It’s been a long time since I wrote regarding Cisco Wireless technologies, and since my newest CCNA Wireless book is about to hit the shelves next week, as well as Cisco soon to be released Borderless Mobility networks, I thought I’d write a post regarding the benefits regarding the current Cisco enterprise solutions for your wireless networks.

There are basically two types of wireless networks you can install today: stand-alone (also called autonomous, and Cisco uses the two words interchangeably depending on what day of the week it is), and lightweight (controller based) solutions. The controller based solutions are becoming the defacto standard for all manufacturers today, but autonomous solutions are still available, and this solutions can be found in Cisco’s Linksys products.

If you have an autonomous solution, you have a wireless network as shown in this figure:

Autonomous APs have their own internetworking operating system (IOS). You configure them individually, and there’s no centralized administration point, as pictured. By contrast, the CUWN lightweight model solution definitely requires centralized control, which is gained via Cisco WLAN controllers ( WLCs). APs are controlled and monitored by the WLC, and al All clients and APs transmit information back to the WLC, including stats about coverage, interference, and even client data—back to the WLC as shown in the following figure:

Although the controller based solution is more expensive, the benefits can outweigh the costs because the administrative overhead can reduced. However, if you only have three or four access-points, the costs may not justify the need for a controller, depends on your needs.
All transmitted data is sent between the APs and the WLCs via an encapsulation protocol called Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP). LWAPP carries and encapsulates control information between the APs and the WLC over an encrypted tunnel. Client data is encapsulated with an LWAPP header that contains vital information about the client’s Received received Signal signal Strength strength Indicator indicator (RSSI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Once the data has arrived at the WLC, it can be forwarded as needed, which is how the real-time processes actually become available. A couple of great benefits gained through this kind of centralized control are improved security and traffic conditioning.
The controller considers a number of RF characteristics in real time to efficiently handle channel assignments. These include the following:
-Noise
-Client load
-802.11 interference
-Utilization
-Access point received energy

The WLC can digest all this information and through the use of algorithms make decisions on the behalf of the entire system.

Another great benefit about lightweight architecture is that it allows for the splitting of 802.11 Data Link layer functions between the Lightweight AP and the WLC. The Lightweight AP handles real-time portions of the communication, and the Cisco WLC handles the items that aren’t time-sensitive. This technology is typically referred to as split MAC.

One last thing I want to mention: Cisco’s Radio Resource Management (RRM) engine is the component of the WLC that makes the magic of RF environment management possible. Through the use of dynamic algorithms, the WLC creates an environment that is completely self-configuring, self-optimizing, and self-healing. The RRM performs these functions:
• Radio resource monitoring
• Client and network load balancing
• Dynamic channel assignment
• Coverage hole detection and correction
• Dynamic transmit power control
• Interference detection and avoidance
By receiving information constantly from the APs under its control, the WLC maintains a broad and comprehensive view of the RF environment.

That’s it for now, I’ll be back shortly to blog about Cisco’s new up and coming Borderless Mobility with the new CUWN Clean-Air Technology.

In the meantime, be sure and check out http://www.globalnettraining.com/ for some really sweet specials (including my CCNA Wireless class!) and where you can find the best and only Todd Lammle Cisco Authorized training.

Cheers!
Todd Lammle

If you’ve been paying attention to what the latest must have certs from the Cisco world are, then you’ve definitely heard about the happening new CCNP Wireless track. If you haven’t, no worries, I’ll get you up to speed right here: The latest, greatest professional level cert is the CCNP Wireless Certification that sits squarely between the almost as recently announced CCNA and CCIE Wireless Certs. (Why it isn’t called the CCWP is presently beyond me, but I promise to fill you in as soon as I find out. I mean, that’s what I’d call it, wouldn’t you?)

Anyway, so you know, the CCNP was just unveiled this June, but the exams won’t be available until late July 2009. This means that if you’re skill-set is already pretty solid, it would be a really good idea to get yourself on Cisco’s wireless certification path ASAP to keep your edge. For those of you that currently may not be as high up on the I.T. food chain as you’d like, this freshly-minted wireless certification trio is exactly what you need to get you to the top!

The new Cisco Wireless career path looks something like this:

Although there are no laws against aiming way high and going straight for the CCIE Wireless exam, know that there still isn’t, (as of this writing), a single person who’s come close to succeeding at that.

Why? Well, the CCNA Wireless course and exam combine to present an unusually tough challenge as a first step certification, and the next step — the CCNP Wireless Cert — is so packed full of leading edge technologies, passing the exams is a nicely notable achievement in itself.

These factors make going for the gold and hitting the legendary and formidable CCIE Wireless course/related exam without getting your CCNA and CCNP Wireless certs first, is about as wise as attempting to ace the MCAT and get into med school in 6th grade.

Just because you can take these exams doesn’t mean you should, because doing so without the proper preparation and knowledge is basically a great way to waste your hard earned dollars. These exams are hard enough when you’re armed with the knowledge that you’ll lock in during the class, so don’t waste cash by skipping these vital prerequisites! After all, this is a big reason why the CCNP Wireless was introduced in the first place—to bridge the knowledge gap and increase your odds of success in attaining the ultimate— your CCIE Wireless Certification!

Okay, so here’s a preview of some of the technologies covered within this new CCNP Wireless track: (to see the exam objectives and course outline for the CCNA Wireless, click here)
The CCNP Wireless is made up of four more modules taken after the CCNA Wireless. They look like this:

Lastly, here’s a brief description of each of these courses and what they cover:

• Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Mobility Services (IUWMS) v1.0
  The IUWMS course is designed to give students a firm understanding of how to integrate mobility services into the network as well as tune and troubleshoot the WLAN and implement indoor enterprise mesh networks. Plus you get to play with the very new Mobility Service Engine (MSE) devices.
• Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Voice Networks (IUWVN) v1.0
  The IUWVN course is designed to give students a firm understanding of how to integrate VoWLAN services into the WLAN and be able to implement VoWLAN, QoS, and high-bandwidth applications into the wireless network.
• Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey (CUWSS) v1.0
  The goal of the course is to provide students with information and practice activities to prepare students to technically plan and conduct a wireless site survey. The student should be able to design the RF network and conduct a post installation assessment to ensure compliancy.
• Implementing Advanced Cisco Unified Wireless Security (IAUWS) v1.0
  The goal of the course is to provide network professional with information to prepare them to secure the wireless network from security threats via appropriate security policies and best practices, as well as ensure the proper implementation of security standards and proper configuration of security components such as ACS and NAC.

Note: While there is no exact order you must complete the courses or exams, I highly recommend taking and completing the Site Survey course as a first step. This course/exam provides the material best suited after the CCNA Wireless course/exam and will ensure you have a sure-footed foundation for the other three courses/exams needed to achieve the highly desired CCNP Wireless.

There you have it! The four courses needed for the CCNP Wireless certification. As I already mentioned, the exams for each of these courses will be available in September.

I am teaching a CCNA Wireless class in Dallas soon. Hope to see you there!

Cheers!
Todd Lammle
CEO, GlobalNet Training