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
relatedtoneighboringAPs.Thisensuresoptimalperformanceforallwirelessclients.IfanAP
fails, neighboring APs will increase power to maintain coverage in the affected area. The APs also
supportRFchannelplanselectionwiththeoptionofsupporting3-channel,4-channel,orafully
custom configuration.
802.11n
EnterasysWireless802.11nAPsareexceptionallypower-efcient,ensuringthattheycanrunon
industry-standard802.3afPoEinfrastructure.Many802.11nAPsexceedthepowerconsumption
limitsofthe802.3afstandardspecicationforPoEwhenconguredfor3x3MIMOonboth
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.
Exceptionalperformanceisdeliveredutilizingthe3x3statisticaldiversetransmitfunction.
802.11nAPperformancegainsarebestachievedinthe5GHzbandwheremorenon-overlapping
channelsareavailable.Toachievetheoptimal300Mbpsdatarate,theEnterasysWireless
802.11nAPcanbeconguredtousechannelbonding,combiningtwoadjacent20MHz
channelsintoasingle40MHzchannel.Additionally,theEnterasysWireless802.11nAPsareDFS
compliantandcanofferupto11non-overlapping,bondedchannels.Thisprovidesmoreexibility
whenbuildinghigh-throughputnetworksthanwith802.11APswhicharenotDFScompliant,as
theyarerestrictedtoonly4non-overlappingbondedchannels.
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
MostWLANsolutionsforcenetworkadministratorstochoosebetweenacentralizedordistributed
architecture. A significant advantage of Enterasys Wireless is that it can support both deployment
modelssimultaneously,offeringsignicantexibilitybenetsoverothersolutions.Network
administratorscanselectthedeploymentmodelonaper-SSIDbasis,withoutanyrestrictions,so
thatthewirelessLANinfrastructurecanadapttobusinessrequirementsandapplications.
Acentralizedarchitecturerequiresalltrafctobebackhauledtoacentralizedcontroller.Withthe
higherdataratesof802.11nAPs,trafcloadsonthewirednetworkcanbemuchgreaterthan
thosecreatedbylegacy802.11a/b/gAPs.DependingonthesizeoftheWLANdeploymentandhow
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
processingcomplexityforreal-timemobileapplicationsthatrequireseamlesscross-subnetroaming
(e.g.VoWLAN).ThiscanforceITmanagerstoeithercreatealargebroadcastdomainorapply
many VLANs.
EnterasysWirelessVirtualNetworkServicescontroltrafcowbyallowingtrafctobebackhauled
toawirelesscontrollerorswitchedlocallyattheAP,onaperSSIDbasis.Withlocalswitching,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.
Benets(cont.)
Security
• Authenticationandauthorization
functionsincluderole-basedaccess
control(using802.1X,MAC,andcaptive
portal)andauthenticationattheAP
(802.1Xsupplicant)
• Standards-basedencryption(WEP,TKIP,
WPA,WPA2,WPA-PSK,WPA-PSK2,and
AES)attheAP
• WirelessIntrusionPrevention(WIPS)
functionsprovidecontinuousscanning,
threatclassication,rogueAPdetection,
andcountermeasuresagainstpossible
attacks
• APpersonalitycanchangetofulltime
andparttimesensorstoperformWireless
IntrusionDetectionandPrevention
(WIPS)foreffectivedetectionand
preventionofrogueAPsandotherthreats
• Integrationofsecuritypolicies(NAC,
IPS)acrossthewired/wirelessnetworks
enablesquickdiagnosingandresolution
ofsecuritythreats
Support and Service
• Industry-leadingcustomersatisfaction
andrstcallresolutionrates
• Personalizedservices,includingsite
surveys,networkdesign,installation,
andtraining
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