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Wi-Fi, AP Controller, Switch Controller & RADIUS

Manage SSIDs, the built-in AP controller, the switch controller, and 802.1X RADIUS from the Peplink web admin.

Peplink can manage its own Wi-Fi and switches locally, or hand that to InControl (most fleets prefer InControl for central control).

Wi-Fi WAN — connecting to an SSID

Wi-Fi WAN is one of the router’s interface types (alongside Ethernet WAN, cellular, and VLAN-as-WAN). When you turn on a Wi-Fi WAN it begins enabling, and you can click the little magnifying-glass to scan for nearby networks. Once the list appears you simply click Connect on the Wi-Fi you want to join and enter the password — pretty easy.

  • To change a saved network later, click into the Wi-Fi WAN, scroll down, and edit your profiles at the bottom.
  • Outside of the connect-to-SSID step, a Wi-Fi WAN is configured almost exactly like an Ethernet WAN — the same health-check, standby, and bandwidth settings apply.

Field note

A single public router can run more than one Wi-Fi WAN at once. In the walkthrough Peter has two Wi-Fi WANs built into a B1 5G, on top of Ethernet and cellular WANs. Combined with the built-in VLAN-as-WAN license (one included) that gives up to three WANs; buy the three-pack of VLAN-as-WAN licenses for more.

Wi-Fi LAN (SSIDs the router broadcasts)

Separate from Wi-Fi WAN, the router broadcasts its own Wi-Fi LAN SSIDs. These are configured under the LAN interface’s Wi-Fi settings, and SpeedFusion Connect can spin up extra SSIDs off a base network — for example a bonding SSID and an FEC SSID derived from your main Wi-Fi (see Outbound Policy and SpeedFusion).

AP & Switch controllers

The built-in AP and Switch controllers — manage Pepwave APs and Peplink switches locally.
The built-in AP and Switch controllers — manage Pepwave APs and Peplink switches locally.

You can drive access points and switches either from the built-in controller or from InControl — Peter’s own preference is InControl, but the on-box controllers are there if you want to stay off-cloud.

  • Enable the AP Controller to adopt Pepwave access points connected to the router. Set it to accept external APs and hit save; any AP connected to the router is then ingested here, and you can push SSIDs to them.
  • Enable the Switch Controller to manage connected Peplink switches. After you save and apply, connected switches appear under registered and available switches. What’s handy about the local switch controller: any VLAN you add to the network is automatically added to your switches.

Pick one, not both

You cannot combine the local switch/AP controller with the InControl controller for the same devices — choose one or the other.

RADIUS & 802.1X

RADIUS server settings for 802.1X on LAN ports and WPA-Enterprise SSIDs.
RADIUS server settings for 802.1X on LAN ports and WPA-Enterprise SSIDs.

The router includes a RADIUS server used for 802.1X — for provisioning your RADIUS servers and running 802.1X on your LAN ports (the enterprise authentication backbone where every device proves its identity). RADIUS is also one of the authentication options for a guest captive portal, alongside LDAP and an external server.