Cisco is encouraging our customers to migrate to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. This paper reviews the advantages of and reasons for migrating to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. Discover why now is the right time to migrate to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network.
Challenge
Solution
Cisco Unified Wireless Network
Figure 1. Cisco Unified Wireless Network
• Client devices: Cisco Compatible Extensions client devices, Cisco Aironet client devices and Cisco Secure Services Client.
• Access points: Cisco Aironet 802.11a/b/g and 802.11n lightweight access points and Cisco wireless LAN bridges.
• Network unification: Cisco 4400 and 2100 Series wireless LAN controllers, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Wireless Services Module (WiSM), the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Module (WLCM) for Integrated Services Routers and the Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series Integrated Wireless LAN Controller.
• Network management: Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) and Cisco WCS Navigator.
• Mobility services: Cisco Wireless Location Appliance, Cisco Self-Defending Network, Network Admission Control, and single and dual mode Wi-Fi phones such as Cisco 7900 Series Unified IP Phones.
Advantages of Migrating to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network
• Innovative, next-generation wireless solutions that offer greater performance and extended reach for pervasive wireless connectivity
• Robust coverage with 802.11a/b/g or greater performance with 5x the throughput and unprecedented reliability using 802.11n
• Simplified WLAN deployment and centralized management for lowered operational costs
• Easy-to-use, intuitive GUI that minimizes IT training requirements
• Fast, easy, automated access point image upgrades and configurations which help ensure network compatibility and eliminate image mismatches on the network
• Built-in system planning and configuration tools, as well as specialized deployment tools for mobility services that deliver complete lifecycle management
• Scalability from one, to hundreds, to tens of thousands of central or remotely located access points to deliver services from the smallest to largest networks
• Flexible deployment as a highly integrated network or a simple overlay network
• Reliable, dynamic RF management that is self-configuring, self-healing, and self-optimizing
• Easy-to-deploy location services that simultaneously track thousands of devices from directly within the WLAN infrastructure
• Guest access that keeps the wireless network secure while providing customers, vendors, and partners with controlled wired and wireless LAN access
• Cost-effective, real-time VoWLAN, delivering secure, intelligent voice services
• Advanced WLAN security and network protection with the Cisco Secure Wireless Solution which includes a wireless intrusion prevention system (IPS) and integrates with the Cisco Self-Defending Network, Network Admission Control (NAC) and Cisco Secure Services Client.
• Cisco WCS and Cognio Spectrum Expert integration that supports detection and location of local and remote non-Wi-Fi interference to improve network performance, increase security, and lower operational costs.
• Significant savings in operational costs and capital investments through centralized management and unification of the wired and wireless LAN
Mobility Services
Why Migrate to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network?
• Simplified WLAN deployment: Customers want the simplified deployment capabilities of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. The zero-configuration deployment capabilities of this solution deliver WLAN capabilities without modifying the existing routing or switching infrastructure. New access points are easily added. Each lightweight access point automatically detects the best available Cisco wireless LAN controller and downloads the appropriate policies and configuration information with no need for hands-on modification.
• Low-cost centralized management: Having better visibility and control of the RF environment reduces operational costs. A few to hundreds to tens of thousands of lightweight access points are easily managed by wireless LAN controllers, which are centrally managed by Cisco's management tool the Cisco WCS. The intuitive GUI of the Cisco WCS allows IT staff to easily configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the WLAN with minimal training. Up to 750 wireless LAN controllers and 3000 access points can be managed by one Cisco WCS. Large-scale deployments can add the Cisco WCS Navigator for enhanced scalability, manageability, and visibility of large-scale implementations of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network.
• Reduced total cost of ownership (TCO): The Cisco Unified Wireless Network helps customers minimize the operational and capital costs associated with managing and deploying their wireless network. The centralized management features and dynamic RF management capabilities of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network offer significant cost reductions. To learn more about how an integrated approach using the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series WiSM or Cisco WLCM can help organizations save significant costs in ongoing operations, support, and lost productivity over a five-year period, please read the following white papers: Cisco Unified Wireless Network: Reducing Large-Scale Enterprise Wireless LAN Total Cost of Ownership and Cisco Unified Wireless Network: Reducing SMB and Branch Office Wireless LAN TCO.
• Performance: Cisco demonstrates industry leadership and innovation by delivering support for the 802.11n draft 2.0 standard to improve wireless performance to approach that of the wired network. 802.11n delivers combined data rates of up to 600 Mbps to meet the most rigorous bandwidth requirements. With the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, users can now rely on wireless networks to deliver an experience similar to wired networks, providing mobile access to high-bandwidth data, voice, and video applications regardless of their location.
• Extended Connectivity: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network delivers extended network connectivity to hard-to-wire locations through enterprise wireless mesh for indoor and outdoor wireless deployments. Enterprise wireless mesh allows organizations to extend wireless connectivity to areas of an enterprise facility or structure where running Ethernet cable would be too difficult, aesthetically undesirable, or simply impossible.
• Scalability: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network is highly scalable. It supports business-critical wireless services across the LAN and WAN for deployment of several, hundreds, or thousands of central or remotely located lightweight access points in the campus, branch offices, remote sites, and outdoor locations. To learn more about remote access scalability please read the feature brief: Wireless LAN High Availability for Remote Locations and Branch Offices.
• Mobility: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network delivers advanced mobility through intersubnet roaming that is supported without client software. This facilitates device management with no required changes to the core routing infrastructure.
• Location services: Organizations that need visibility into the RF environment are embracing the location services available in the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. Cisco location services support simultaneous tracking of thousands of Wi-Fi devices from directly within the wireless LAN infrastructure via the Cisco Wireless Location Appliance. With location services, an organization can enhance business applications, improve productivity and support critical applications, such as high-value asset tracking, location-based security, enhanced network management, and business policy enforcement. For areas requiring very high fidelity, deterministic location, Cisco Compatible Extensions Wi-Fi tags can be used with the Cisco Unified Wireless Network to support third party chokepoint-based notifications to within a few feet or several centimeters. Customers and partners can also use Cisco's free Location Appliance API to deploy new and important business applications.
• Secure guest access: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network supports simplified configuration and deployment of wired and wireless guest access for customers, vendors, and partners. Guest access increases company productivity, facilitates real-time collaboration, and helps companies be more competitive in today's anywhere, anytime business climate. The complexity and cost for guest access services is reduced with Cisco's wireless guest access solution because both wired and wireless access for guest users can be enabled through the wireless infrastructure and a single unified management interface. To learn more about secure guest access, please read the white paper: Achieving Business Goals and Enhancing Customer Relationships with a Secure Guest Access Wi-Fi Network or the feature briefs: Unified Wired and Wireless Guest Access and Granular Guest Access Management and Provisioning.
• VoWLAN: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network supports cost-effective, real-time intelligent voice services across an end-to-end Cisco network. Organizations can use the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7920 or other Wi-Fi phones with this solution. To learn more about VoWLAN, please read the white paper: Boosting Business Mobility and Responsiveness with the Cisco Unified Wireless Network or the feature brief: Voice Over WLAN Solutions Using Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Releases 4.1 and 4.2.
• Wireless IPS: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network leads the industry in delivering enterprise-class, standards-based wireless LAN security and intrusion prevention. The Cisco Secure Wireless Solution supports flexible security policies that adapt to changing corporate security needs. For example, with Cisco's IPS, a Cisco access point, in conjunction with Cisco WCS, can detect a malicious attack from an associated wireless client device and send shun requests to Cisco wireless LAN controllers, to disassociate the client device. The Cisco Unified Wireless Network's IPS integrates with the Cisco Self-Defending Network and NAC to limit damage from emerging security threats such as viruses, worms, and spy ware. To learn more about wireless IDS and IPS please read the white papers: Addressing Wireless Threats with Integrated Wireless IDS and IPS in the Cisco Unified Wireless Network and Integrity of Information on the Move with the Cisco Secure Wireless Solution.
• Outdoor wireless mesh networking: The Cisco Unified Wireless Network supports deployment of a Cisco outdoor wireless mesh networking solution that uses lightweight outdoor mesh access points. This outdoor solution supports enterprise campus to metropolitan-scale outdoor Wi-Fi networks, using the same Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) architecture as Cisco indoor lightweight access point deployments. Customers can maximize their WLAN investment by using their existing wireless LAN controllers and the Cisco WCS to centrally manage both the indoor and outdoor WLANs to provide seamless indoor and outdoor connectivity. To learn more about wireless mesh networking please read the brochure: Cisco Wireless Mesh Networking Solution Overview.
• Advanced feature velocity: Customers are migrating to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network for the wide array of feature enhancements that are planned for the solution and its products. Cisco will continue to lead the acceleration and evolution of WLAN technology into the next generation of enterprise networking. Cisco's technology unification, innovation, and investment protection will help ensure a secure, mobile, interactive workplace for organizations deploying WLANs.
Summary
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