What is a WLC (Wireless LAN Controller)?

What is a WLC (Wireless LAN Controller)?

As the demand for Wi-Fi access increases, more Wireless Access Points (APs) are being installed. Recently, an AP at our company stopped working, and a technician came to replace it. But how did they know one AP wasn't functioning?

 

A Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) acts as a "control tower," monitoring and managing APs. It automatically handles the configuration of Wireless APs, allowing for centralized control.

 

When deploying WLANs in an enterprise environment, initially, each AP is managed independently, even if they're on the same network. However, if there aren’t enough APs, or if there are technical issues, the network can become unstable. This is where the WLC comes in, resolving such problems centrally.

 

The WLC communicates using the LWAPP (Lightweight Access Point Protocol).

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Functions of a WLC:

• Centralized AP management: WLCs manage numerous APs within a building, ensuring their configuration and authentication are handled centrally.
• Seamless Roaming: When a wireless device (e.g., a laptop) moves from the range of AP1 to AP2, the WLC ensures a seamless transition to the same network (SSID) without any interruption.
• Adding New APs: WLCs allow for the easy addition and configuration of new APs.
• Traffic Routing: All traffic from wireless devices is routed through the WLC, enabling the controller to manage access to different networks and set priority for certain types of traffic.

In summary, WLCs play a crucial role in managing large-scale wireless networks efficiently.