Wireless Network Solutions with Wireless WLAN Controllers
Making Wireless Network Management Simpler
WIRELESS LAN Controllers with thin AP’s was the next evolution in WLANs that changed the face of wireless. A thin AP is simply an access point that is managed by a WLAN controller.
The WLAN controller functions:
- provides the thin AP its configuration
- functions as a switch for all the wireless traffic.
- consolidates management for the entire wireless network in one place.
- Some WLAN controllers function as a Stateful firewall between the wired/wireless networks,
- provides VPN connectivity,
- Intrusion Detection / Prevention services,
- spectrum monitoring/analysis, and much more.
WLAN controllers are physical devices that are rack mounted in the core data room and communicate with each AP at the same time This allows for easy and quick configuration of multiple AP’s without having to manually configure each and every one.
It also eliminates the need to re-architect your wired network to host a WLAN.
As you might assume, scalability is greatly improved by the addition of a WLAN controller as it easily allows the installation of more AP’s onto the network and reduces deployment and complexities.
WLAN Controllers Solutions Kenya
We have a rich experience in Hardware controllers which are placed on premise. Quite ideal for standalone deployments for single premise offices and buildings. They can come in two "types". The first type of hardware controller is popular with manufacturers like Ruckus Commscope. Picture a scenario where you have an office with up to 30 access points in use. A special access point comes with controller features so you make it the master and the rest of the APs become the slave. The IT can monitor the performance of the APs from the master AP just like the would with a controller hardware. With Ruckus for instance, this type of access point is called Unleashed Access Point. Companies can save more with such a set up instead of buying a physical controller which would cost quite a lot.
Type 2 would be an actual physical controller as you know it.
Software controllers/ Virtual Controllers provide the same benefits of hardware controllers like control switches, access points, allow central management, provide firewall security, SSID, controller diagnosis, seamless roaming, and network management. The company can host this on their server by partitioning their server to put the controller.
Cloud controllers are controllers provided by the manufacturer on the public cloud. This option is suitable for companies/ business chains with with several branches. In this case all access points in all the branches are viewed centrally on a single dashboard of the cloud controller. Makes Network Management and control a no brainer. As a plus, the cloud controller can also be used with multinationals so IT can view the switches and APs in their Kenya branch and do this from their headquarter cloud controller dashboard in Sweden.
