Major Enhancements to the Initial Setup Wizard in Zyxel APs

Zyxel_Claudia

With the firmware 7.10 update, Zyxel has made significant improvements to the initial setup wizard for its access points (APs). These enhancements streamline the setup process, giving administrators more control over device management from the very beginning.

1. Management Mode Selection on First Login

After logging into the AP’s Web GUI, users will be presented with three management mode options.

Available Management Modes:

• Standalone Mode: Redirects to the standalone web GUI for local configuration.
• Cloud Mode (Nebula Control Center): Starts the cloud-managed setup wizard and connects to NCC.
• Controller Mode: Starts the controller-managed setup wizard for APs managed by USG FLEX or ATP firewalls.

2. What’s New in the Controller Mode GUI?

For APs in Controller Mode, the Web GUI now includes:

Basic Interface & AC Discovery Settings – Users can view network configurations and check for available controllers.

New Maintenance Page – Allows users to:

• Perform firmware upgrades
• Collect diagnostic files
• View event logs
• Reboot the AP

3. Understanding AC Discovery & NCC Discovery Behavior

To ensure a seamless onboarding experience, Zyxel APs automatically search for a controller or connect to Nebula when powered on.

• Default State: Before a mode is selected, both AC Discovery (Controller) and NCC Discovery (Nebula) are enabled.
• Standalone Mode: If selected via GUI or CLI, both AC & NCC Discovery are disabled.
• Cloud Mode: If selected or if the AP connects to Nebula, NCC Discovery remains enabled, while AC Discovery is disabled.
• Controller Mode: If selected or if the AP connects to a controller, AC Discovery remains enabled, while NCC Discovery is disabled.

4. Important Considerations

Do Users Need to Go Through the Setup Wizard Every Time?

• No, AC & NCC Discovery remain enabled by default, ensuring that APs can automatically detect a controller or Nebula without manual intervention.

What Happens If a User Chooses Standalone Mode But Later Wants to Switch to Nebula?

If the AP was initially set to Standalone Mode, it must be reset before connecting to Nebula, since NCC Discovery was disabled.