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CUWN Review — To Cisco Wireless Network Solutions

Cisco Unified Wireless Network (CUWN) solution aims to deliver a secure, scalable, and cost-effective wireless LAN environment. By integrating wireless and wired networking components, CUWN ensures comprehensive security and exceptional performance, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor deployments.

Crucial Elements of Cisco CUWN

Security Enhancements: The CUWN offers end-to-end protection for WLAN endpoints, infrastructure, client communications, and the wired network, going beyond the basic 802.11 security capabilities.

Structure and Elements:

Access points (APs): Associated with Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) and the Wireless Control System (WCS), Cisco Aironet APs are essential for network connectivity.

WLCs, or wireless LAN controllers: WLCM ISR module, 440X, 2106 WLC, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Module (WiSM), and WS-C3750G integrated controller are among the models.

Wireless Control System (WCS): Offers centralized WLAN administration and monitoring.

Setting up

APs and WLCs: An introduction to AP and WLC management.

WCS, APs, and WLCs: Provides further management options via WCS.

APs, WLCs, WCS, and LBS: Provides Location-Based Services (LBS) for sophisticated tracking and management through APs, WLCs, WCS, and LBS.

Cisco CWN Modes of Operation

Lightweight Access Points (LAPs): WLCs perform administration duties, and LAPs control 802.11 operations in real-time. This split-MAC design protects encrypted data using Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) and employs CAPWAP (RFCs 5415–5418) for communication between APs and WLCs.

Autonomous Access Points: These APs handle traffic directly, eliminating the need for a WLC by bridging it between a wired VLAN and a wireless Basic Service Set (BSS).

Flex Connect: Provides uninterrupted connectivity by allowing remote LAPs to locally switch traffic when the CAPWAP tunnel is unavailable, eliminating the need to route through it.

WLC Platforms from Cisco

Cisco WLC Models: Different APs and traffic loads are managed by the vWLC and physical WLCs. Keep in mind that local mode is not supported by the vWLC; only FlexConnect mode is.

Capabilities: RF monitoring, self-healing coverage, dynamic channel assignment, automated power adjustment, client load balancing, and security management are some of the key features. Also, Cisco ASDM is a vital tool for network security management.

The modes and features of Cisco APs

Modes:

Local Mode: This is the APs’ default mode for managing traffic and doing channel scans.

Monitor Mode: APs carry out IDS tasks and serve as sensors to identify rogue devices.

Sniffer Mode: Using programs like Wireshark, APs record and examine traffic.

Office Extend AP (OEAP): Uses encrypted data tunnels to establish a local broadband connection with the central WLC.

Clean Air Technology: uses wireless spectrum analysis to identify and reduce non-802.11 interference.

Handling Solutions

Wireless Control System (WCS): A specialized appliance for WLAN management, RF planning, user tracking, and troubleshooting is called a Wireless Control System (WCS). It has the capacity to oversee 30,000 APs and 20 WCS instances.

Cisco Prime Network Control System (NCS): This provides client position monitoring, dynamic RF coverage heatmaps, and wireless device management.

Cisco Prime Infrastructure (PI): Offers comprehensive management services for wired and wireless networks. Including spectrum analysis, device tracking, and intrusion prevention.

Use these insights to guarantee maximum performance and security in your wireless network architecture for a smooth CUWN deployment.

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