Solutions to Address the Growing Demand for Enterprise-Class Wireless Connectivity.

As employees become more mobile and business applications become more interactive, innovative wireless services and applications are becoming a key aspect of the way businesses maintain competitive advantage and raise productivity. The Cisco Unified Wireless Network unifies wired and wireless connectivity, supporting real-time core applications and enabling businesses to create a secure, cost-effective mobile workplace.

WLANs are now business-critical. End users are embracing the freedom and flexibility of wireless connectivity, and executives are recognizing the competitive advantage of business-critical mobile applications. Organizations are deploying WLANs to increase employee productivity, enhance collaboration, and improve responsiveness to customers.

Features and Benefits

The Cisco Unified Wireless Network delivers the same level of security, scalability, reliability, ease of deployment, and management for wireless LANs that organizations expect from their wired LANs.

It is an integrated end-to-end solution that addresses all layers of the WLAN:

• Client devices and access points
• Network infrastructure
• Network management
• Delivery of advanced wireless services integration and product support

The solution helps reduce overall operational expenses by simplifying network deployment, operations, and management. The flexibility allows network managers to design networks to meet their specific needs, whether implementing highly integrated network designs or simple overlay networks.

It reduces the total cost of ownership for networks of all sizes and levels of complexity through features including:

• Business-class RF security and WLAN security policy monitoring
• Clear visibility into and centralized control of the RF environment
• High performance through reliable coverage and optimized bandwidth
• Mobility features for uninterrupted network access for roaming users
• Scalability to meet current and future business requirements
• Support for current and emerging technologies and applications
• Investment protection

The Cisco Unified Wireless Network is designed to enhance productivity, collaboration, and responsiveness in organizations of all types and sizes. It supports Wi-Fi enabled business applications for a wide range of applications including mobile healthcare, inventory management, retail point-of-sale, video surveillance, real-time data access, asset tracking, and network visibility.

Network Elements

The system is designed to allow you to easily deploy and manage several, hundreds, or thousands of central or remotely located access points, in simple overlay networks or highly integrated ones. The network comprises five elements interconnected in a unified solution encompassing all layers of a wireless network:

• Client devices
• Access points
• Network unification
• Network management
• Mobility services

Beginning with a base of client devices, you can add capabilities to each element as your network evolves.

Client Devices

Cisco Aironet devices and devices included in the Cisco Compatible Extensions program interoperate securely and fully with other elements of the solution. More than 300 wireless devices are currently part of the Cisco Compatible program, including more than 90% of today's notebook computers. The solution also supports Wi-Fi Certified or IEEE 802.11 clients.

Access Points

Cisco offers a broad, flexible line of enterprise-class access points and wireless bridges. The Cisco Aironet family includes Wi-Fi certified products for indoor and outdoor wireless environments. Features and benefits include:

• Single or dual radios, integrated or external antennas, and plastic or rugged metal enclosures for increased deployment options
• Plug-and-play wireless features for “zero-touch” configuration using WLAN controllers
• Ability to connect multiple high-performance LANs in a metropolitan area or public-access environment with Cisco Aironet wireless bridges

Network Unification

Cisco WLAN controllers support systemwide WLAN functions such as security policies, intrusion prevention, RF management, quality of service (QoS), and mobility. They provide a solid migration path into all major Cisco switching and routing platforms.

Network Management

The Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) lets you centrally plan, configure, and manage an enterprise wireless network. With an easy-to-use graphical interface, it simplifies management of multiple WLAN controllers and their associated access points.

Mobility Services

Cisco Mobility Services provide built-in unified support of mobility technologies and applications such as voice, guest access, and location services, as well as enhanced wireless security. Full integration with the Cisco Self-Defending Network provides consistent and comprehensive defense against malicious user and network threats. Its flexibility lets you implement applications immediately or phase them in over time.