---
title: Mobility Express
description: In just 20 minutes or so we can bring up a Mobility Express Master AP and have it running in production.   This solution will handle up to 100 access points and 2000 clients and would be ideal for smaller-scale deployments.
---

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[Home](https://www.lookingpoint.com/) [Blog](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog) Mobility Express

# Blog

 Feb  27

Mobility Express

 Posted by [Rick Wong](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/author/rick-wong)

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[cisco](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/cisco) [wireless](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/wireless) [wireless access points](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/wireless-access-points) [mobility express](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/mobility-express) [access points](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/access-points) [AP](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/ap) [wireless controller](https://www.lookingpoint.com/blog/topic/wireless-controller)

A few months of ago I was asked to help bring up a branch site for one of LookingPoint’s clients.   This was unscheduled work and it was the first time I encountered [Cisco’s Mobility Express](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/enterprise-networks/mobility-express/index.html).   My previous projects have been enterprise deployments either using the traditional WLC or Meraki’s cloud managed APs.   With Mobility Express, Cisco allows an AP to run as a wireless controller.    Starting with 802.11ac Wave 2 access points, Cisco embedded a virtual WLC into the access point.  I was pleasantly surprise and thought this make perfect sense for branch offices or for small to medium-sized businesses.   No longer are branch sites tethered to HQ for wireless with capwap tunnels from branch site APs having to register with the WLC at HQ.   This can be a great solution for sites with limited IT staff. 

# The Hardware

Cisco Mobility Express is support in the following access points.:

Cisco Aironet 4800, 3800, 2800, 1850, 1830, 1815, 1560, and 1540 Series

This table shows the product IDs (SKUs) for ordering the access ports.

![Cisco Mobility Express hardware sku](https://www.lookingpoint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cisco%20Mobility%20Express%20hardware%20sku.png?width=484&name=Cisco%20Mobility%20Express%20hardware%20sku.png)

# Licenses

There is no license requirement for Mobility Express. 

# Deployment

Once Mobility Express enabled access points are ordered the next step is deployment.  Cisco has simplified the deployment. However, there are still a few pre-requisites for deploying Mobility Express.

Pre-requisites:

- No other WLC or Mobility Express capable APs on the same network during set up.
- Configure a DHCP server on the switch or externally to provide IP addresses.
- Select the designated Mobility Express AP. The first Mobility Express AP configured will be the Master AP.  All other Mobility Express APs will be lightweight APs and operate as Subordinate APs.
- Wireless Laptop to connect to the pre-defined *CiscoAirProvision*

## Configuration

The configuration only requires a few additional steps.  First, we want to configure the switch port that the AP will be connected to.   This switchport should be POE and provide the power to the AP.   Once the AP is online we can then use the Over-the Air Setup Wizard to provision the Mobility Express Master AP.

## Switch port configuration

The switchport configuration can be an access port or a trunk.  If multiple VLANs are used for client traffic, the switchport will be configured as a trunk.  The native VLAN will provide the management IP for the AP.

interface GigabitEthernet1/0/1

 description **Master ME AP**

 switchport trunk native vlan 10

 switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30

 switchport mode trunk

## Over-the-Air Setup Wizard

When the AP’s status LED is chirping green that means the AP is ready to be configured.  

 

 *NOTE* The following screenshots are from [Cisco](https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/enterprise-networks/mobility-express/guide-c07-741338.pdf) since I currently do not have access to an ME AP.

1. Connect to the pre-defined *CiscoAirProvision* Use the default password password.
2. Open a browser and go to [http://192.168.1.1](http://192.168.1.1) and configure the admin account.**![mobility express set up wizard](https://www.lookingpoint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mobility%20express%20set%20up%20wizard.png?width=379&name=mobility%20express%20set%20up%20wizard.png)**
3. Configure the controller and note the management IP.![mobility express configure controller](https://www.lookingpoint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mobility%20express%20configure%20controller.png?width=379&name=mobility%20express%20configure%20controller.png)
4. Create a wireless network.                                              ![Mobility express wireless network](https://www.lookingpoint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mobility%20express%20wireless%20network.png?width=380&name=Mobility%20express%20wireless%20network.png)
5. Apply and save the settings.                                         ![mobility express save settings](https://www.lookingpoint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mobility%20express%20save%20settings.png?width=379&name=mobility%20express%20save%20settings.png)

In just 20 minutes or so we can bring up a Mobility Express Master AP and have it running in production.   This solution will handle up to 100 access points and 2000 clients and would be ideal for smaller-scale deployments.    For ease of management and set up this rivals [Cisco ‘s Meraki](https://meraki.cisco.com/products/wireless) cloud solution without the need for a subscription.

**References:**

[https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/enterprise-networks/mobility-express/guide-c07-741338.pdf](https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/enterprise-networks/mobility-express/guide-c07-741338.pdf)

[https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-2/b_Mobility_Express_Deployment_guide/b_Mobility_Express_Deployment_guide_chapter_0100.html](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-2/b_Mobility_Express_Deployment_guide/b_Mobility_Express_Deployment_guide_chapter_0100.html)

***Written By: ****Rick Wong, LookingPoint Principal Network Architect*

 

*If you are interest in Mobility Express, feel free to reach out to us and we can get you set up!*

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