ZyXEL NWA-3165 ZYXNWA-3165 User Manual

ZyXEL’s Wireless LAN Access Points 3000 Series allows a secondary AP in “AP controller” mode assigned to take over management tasks if the primary AP in “AP 

controller” mode shuts down accidently. The information between the primary AP and the secondary AP is synchronized under two conditions:

  The connection is set up for the first time

  Whenever configurations are changed on the primary AP

When the primary AP comes back into service, all APs in “managed AP” mode will connect back to the primary one automatically.

When a company is small in business, it might need only 2 to 3 APs in the field, and configuration wouldn’t be a problem. But as the company grows, the number of AP 

may increase and become a management headache if they require individual configuration and management. As a hybrid AP solution, ZyXEL’s Wireless LAN Access 

Points 3000 Series has the “AP controller” mode and can be configured to manage as many as 24 APs, allowing enterprises to pay as they grow with easy, centralized 

configuration and management.

When an expanding business unit considers transforming into a managed WLAN structure, additional investments would be made to replace all devices in the field. 

However, ZyXEL users can turn the existing independent WLAN APs, including MWA-3160, NWA-3163, NWA-3166, NWA-3500 and NWA3550, into a centralized 

management system with easy firmware upgrades. To expanding companies, this is truly a protection to earlier investments.

Stand-alone AP Architecture

Stand-alone AP Mode

Stand-alone AP Architecture

Primary AP in AP Controller Mode

Small

Middle/Large

Management WLAN Architecture

(Total up to 24 APs)

P O WER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS

WLAN

ETHN

PWR/S

YS

P O WER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS

WLAN

ETHN

PWR/S

YS

P O WER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS

WLAN

ETHN

PWR/S

YS

P O WER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS

WLAN

ETHN

PWR/S

YS

Secondary AP in AP Controller Mode

Shut Down

P O WER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS

WLAN

ETHN

PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

Grow 

Up

More APs for WLAN Network Expansion

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

Primary

Backup

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CONSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

P OWER

1 2VDC

R ESET

CO NSOL

E

WDS
WLAN

ETHN
PWR/S

YS

AP Controller Mode

Stand-alone AP Mode

and-alone AP Mode

Managed AP Mode

APs in Managed AP Mode