In a traditional deployment, a Juniper Mist Access Point is a "cloud-first" device, meaning it expects a constant connection to the Mist Cloud to receive configuration updates and report telemetry. When performing an "AP-on-a-Stick" (APoS) site survey, the AP is often powered by a battery pack and moved to various locations where an active Ethernet backhaul or Internet connection is unavailable.3 To ensure the AP continues to broadcast the required SSIDs for signal measurement in this "disconnected" state, two specific settings must be adjusted within the Mist dashboard.
First, AP Config Persistence must be enabled. By default, Mist APs store their configuration in volatile memory; if an AP reboots (which happens when switching battery packs or moving locations) and cannot reach the Mist Cloud, it may fail to reload its previous configuration. Enabling Config Persistence ensures that the AP writes its current configuration to non-volatile flash memory, allowing it to boot up and start broadcasting the programmed SSIDs even in the absence of a cloud connection.4
Second, AP Uplink Monitoring must be disabled. Mist APs are designed with a safety mechanism where, if the AP loses its gateway connectivity (eth0 link or ping to the gateway), it will stop broadcasting SSIDs to prevent "black-holing" client traffic. In a site survey scenario, the Ethernet port is typically connected only to a battery or a passive PoE injector with no data path.5 If Uplink Monitoring remains active, the AP will detect the lack of a backhaul and disable its radios, making the survey impossible. By disabling this feature, the AP is forced to keep its radios active regardless of the uplink status. Together, these two settings allow the AP to function as a standalone signal source, which is essential for accurate RF environment mapping and pre-deployment validation using Mist AI hardware.
