How Are Cisco CleanAir Alarms Collected for Archival?

300-430 By islever Editorial Last updated

Manage RF interferers Manage alarms and rogues (APs and clients)

Short answer

B Cisco Prime Infrastructure is the central device configured to collect and archive CleanAir alarms from the wireless controllers.

Question

An engineer must collect all Cisco CleanAir alarms in a central location for archival purposes. Which device is configured for collection?
  1. wIPS AP
  2. Cisco Prime Infrastructure Correct Answer
  3. MSE
  4. WLC

Key Takeaways

The exam tests the role split among CleanAir components: APs detect interference, the WLC receives and processes air quality reports, but the trap is treating the controller as the central archival repository instead of Cisco Prime Infrastructure.

Cisco CleanAir alarms are generated by CleanAir-enabled APs and processed by the WLC, but central archival requires Cisco Prime Infrastructure. This guide confirms B and explains why the WLC's local air quality database is not the long-term collection point.

Common mistake: Choosing WLC (D) because Cisco documentation says the controller collects and stores air quality reports; however, that local database supports current monitoring, not the central long-term archival asked for in the stem.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Cisco Prime Infrastructure (B) is the centralized network management and reporting platform that receives CleanAir alarms from wireless controllers and retains them for historical analysis. In a CleanAir deployment, the WLC receives and processes air quality reports from CleanAir-enabled APs, but that operational data is not the central archive the engineer needs. PI is where alarms from multiple controllers can be collected, displayed, and archived, which directly matches the requirement for a central location for archival purposes. As rrahim explains, PI is used to collect and archive Cisco CleanAir alarms in a centralized location. The wIPS deployment guide shared by Ocsicccnp also supports the flow of alarms from the controller to PI.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A wIPS AP (A) is a detection component; it generates spectrum and rogue data but does not archive alarms centrally. The MSE (C) can host location and wIPS services, including interferer location in some architectures, but it is not the primary CleanAir alarm archive. The WLC (D) is the most tempting distractor because it collects and processes air quality reports and stores them in an air quality database, as 74b52c9 pointed out, but this is local operational storage tied to that controller. Gumpy1 notes that on a 9800 WLC, APs are shown in real time and historical details are viewed in Prime or Catalyst Center after the AP is gone. The stem's requirement for a central archival location therefore rules out the controller.

Community Comment Notes

Community voters mostly favored Prime Infrastructure, and rrahim's reasoning aligns with the idea that PI provides comprehensive monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting. Ocsicccnp linked the Cisco wIPS deployment guide, which describes alarms being sent to PI, reinforcing the central collection role. Gumpy1 highlighted the practical limitation of the WLC: it shows real-time AP data, but historical information requires Prime or Catalyst Center. 74b52c9 argued for WLC based on the controller's air quality database, but that role is collection and processing, not long-term archival across the network. The split between B and D shows why the wording about central archival is the deciding clue.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Focus on the role of each CleanAir component: APs generate spectrum data, the WLC receives and processes it, but Prime Infrastructure is the management and archival repository. If the stem mentions central, archive, or historical reporting, choose the network management platform rather than the controller.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't the WLC the correct CleanAir alarm collection device if it stores air quality reports?

The WLC processes CleanAir reports locally, not as a long-term central archive; Prime Infrastructure centrally receives and retains alarms from multiple controllers.

Does the MSE play a role in CleanAir if it is not the archival answer?

MSE can support location and wIPS functions, but it is not the CleanAir alarm archive. Prime Infrastructure remains the central collection and reporting platform.

More 300-430 FAQ →

Community Votes

B
75%
D
25%

75% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 4 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 4

  1. rrahim 👍 1 Answered B
    To collect and archive Cisco CleanAir alarms in a centralized location, Cisco Prime Infrastructure (PI) is the appropriate tool. Cisco Prime Infrastructure is a network management platform that provides comprehensive monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting capabilities for Cisco wireless networks. It can collect and store CleanAir data, including alarms, for historical analysis and archival purposes. Cisco Prime Infrastructure aggregates CleanAir data from multiple Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) and Access Points (APs), providing a centralized view of air quality, interference, and alarms. It also offers long-term storage and reporting capabilities, making it ideal for archival purposes. (WLC - Wireless LAN Controller): The WLC manages CleanAir data locally but does not provide centralized archival capabilities.
  2. 74b52c9 👍 1 Answered D
    Might be D according to the following: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/8-3/config-guide/b_cg83/b_cg83_chapter_011001.html "Role of the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller in a Cisco CleanAir System Collects and processes air quality reports from the access point and stores them in the air quality database. The Air Quality Report (AQR) contains information about the total interference from all identified sources represented by the Air Quality Index (AQI) and summary for the most severe interference categories."
  3. Gumpy1 👍 1 Answered B
    I am going to say "b" as mentioned. On a 9800 WLC, APs are shown in real time, the Air Quailty report are on APs at that moment. Once an AP goes down you can no longer find it on the WLC. You have to then go to Prime or Catalyst Center to view history information.
  4. Ocsicccnp 👍 1 Answered B
    https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/technology/wips/deployment/guide/WiPS_deployment_guide.html#:~:text=Once%20received%20by,sent%20to%20PI.

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