SonicWave 600 Series Deployment Guide

Managing the SonicWave with a Firewall > Configuring the SonicWave Provisioning Profile
Table of Contents

Configuring the SonicWave Provisioning Profile

SonicWave provisioning profiles include all of the settings that can be configured on a SonicWave 600 (here 641) access point. The profile is then selected when you configure the wireless zone (WLAN by default). When your SonicWave 641 connects to that zone, it is automatically provisioned with the profile settings.

To configure the SonicWave provisioning profile

Perquisites

  • Ensure you have performed the RF site survey and planning before SonicWave deployment.

  • Ensure the two appliances have been registered in MySonicWall.

  1. Log into your SonicWall firewall as an administrator (default: admin / password).

  2. In SonicOS navigate to Device > Access Points > Settings > Access Point Objects.

    Initially no AP is listed .

  3. To create a new profile, select SonicWave Profile from the Add New Profile drop down list.

  4. In the General tab, the Enable option is activated by default.

    1. If adding a new profile, type a simple, descriptive name into the Name Prefix field to assist in identifying the SonicWave in this zone. This is the name of the provisioning profile. Each provisioned SonicWave is named with this prefix followed by a unique number. Optionally change the Name Prefix if editing the default SonicWave profile.
    2. Verify the Country Code for the area of operation.

    3. EAPOL Version v2 will provide better security however if we see unexpected replay counter then we can us EAPOL v1 which can be addressed by using v1.

    4. Accept the defaults or configure the remaining options as necessary.

  5. In the 5GHz Radio Basic tab, select Enable Radio. This is selected by default.

    1. Select a MODE or use the default.

    2. It is advised to keep the Enable DFS Channels disabled.

       

      • Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is a way for wireless local area networks (WLANs) to use the 5 GHz frequency band without causing problems for radar systems. It automatically picks a frequency that won't interfere with specific radar systems. When operating in the 5 GHz band, unlicensed devices can use DFS to find out if there are radar systems on the channel they want to use. If the radar level is too high, the device moves to a different channel to avoid causing trouble for the radar systems.
      • In a 5 GHz environment, not all channels within the 5 GHz band may be usable due to interference. If you are near an airport, certain 5 GHz channels may be unavailable. It is necessary to have the feature turned on that allows your APs to listen for radar or first responders using those shared frequencies. Make sure not to use those channels if they are being used.

    3. Type a short, descriptive name into the SSID field. This is the access point name that appears in clients’ lists of available wireless connections.

    4. Under Wireless Security, select the Authentication Type for your wireless network. SonicWall recommends using WPA2 as the authentication type if all client devices support it.

      PSK uses a passphrase for authentication, EAP uses an Enterprise RADIUS server.

    5. Select the Cipher Type. When using WPA and WPA2, SonicWall recommends AES for maximum security if all client devices support it.

    6. Fill in the fields specific to the authentication type that you selected. The remaining fields change depending on the selected authentication type.

  6. Click 2.4GHz Radio Basic and repeat the steps.

  7. Click the 5GHz Radio Advanced tab.

    1. For most advanced options, the default settings give optimum performance.

    2. Optionally select the Hide SSID in Beacon check box.

      The SSID refers to the access point name that appears in clients’ lists of available wireless connections. Hiding the SSID provides additional security because it requires the user to know the access point name before connecting.

  8. Click the 2.4GHz Radio Advanced tab and repeat the steps.

  9. When finished configuring all options, click OK.

  10. For information about configuring the other options and screens in the Add/Edit SonicWave Profile dialog, see the SonicOS Administration documentation.