Wireless LAN controller

A wireless LAN controller is a device that is a central component of a wireless network solution and that helps to manage the large-scale deployment of a wireless network. Traditional wireless LAN deployments consist of access points operating as separate and independent nodes that are autonomously configured. Also called “fat” access points, these access points on the network are managed, operated, and configured independently. A wireless LAN controller is a centralized device in a network, usually located at the data center, to which all the wireless access points on the network are directly or indirectly connected. By virtue of its centralized location and intelligence, the wireless LAN controller is aware of the wireless LAN environment. It provides services that can lower the cost of deployment, simplify management, and provide multiple layers of security.