includes the same configuration, performance
monitoring, security, fault management, and accounting options
that are used at the controller level and adds a graphical view
of multiple controllers and managed access points. Figure is a
representation of the complete functionality of Cisco WCS.
Cisco WCS runs on Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms. Cisco
WCS can run as a normal application or as a service, which runs
continuously and resumes running after a reboot. The Cisco WCS
user interface enables operators to control all permitted Cisco
WLAN solution configuration, monitoring, and control functions
through Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later. The
administrator can define operator permissions using the Cisco
WCS user interface Administration menu. This menu enables the
administrator to manage user accounts and schedule periodic
maintenance tasks. Cisco WCS simplifies controller
configuration and monitoring while reducing data-entry errors
with the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller autodiscovery algorithm.
Cisco WCS uses SNMP to communicate with the controllers. Cisco
WCS software is the industry-leading platform for WLAN
planning, configuration, and management. The software provides
a powerful foundation that IT managers can use to design,
control, and monitor enterprise wireless networks from a
centralized location, simplifying operations and reducing the
total cost of ownership. Flexible and secure NMSs are made
possible by an intuitive GUI with a browser that is accessible
via HTTPS. Cisco WCS supports SNMP version 1 (SNMPv1), SNMPv2,
and SNMPv3. Figure summarizes these points. Cisco provides a
variety of options for efficiently tracking wireless devices,
including Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, personal digital assistants
(PDAs), voice handsets, and mobile assets that are equipped
with 802.11 transceivers. You can deploy Cisco WCS in any of
the following three versions, illustrated in Figure :
- Cisco WCS Base: The base version of Cisco WCS can
determine which access point a wireless device is associated
with, giving IT managers a general approximation of where
wireless devices are situated.
- Cisco WCS
Location: Environments that require more granular location
services can implement an optional version of Cisco WCS, called
Cisco WCS Location that uses Cisco's patent-pending RF
fingerprinting technology. This technology compares real-time
client RSSI information to known RF building characteristics,
making Cisco the only WLAN infrastructure with the ability to
locate a wireless device accurately to within a few
meters.
- Cisco Wireless Location Appliance: In
addition, Cisco WCS Location can be deployed in conjunction
with Cisco Wireless Location Appliance to track thousands of
wireless clients in real time, simultaneously.
With
these advanced location-tracking capabilities, the Cisco
Unified Wireless Network is an ideal platform for helping to
enable key business applications that take advantage of
wireless mobility, such as asset tracking, inventory
management, and enhanced 911 (e911) services for voice. By
incorporating indoor location tracking into the wireless LAN
infrastructure itself, Cisco reduces the complexities of
wireless LAN deployment and minimizes total cost of ownership.
Content 6.3 Managing WLANs
6.3.7 Cisco WCS Software Features The Cisco WCS
operating system manages all data client, communications, and
system administration functions, performs radio resource
management (RRM) functions, manages system-wide mobility
policies using the operating system security solution, and
coordinates all security functions using the operating system
security framework. Cisco WCS Base Software
Features
Figure summarizes the features of Cisco WCS
Base. Cisco WCS Base supports wireless client data access,
rogue access point detection and containment functions (such as
real-time location of rogue access points to the nearest Cisco
access point and real-time and historical location of clients
to the nearest Cisco access point), and Cisco WLAN solution
monitoring and control. Cisco WCS software features include
graphical views of the following: - Autodiscovery of
access points as the access points associate with
controllers
- Autodiscovery and containment or
notification of rogue access points
- Map-based
organization of access point coverage areas, which is helpful
when the enterprise spans more than one geographical area
- User-supplied campus, building, and floor plan graphics,
which show this information:
- Locations and status of
managed access points
- Locations of rogue access points
based on the signal strength received by the nearest managed
Cisco access points
- Coverage hole alarm information
for access points based on the received signal strength from
clients—appears in tabular rather than map format
- RF
coverage maps
Cisco WCS Base also
provides system-wide control of the following:
- Configuration using customer-defined templates for
controllers and managed access points
- Status and alarm
monitoring of network, controllers, and managed access
points
- Automated and manual data client monitoring and
control functions
- Automated monitoring of rogue access
points, coverage holes, security violations, controllers, and
access points
- Full event logs for data clients, rogue
access points, coverage holes, security violations,
controllers, and access points
- Automatic channel and
power level assignment by RRM
- User-defined automatic
controller status audits, missed trap polling, configuration
backups, and policy cleanups
Cisco WCS Location
Software Features
Figure summarizes the features of
Cisco WCS Location. Cisco WCS Location includes all the
features of Cisco WCS Base as well as these enhancements:
- On-demand location of rogue access points to within 33 feet
(10 meters)
- On-demand location of clients to within 33
feet
- The ability to use location appliances to collect
and return historical location data that you can view in the
Cisco WCS Location user interface
The Cisco Wireless
Location Appliance can be used to improve the functionality of
Cisco WCS Location. The Cisco Wireless Location Appliance
performs location computations based on the RSSI information
that arrives from Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers. The Cisco
Wireless LAN Controllers that gather the RSSI information must
be associated with the Cisco Wireless Location Appliance. You
can use the Cisco 2710 Series Location Appliance (explained
later in this lesson) as a Cisco Wireless Location Appliance.
Cisco WCS Deployment
Figure represents a deployment
of Cisco WCS. The Cisco WLAN solution consists of Cisco
Wireless LAN Controllers and their associated lightweight
access points controlled by the operating system, all
concurrently managed by any or all of the operating system user
interfaces. The following user interfaces exist: - An
HTTPS full-featured web user interface hosted by Cisco
controllers can be used to configure and monitor individual
controllers.
- A full-featured CLI can be used to
configure and monitor individual controllers.
- Cisco
WCS can be used to configure and monitor one or more
controllers and associated access points. Cisco WCS has tools
to facilitate large-system monitoring and control.
- An
industry-standard SNMPv1, SNMPv2c, and SNMPv3 interface can be
used with any SNMP-compliant third-party network management
system.
Minimum Client Server Requirements for
Cisco WCS
Cisco WCS is supported under Microsoft
Windows 2000, Windows 2003, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES v.3
servers as either a normal application or a service. There are
some minimum server requirements: - Windows 2000
Service Pack (SP) 4 or greater, Windows 2003 SP1 or greater, or
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES v.3
- Up to 500 access
points: 2.4-GHz Pentium with 1-GB RAM
- More than 500
access points: dual processors (at least 2.4 GHz each) with