Cisco 2504 AIR-CT2504-5-K9 Prospecto
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AIR-CT2504-5-K9
© 2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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White Paper
The Evolution of Controller-Based Wireless LANs
This paper revisits the benefits of centralized 802.11n wireless LAN networks and
describes the case for transforming the controller-based architecture to match market
needs. Centralization of wireless LANs (WLANs) delivers networks that are easy to
deploy, scale, and manage. A local-mode controller-based campus environment
delivers increased device scalability and an interactive multimedia experience coupled
with enhanced policy to manage the full range of mobile devices. A controller-based
deployment using FlexConnect technology enables multisite, lean branches to
manage the increased scale of deployments without additional increase in operational
complexity.
describes the case for transforming the controller-based architecture to match market
needs. Centralization of wireless LANs (WLANs) delivers networks that are easy to
deploy, scale, and manage. A local-mode controller-based campus environment
delivers increased device scalability and an interactive multimedia experience coupled
with enhanced policy to manage the full range of mobile devices. A controller-based
deployment using FlexConnect technology enables multisite, lean branches to
manage the increased scale of deployments without additional increase in operational
complexity.
Challenge
In the last 10 years, wireless LAN networks have experienced an incredible evolution. From the technology
perspective, we have transitioned from 802.11b to 802.11a/g to 802.11n. The growth of mobile devices such as
smartphones and tablets has fueled the demand for new wireless networking equipment that supports higher
capacity, enhanced scale, and reliability. From an applications and services perspective, voice, video, location,
and context capabilities are growing exponentially.
Pervasively deployed, high-capacity, optimally designed wireless networks are now mainstream. At the same time
unique architecture requirements have emerged for campus and branch environments. The proliferation of
wireless devices has led to the organic need for enhanced scale while simultaneously lowering the operational
costs to align with IT budgets. At the same time, certain unique needs have emerged within campus deployments
in contrast to deployments in a lean, multibranch environment. A lean branch is defined as having both limited IT
budgets that prohibit hiring a local network administrator and deploying physical controllers per branch, as well as
having limited needs of shaping the WLAN data. This paper outlines the Cisco
®
wireless architectures available to
address the performance and scale for each wireless deployment scenario.
Solution
Cisco pioneered WLAN centralization and delivered the industry’s first unified platform for advanced wireless LAN
services. This robust architecture was standardized with Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points
(CAPWAP) and was flexible enough to deploy in various scenarios with local mode as well as Hybrid Remote
Edge Access Point (H-REAP) mode.
History showed us the following benefits of centralization:
Lower Operational Expenses
A controller-based, centralized architecture enables zero-touch configurations for lightweight access points.
Similarly, it enables easy design of channel and power settings and real-time management, including identifying
any RF holes to optimize the RF environment. The architecture offers seamless mobility across the various access
points within the mobility group. A controller-based architecture gives the network administrator a holistic view of
the network and the ability to make decisions about scale, security, and overall operations.