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Figure 1. Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS)
Product Overview
Cisco® Wireless Control System (WCS) is the industry's most comprehensive management platform for lifecycle management of 802.11n and 802.11a/b/g, enterprise-class wireless networks. This robust management platform delivers a cost-effective management solution that enables IT administrators to successfully plan, deploy, monitor, troubleshoot, and report on indoor and outdoor wireless networks.
As the management platform for the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, Cisco WCS supports the delivery of high-performance applications and mission-critical solutions that simplify business operations and improve productivity. This comprehensive platform scales to meet the needs of small, midsize, and large-scale wireless LANs across local, remote, national, and international locations. This award-winning solution gives IT managers immediate access to the tools they need, when they need them, to more efficiently implement and maintain new or expanding wireless LANs -all from a centralized location requiring minimal IT staffing.
Operational costs are significantly reduced through the Cisco WCS intuitive GUI, simplified ease-of-use, and built-in tools that deliver improved IT efficiency, lowered IT training costs, and minimized IT staffing requirements, even as the network grows. Unlike overlay management tools, Cisco WCS lowers operational costs by incorporating the full breadth of management requirements―from radio frequency to controllers to services―into a single unified platform.
Flexible, Easy-To-Use Platform
Cisco WCS is the ideal management platform for new and experienced IT administrators. Its simple, intuitive user interface eliminates complexity for users requiring an automated management experience, while comprehensive lifecycle management functions meet the needs of even the most advanced IT administrators. Cisco WCS is inherently flexible, allowing each user to customize their management interface to display only the most relevant information that is required to meet operational and business goals.
Seamless Scalability
Cisco WCS scales to manage hundreds of Cisco wireless LAN controllers, which in turn can manage thousands of Cisco Aironet® access points including the next-generation Cisco Aironet 1140 and 1250 Series 802.11n access points. For large-scale indoor and outdoor deployments, Cisco WCS Navigator can be included to simultaneously support up to 20 Cisco WCS platforms and 30,000 Cisco access points. Adding mobility services such as context-aware software and adaptive wireless intrusion prevention systems (wIPS) is simplified through Cisco WCS integration with the Cisco Mobility Services Engine (MSE).
Comprehensive Wireless LAN Lifecycle Management
Cisco WCS cost-effectively supports all phases of the wireless LAN lifecycle from planning and deployment, to monitoring, to troubleshooting, and customized reporting. Cisco WCS makes wireless LAN operations more efficient and effective for all lifecycle phases (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Comprehensive Wireless LAN Lifecycle Management
Planning
Designing a wireless LAN that effectively supports business-critical data, voice, and video services is simplified with the Cisco WCS suite of built-in planning and design tools (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Simplified Wireless LAN Planning and Design
Cisco WCS planning and design tools simplify the process of defining access point placement and determining access point coverage areas for standard and irregularly shaped buildings. These tools give IT administrators clear visibility into the radio frequency (RF) environment. They make it easier to visualize the ideal RF environment, anticipate future coverage needs, and assess wireless LAN behavior. They help IT administrators reduce, and in many cases eliminate, improper RF designs and coverage problems that can lead to end-user trouble tickets.
Specialized Cisco WCS planning tools enable real-time assessment of the WLAN's readiness to support voice-over-WLAN and context-aware (location) services. Voice-over-WLAN services support single and dual-mode Wi-Fi-enabled phones. Context-aware services use Cisco's patent pending "RF fingerprinting" technology to locate, track, and manage Wi-Fi-enabled devices and their contextual information in conjunction with Cisco MSE.
Deployment
Getting the wireless LAN up and running quickly and cost-effectively to meet end-user needs is streamlined with the broad array of Cisco WCS integrated configuration templates. These easy-to-use templates and deployment tools help IT managers provision and configure the wireless LAN to expressly deliver the services that their business requires (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Flexible Deployment Tools and Configuration Templates
Cisco WCS flexible templates, available through an easy-to-use interface, make it simple to apply common configurations across one or more wireless LAN controllers regardless of their location in the network, whether on the same LAN as Cisco WCS, on separate routed subnets, or across a wide-area connection.
At the click of a button, IT administrators can streamline even the most complex controller configurations, updates, and scheduling across the entire wireless network. Auto-provisioning access points is just as simple, with easy-to-use templates that support customized configuration of single or multiple access points.
Monitoring
Cisco WCS is the ideal management platform for monitoring the entire wireless LAN to maintain robust performance and deliver an optimal wireless experience to mobile end users. Cisco WCS centralized interface makes it easy to access information where it's needed, when it's needed―on demand or as scheduled (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Customizable Dashboard and Easy-to-Use Web-Based Interface
Cisco WCS easy-to-use graphical displays serve as a starting point for maintenance, security, troubleshooting, and future capacity planning activities. Quick access to actionable data about healthy and unhealthy events occurring on the network is available from a variety of entry points, making Cisco WCS vital to ongoing network operations.
The ever-present alarm summary in Cisco WCS simplifies access to critical information, faults, and alarms based on their severity. Detecting, locating, and containing unauthorized (rogue) devices is fully supported when location services are enabled (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Ever-Present Alarm Summary and Simplified Rogue Device Detection and Location
Troubleshooting
The integrated workflows and expansive array of troubleshooting tools in Cisco WCS help IT administrators quickly identify, isolate, and resolve problems across all components of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. Cisco WCS supports rapid troubleshooting of any size WLAN with minimal IT staffing (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Integrated Workflows and Troubleshooting Tools
Cisco WCS makes it easy to quickly assess service disruptions, receive notices about performance degradation, research resolutions, and take action to remedy nonoptimal situations. Integrated workflows support seamless linkage between all tools, alarms, alerts, searches, and reports for all infrastructure components and client devices.
A variety of tools work together to help IT administrators understand the operational nuances occurring on the WLAN and discover nonoptimal events occurring outside baseline parameters such as client connection or roaming problems. The ever-present search tool in Cisco WCS facilitates cross-network access to real-time and historic information about devices and assets located anywhere in the wireless network. Cisco CleanAir supports finding, classifying, and correlating sources of interference from Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi sources such as Bluetooth devices and cordless phones.
A built-in client troubleshooting tool provides a step-by-step method to analyze problems for all client devices. This tool helps reduce operating costs by speeding the resolution of trouble tickets for a variety of Wi-Fi client device types. This robust client troubleshooting tool can also assist with client trending analysis. When Cisco Compatible Extensions clients are used, specialized diagnostic tools are available to support enhanced analysis of connection problems (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Built-in Client Troubleshooting Tool Supports Step-by-Step Problem Analysis
Reporting
Cisco WCS includes customizable reporting that assists IT teams in more effectively managing, maintaining, and evolving the wireless LAN to meet ongoing business and operations requirements. Flexible reports provide access to the right data, at the right time, in a format to meet any requirement (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Customizable Reports Meet Any Requirement
An extensive variety of reports is available to help IT managers stay on top of network trends, maintain network control, audit operations, and quickly address changing business and end-user requirements. Reports are customizable based on user-defined parameters. Detailed analysis of what is going on where and when in the network, as well as capacity planning, is simplified by collecting data from several reports and analyzing trends to understand how the WLAN has changed over time. Understanding WLAN trends makes it easier to plan for future enhancements and growth.
Features and Benefits
Table 1 lists the features and benefits of Cisco WCS.
Table 1. Features and Benefits of Cisco WCS
|
Feature |
Benefit |
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Ease of Use |
• Simple, intuitive user interface eliminates complexity
• Modularized interface supports user-defined customization to display only the most relevant information
• Flexible platform accommodates new and experienced IT administrators
|
|
Scalability |
• Manage hundreds of Cisco wireless LAN controllers and thousands of Cisco Aironet access points from centralized location
• Scalable mobility services are delivered through integration with the Cisco MSE
• Adding Cisco WCS Navigator facilitates simultaneous support up to 20 Cisco WCS platforms and 30,000 Cisco access points for large-scale indoor and outdoor deployments
|
|
WLAN Lifecycle Management |
• Comprehensive wireless LAN lifecycle management includes a full range of planning, deployment, monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting capabilities
|
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Planning |
• Built-in planning and design tools simplify defining access point placement and coverage
• Specialized tools enable real-time assessment of the WLAN's readiness to support VoWLAN and context-aware (location) services
• Support for on-demand coverage re-assessments helps reduce and in many cases eliminate, improper RF designs and coverage problems
|
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Deployment |
• A broad array of integrated controller and access point configuration templates deliver quick and cost-effective deployments
• Network auditing is supported for effective configuration management
• Software-based high availability provides failover from primary (active) to secondary (standby) servers
• Secure wired and wireless guest access gives controlled wireless access to customers, vendors, visitors, and partners while keeping the network secure
• Tools and processes support monitoring, upgrading, and migrating selected Cisco Aironet standalone (autonomous) access points to operate as lightweight access points
• Role-based access control provides flexibility to segment the wireless network into one or more virtual domains controlled by a single Cisco WCS platform
• Cisco Energy-Wise power savings are delivered with adaptive WLAN power management
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Security and Network Protection |
• Robust intrusion prevention system (IPS) supports quick detection, location, and containment of unauthorized (rogue) devices
• Customized signature files protect against unauthorized intrusion and RF attacks
• Automated alarms enable rapid responses to mitigate risks
• Robust service policy engine supports multiple unique service set identifiers (SSIDs) with customizable security and enforcement parameters
• Management frame protection (MFP) monitors the authentication of 802.11 management frames
• Access point wired port authentication with 802.1X validates all access point credentials
• Unified wired and wireless security is delivered though integration with Cisco Self-Defending Network and Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC)
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Monitoring |
• Centralized monitoring of the entire WLAN helps maintain robust WLAN performance and an optimal wireless experience
• Easy-to-use graphical displays serve as a starting point for maintenance, security, troubleshooting, and future capacity planning
• Graphs, charts, and tables are interactive for quick configuration and reconfiguration
• Hierarchical mapping trees, color-coding, and icons support quick visualization and status assessments
• Ever-present alarm summary provides robust security, event, and alarm management
• Google Earth integration helps visualize and manage outdoor wireless mesh deployments
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Troubleshooting |
• Troubleshooting any size WLAN can be performed with minimal IT staffing
• Integrated workflows and tools help IT administrators quickly assess service disruptions, receive notices about performance degradation, research resolutions, and take action to remedy nonoptimal situations
• Ever-present search tool facilitates cross-network access to real-time and historic information
• Client troubleshooting tool supports a step-by-step method to analyze problems for all client devices
• Specialized diagnostic tools support enhanced analysis of connection problems occurring with Cisco Compatible Extensions clients Version 5 or later
• Cisco CleanAir finds, classifies, correlates and displays interference from Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi sources
• Radio resource management (RRM) tools provide visibility into performance and RF statistics
• Voice tools support customizable queries to address VoWLAN problems
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Reporting |
• Reports can be run on real-time and historic network activity, performance, usage, devices, inventory, compliance, and security
• Payment Card Industry (PCI) report analyzes WLAN for potential noncompliant events
• Report data, timeframe, and format is customizable
• Display options for charts, graphs, and tables provide enhanced flexibility
• Out-put reports to CSV or PDF as a saved file or email
• Capacity planning is supported by trending together multiple reports for analysis
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Summary
Cisco WCS is the ideal management platform for comprehensive lifecycle management of 802.11n and 802.11a/b/g enterprise-class indoor and outdoor wireless networks. This extremely flexible platform delivers a wide array of tools and resources for effective planning, deployment, monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting of WLANs that span campus, remote, national, and international locations.
Cisco WCS eliminates the complexity of wireless LAN management. This award winning platform provides clear visibility and control of the wireless LAN from an easy-to-use, centralized interface. It simplifies all WLAN operations, helping to ensure smooth Wi-Fi performance, enhanced network security, and an optimal wireless experience for all mobile end users. Cisco WCS requires minimal IT staffing to meet the most demanding operational requirements. Cisco WCS is the ideal platform for maintaining a cost-effective, business-ready Cisco Unified Wireless Network.
Product Specifications
Table 2 lists the product specifications for Cisco WCS.
Table 2. Product Specifications for Cisco WCS
Cisco WCS Licenses
Please read the Cisco WCS Licensing and Ordering Guide for complete information about selecting the correct Cisco WCS license SKUs as well as instructions for downloading, installing, and registering Cisco WCS software.
Cisco WCS Demonstration License
Customers can experience Cisco WCS, the industry's leading platform for wireless LAN planning, configuration, management, and mobility services, for free for 30 days by downloading the new full-featured, location-enabled Cisco WCS demonstration license. This license supports 10 access points for up to 30 days. Network configurations and set up for the demonstration license are retained to make it easier to transition to a licensed Cisco WCS copy. Register to receive a license for free at http://www.cisco.com/go/license or https://tools.cisco.com/SWIFT/Licensing/PrivateRegistrationServlet?DemoKeys=Y. Select Network Mgmt Products > Wireless Control System > Wireless Control System 30 day trial license. Then, after registration, download Cisco WCS software from the Cisco Wireless Software Center (login required). There is no Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) support for the Cisco WCS demonstration license.
Ordering Information
To place an order for all Cisco WCS licenses except the Cisco WCS demonstration license, visit the Cisco Ordering Website.
Downloading Cisco WCS Software
Download current Cisco WCS software releases from http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/sw-wireless.shtml (login required).
Download Cisco WCS Software Releases 4.0 and 4.1 from http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/Wireless_Control_System_Software (login required)
You can also download Cisco WCS software releases from the Product Upgrade Tool.
Service and Support
Cisco offers a wide range of services programs to accelerate customer success. These innovative services programs are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco services help you protect your network investment, optimize network operations, and prepare your network for new applications to extend network intelligence and the power of your business. For more information about Cisco services, visit Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Advanced Services.
For More Information
For more information about Cisco WCS, contact your local account representative or visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6305/index.html.
For more information about the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/wireless.
For more information, read the Cisco WCS Licensing and Ordering Guide at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6305/products_data_sheet0900aecd804b4646.html.