy enforcement (QoS, security, etc) can be centralized for an entire WLAN system which is Wireless LAN Controller in Cisco's portfolio.

Bare minimum configuration is stored on the AP, while majority of the configuration is pushed from the Controller.

These are also called THIN AP in generic term.

-> Sushil