Wireless Controllers
A wireless controller is a device that provides wireless LAN management for multiple APs.
- allows for centralized management and monitoring of APs
- enterprise network may require hundreds of APs
- difficult to manage individually
- enterprise network may require hundreds of APs
- is a dedicated hardware device
- an AP that requires a wireless controller to function are called lightweight AP
- aka thin access point
- Autonomous AP is an access point whose firmware contains enough processing logic to be able to handle clients without the use of a wireless controller
- Cisco wireless controllers communicate with APs using the lightweight access point protocol (LWAPP)
- allows an AP configured in lightweight mode to download
- SSID, standards mode, channel, and security configuration
- allows an AP configured in lightweight mode to download
- alternative protocols
- control and provisioning of wireless access points (CAPWAP)
- proprietary protocols
- can
- autoconfigure clients
- aggregate client traffic and provide a central switching and routing point between WLAN and wired LAN
- assign clients to separate VLANs
- automated VLAN pooling ensure the total number of stations per VLAN is kept within specified limits
- reduces excessive broadcast traffic