Quick Reference Guide

Introduction
9
ProSAFE Wireless Controller WC9500
Key Features and Capabilities
The NETGEAR ProSAFE Wireless Controller WC9500 is a high-capacity, secured wireless
controller intended for medium- to large-sized businesses, higher education institutions,
hospitals, and hotels.
One wireless controller with the appropriate licenses can support up to 600 access points
(APs) with up to 6,000 users. In a stacked configuration (supported in a future release), a
stack of three wireless controllers can support up to 18,000 users. The wireless controller
supports the IEEE 802.1
1a/b/g/n protocols and is 802.11ac ready for future deployment. The
wireless controller allows you to manage your wireless network from a central point,
implement security features centrally, support Layer 2 and Layer 3 fast roaming, configure a
guest access captive portal, and support voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi).
The wireless controller is equipped with two 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) slots with standard
SFP+ form factor for optional 10GBASE or 1000BASE GBICs. One RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
port is available to access the wireless controller for management and for data and control
communications between the wireless controller and the access points.
The wireless controller provides the following key features and capabilities:
• Scalable architecture
- Purchased licenses in increments of 10, 50, or 100 access points allow for support of
up to a maximum number of 200 access points on a single wireless controller.
A
single license for 200 access points is also available.
- Support of 802.11a, 802.1
1b, 802.11g, and 802.11n modes. Ready for 802.11ac
mode for future deployment.
- Support for an extra power supply.
• Autodiscovery of access points
- Autodiscovery of access points in the same Layer 2 domain.
- Autodiscovery of access points across a Layer 3 domain.
- Automatic download of wireless controller–based firmware to discovered access
points that are added to the managed access point list.
• Centralized management
- Single point of management for the entire wireless network.
- Automatic firmware upgrade to all managed access points.
- DHCP server for IP address provisioning.
- Configurable management VLAN.
• Security
- Identity-based security authentication with an external RADIUS or LDAP (Active
Directory) server
, or with an internal authentication server
.
- Support for nine access point profile groups
1
(one basic and eight advanced) on one
wireless controller.
1. Number of profile groups depends on the access point model used with the wireless controller.