Data Sheet

Enterasys Wireless APs work together to prevent interference and optimize RF sharing. Each AP is
able to intelligently and dynamically adjust its transmit power and channel based on information
relatedtoneighboringAPs.Thisensuresoptimalperformanceforallwirelessclients.IfanAP
fails, neighboring APs will increase power to maintain coverage in the affected area. The APs also
supportRFchannelplanselectionwiththeoptionofsupporting3-channel,4-channel,orafully
custom configuration.
802.11n
EnterasysWireless802.11nAPsareexceptionallypower-efcient,ensuringthattheycanrunon
industry-standard802.3afPoEinfrastructure.Many802.11nAPsexceedthepowerconsumption
limitsofthe802.3afstandardspecicationforPoEwhenconguredfor3x3MIMOonboth
radios. These solutions demand the use of AC power adaptors or costly upgrades to pre-standard or
proprietary PoE infrastructure to achieve optimal RF performance.
Exceptionalperformanceisdeliveredutilizingthe3x3statisticaldiversetransmitfunction.
802.11nAPperformancegainsarebestachievedinthe5GHzbandwheremorenon-overlapping
channelsareavailable.Toachievetheoptimal300Mbpsdatarate,theEnterasysWireless
802.11nAPcanbeconguredtousechannelbonding,combiningtwoadjacent20MHz
channelsintoasingle40MHzchannel.Additionally,theEnterasysWireless802.11nAPsareDFS
compliantandcanofferupto11non-overlapping,bondedchannels.Thisprovidesmoreexibility
whenbuildinghigh-throughputnetworksthanwith802.11APswhicharenotDFScompliant,as
theyarerestrictedtoonly4non-overlappingbondedchannels.
Plug and Play
Enterasys Wireless Access Points will securely and automatically register with an available wireless
controller and download their configurations, simplifying deployment and operational effort. APs
can immediately provide service to users without having to be manually configured.
Virtual Network Service (VNS) – An Adaptive WLAN Architecture
MostWLANsolutionsforcenetworkadministratorstochoosebetweenacentralizedordistributed
architecture. A significant advantage of Enterasys Wireless is that it can support both deployment
modelssimultaneously,offeringsignicantexibilitybenetsoverothersolutions.Network
administratorscanselectthedeploymentmodelonaper-SSIDbasis,withoutanyrestrictions,so
thatthewirelessLANinfrastructurecanadapttobusinessrequirementsandapplications.
Acentralizedarchitecturerequiresalltrafctobebackhauledtoacentralizedcontroller.Withthe
higherdataratesof802.11nAPs,trafcloadsonthewirednetworkcanbemuchgreaterthan
thosecreatedbylegacy802.11a/b/gAPs.DependingonthesizeoftheWLANdeploymentandhow
much data is forwarded to the centralized controller, significant congestion may result.
A fully distributed deployment eliminates backhauling traffic to a controller but increases the
processingcomplexityforreal-timemobileapplicationsthatrequireseamlesscross-subnetroaming
(e.g.VoWLAN).ThiscanforceITmanagerstoeithercreatealargebroadcastdomainorapply
many VLANs.
EnterasysWirelessVirtualNetworkServicescontroltrafcowbyallowingtrafctobebackhauled
toawirelesscontrollerorswitchedlocallyattheAP,onaperSSIDbasis.Withlocalswitching,the
AP is still managed centrally by the wireless controller, but data is not backhauled to the wireless
controller. This improves responsiveness and ensures that traffic does not unnecessarily traverse
costly WANs or contribute to bottlenecks at aggregating switches. A VNS also provides role-based
policies providing security, NAC, mobility, and QoS priority that can be implemented on a per user
and per application basis.
Benets(cont.)
Security
• Authenticationandauthorization
functionsincluderole-basedaccess
control(using802.1X,MAC,andcaptive
portal)andauthenticationattheAP
(802.1Xsupplicant)
• Standards-basedencryption(WEP,TKIP,
WPA,WPA2,WPA-PSK,WPA-PSK2,and
AES)attheAP
• WirelessIntrusionPrevention(WIPS)
functionsprovidecontinuousscanning,
threatclassication,rogueAPdetection,
andcountermeasuresagainstpossible
attacks
• APpersonalitycanchangetofulltime
andparttimesensorstoperformWireless
IntrusionDetectionandPrevention
(WIPS)foreffectivedetectionand
preventionofrogueAPsandotherthreats
• Integrationofsecuritypolicies(NAC,
IPS)acrossthewired/wirelessnetworks
enablesquickdiagnosingandresolution
ofsecuritythreats
Support and Service
• Industry-leadingcustomersatisfaction
andrstcallresolutionrates
• Personalizedservices,includingsite
surveys,networkdesign,installation,
andtraining
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