A new wireless local area network (LAN) architecture designed to meet the demands of expanding businesses has been released by Duxbury Networking.
The Netgear ProSafe 20-AP wireless controller WC7520 is positioned as a high-performance, fully-featured wireless LAN architecture targeted at medium-sized businesses.
According to Andy Robb, chief technology officer at Duxbury Networking, the new ProSafe controller is designed to simplify wireless deployments and optimise network management.
“The device is scalable to enable businesses to expand their wireless networks as required to meet changing needs,” he says. “Via licensing upgrades, it scales up to 50 access points and is able to support new-generation IEEE 802.11n access points.”
Robb explains that for even larger deployments, the WC7520 controller is stackable up to three units, supporting up to 150 access points. “It also delivers central wireless management, integrated wireless mobility together with converged services such as L2/L3 fast roaming, guest access captive portal and voice-over-WiFi support.”
Easy to set up, it is designed to discover all supported access points in the network, even across VLANs (virtual LANs) and subnets. Once identified, the access points are rapidly provisioned to dependent access points.
He adds that security is one of the controller's key features. “Building floor plans can be used to visualise live coverage and heat maps of the wireless network, while identity-based security features such as support for Radius compliance enable third-party authentication and billing system implementation.
“In addition, scheduled wireless on/off times permits the wireless network to be completely unavailable during specified non-business hours while 'guest access' permits restricted access to the network, using an integrated captive portal.”
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