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Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide
OL-9141-03
Chapter 1 Overview
Cisco Unified Wireless Network Solution Overview
Cisco Unified Wireless Network Solution Overview
The Cisco Unified Wireless Network (Cisco UWN) Solution is designed to provide 802.11 wireless
networking solutions for enterprises and service providers. The Cisco UWN Solution simplifies
deploying and managing large-scale wireless LANs and enables a unique best-in-class security
infrastructure. The operating system manages all data client, communications, and system
administration functions, performs radio resource management (RRM) functions, manages system-wide
mobility policies using the operating system security solution, and coordinates all security functions
using the operating system security framework.
The Cisco UWN Solution consists of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and their associated lightweight
access points controlled by the operating system, all concurrently managed by any or all of the operating
system user interfaces:
•
An HTTP and/or HTTPS full-featured Web User Interface hosted by Cisco Wireless LAN
Controllers can be used to configure and monitor individual controllers. See
Chapter 2
.
•
A full-featured command-line interface (CLI) can be used to configure and monitor individual Cisco
Wireless LAN Controllers. See
Chapter 2
.
•
The Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS), which you use to configure and monitor one or more
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and associated access points. WCS has tools to facilitate
large-system monitoring and control. WCS runs on Windows 2000, Windows 2003, and Red Hat
Enterprise Linux ES servers.
Note
WCS software release 4.0 must be used with controllers running controller software release
4.0. Do not attempt to use older versions of WCS software with controllers running
controller software release 4.0.
•
An industry-standard SNMP V1, V2c, and V3 interface can be used with any SNMP-compliant
third-party network management system.
The Cisco UWN Solution supports client data services, client monitoring and control, and all rogue
access point detection, monitoring, and containment functions. It uses lightweight access points, Cisco
Wireless LAN Controllers, and the optional Cisco WCS to provide wireless services to enterprises and
service providers.
Note
Unless otherwise noted, all of the Cisco wireless LAN controllers are hereafter referred to as
controllers
,
and all of the Cisco lightweight access points are hereafter referred to as
access points.