FortiAP units discover WiFi controllers. The administrator of the WiFi controller authorizes the FortiAP units that the controller will manage.

In most cases, FortiAP units can find WiFi controllers through the wired Ethernet without any special configuration. Review the following section, “Network topology for managed APs”, to make sure that your method of connecting the FortiAP unit to the WiFi controller is valid. Then, you are ready to follow the procedures in “Discovering and authorizing APs”.

If your FortiAP units are unable to find the WiFi controller, refer to “Advanced WiFi controller discovery” for detailed information about the FortiAP unit’s controller discovery methods and how you can configure them.