Cisco AP Modes

Most commonly deployed Cisco AP modes are –

Other AP modes include WGB, Mesh mode etc.

Local mode is the default mode in which Cisco AP operates.
Cisco APs are configured to be in local mode when the AP and WLC reside on the same LAN.
Clients can associate and send and receive traffic in this AP mode.
Cisco AP serving and scan radio can send and recieve in this mode.
All the traffic from the client is centrally switched (all client traffic goes from AP to WLC through the CAPWAP tunnel and then switched). Local switching is not used in this mode.

Cisco APs are mostly configured in Flexconnect mode when they are connecting to the WLC over the WAN instead of the LAN.
The biggest advantage of configuring an AP in this mode is to provide secured access to the corporate network and internet while being remote.
Client traffic in this mode can be switched centrally or locally. (Traffic intended to go to the corporate network is centrally switched which goes encrypted through the CAPWAP tunnel while internet traffic is locally switched)

Flexconnect OEAP Mode-

Only supported until Wi-Fi 6 APs, this mode is an extension of Flexconnect mode.
Apart from the capablities mentioned above under Flexconnect mode this mode gives additional ability to configure AP specific WLANs which can be configured from the AP GUI.
This mode typically enables users to use the remotely deployed AP as their home wireless router as well by allowing to configure a WLAN which assigns NAT’d IP addresses hence keeping blocking them to access any of the Corporate resources but complete internet access.

Cisco AP does not serve any clients in this mode.
It does not transmit any packets in this mode.
This mode enables the AP to listen to all Wi-Fi traffic on the channel configured on the AP. (on specific band)
This mode allows users to sniff and view Wi-Fi traffic on a particular channel using Wireshark.

Monitor Mode-

Cisco AP in this mode does not transmit instead acts as like a dedicated sensor.
It check Intrusion Detection system events, detects rogue devices and determines positions of wireless stations.

Related Blogs

Comprehensive Reads-

Cisco Configuration Guides-

Cisco Wireless Features-

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