Wireless
A modern company or government agency needs a reliable and powerful WLAN infrastructure to meet the ever-growing demands of the digital world. WLAN access points play a crucial role here, providing wireless network connections for computers, smartphones and other devices.
WLAN AP Manufacturers at it4trade.com
At it4trade.com you will find a wide range of WLAN access points for business and government, tailored to the specific needs of your network. Choose from our range of leading manufacturers such as Cisco, Juniper, HPE Aruba, Extreme, Huawei, Lancom and Fortinet to upgrade or replace your IT hardware and build a powerful and future-proof WLAN infrastructure.
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Cisco
Juniper
Extreme Networks
HPE / ARUBA
Huawei
Fortinet
Lancom
We have compiled an overview of the most popular product families and products for you:
| Manufacturer | Cisco | Cisco | Juniper | HPE Aruba | HPE Aruba |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Aironet | Catalyst | Mist | Instant | AP |
| Popular model | Aironet 2800 / 3800 | Catalyst 9100 | AP43 | Instant IAP-315 | AP-535 |
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| MIMO | 4x4 | 4x4 | 4x4 | 4x4 | 4x4 |
| Max. Data rate | 2,6 Gbit/s | 5,38 Gbit/s | 4,8 Gbit/s | 2,1 Gbit/s | 4,8 Gbit/s |
| Security | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x |
| Management | Cisco DNA, CLI, Web | Cisco DNA, CLI, Web | Mist Cloud | Aruba Central | Aruba Central |
| Special features | Flexible radio assignment | IoT Integration | AI-supported management | Zero-touch provisioning | SmartRate support |
| Manufacturer | Extreme | Extreme | Huawei | Lancom | Fortinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | WiNG | ExtremeCloud IQ | AirEngine | LN | FortiAP |
| Popular model | AP-7532 | AP-410C | AirEngine 5760-51 | LN-1702 | FortiAP-231F |
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| MIMO | 3x3 | 2x2 | 4x4 | 2x2 | 4x4 |
| Max. Data rate | 1,3 Gbit/s | 1,2 Gbit/s | 5,95 Gbit/s | 867 Mbit/s | 3,55 Gbit/s |
| Security | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x | WPA3, 802.1x, IPS |
| Management | ExtremeCloud IQ | ExtremeCloud IQ | Huawei eSight | Lancom Management Cloud | FortiGate Controller |
| Special features | Mesh networks | Cloud-managed | IoT Integration | Made in Germany | Integrated firewall |
What is the function of WLAN AP in the network?
WLAN Access Points are devices that provide a wireless network (WLAN) in a specific environment. They allow computers, smartphones, and other devices to connect wirelessly to a network in order to access the internet or other network resources. Simply put, Access Points act as bridges between wired and wireless networks, providing a stable and fast internet connection for wireless devices.
What to consider when buying WiFi access points - a guide
| Nr. | Feature | Possible options |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Location | Indoor Access Points |
| Outdoor Access Points | ||
| 2. | Access point type | Standalone Access Points |
| Controller-based access points | ||
| Mesh Access Points | ||
| 3. | WLAN standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | ||
| 4. | Frequency bands | Single-band (2.4 GHz) |
| Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) | ||
| Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and additional 5 GHz) | ||
| 5. | Speed and performance | Maximum data transmission rate |
| Number of simultaneous connections | ||
| 6. | Range and coverage | Signal strength |
| Number of antennas | ||
| Beamforming technology | ||
| 7. | Security and authentication | WPA3 encryption |
| 802.1X authentication | ||
| Intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS) | ||
| 8. | Scalability and management | Easy integration into existing networks |
| Centralized management and monitoring | ||
| Cloud-managed solutions | ||
| 9. | Power over Ethernet (PoE) | PoE support |
| Compatibility with existing PoE switches or injectors | ||
| 10 | Other features | Quality of Service (QoS) for prioritizing traffic for critical applications |
| Roaming support enables endpoints to move between different APs within a network without the disconnects | ||
| Load balancing and band steering distribute traffic across access points and frequency bands for optimal performance | ||
| Automatic channel assignment of the best available channel to minimize interference | ||
| Artificial intelligence and machine learning to automatically respond to changes in the network environment |
The above points should help you choose the WLAN access point that best suits your needs. These features may vary by manufacturer and model, but are found in many current WLAN access points to provide high performance, security, and user experience.
What is the function of WLAN controllers?
A WLAN controller is a hardware device or software used to manage and monitor WLAN access points in a wireless network. Its main function is to centrally control the configuration, monitoring and optimisation of the access points to improve network performance and security.
In simple terms, a WLAN controller acts as the "brain" of the wireless network by controlling and coordinating the communication and collaboration between the different access points. It allows administrators to make changes to the network configuration quickly and easily without having to configure each access point individually. This simplifies network management and improves performance and stability.
Here are some of the main functions of WLAN controllers in the network:
- An important aspect of WLAN controllers is their scalability. A good controller can manage several thousand access points and clients to ensure that the network remains stable and reliable, even as it grows. This is especially important for companies with many locations and a high number of mobile devices.
- Another important factor is the management of security policies and measures. A WLAN controller makes it possible to centrally manage and enforce security policies on all access points in the network. This is critical to ensure that the network is protected from threats and attacks and that only authorized users can access the network. In scenarios where organizations store or transmit sensitive data or confidential information, effective network security is essential.
- Another important aspect is network management and monitoring. A WLAN controller provides a centralized dashboard for monitoring network status and troubleshooting. It also allows firmware updates and configuration changes to be made on all access points in the network to ensure that the network is secure and up to date. This is especially important in scenarios where an enterprise network needs to run smoothly and uninterrupted, such as in hospitals or manufacturing.
- Another important aspect is QoS support. WLAN controllers can provide Quality of Service (QoS) features to ensure that critical applications are prioritized to ensure optimal network performance. This is especially important in scenarios where enterprises use voice- or video-based applications that require high bandwidth and low latency.
In summary, WLAN controllers are central management units for wireless networks that help improve network performance, security, and stability. They provide administrators with a central interface for monitoring and controlling access points, simplifying and optimizing the management of WLAN infrastructures. WLAN controllers can exist in the form of physical devices or software solutions and are particularly crucial in larger networks and enterprise environments.
WLAN controller manufacturer and most popular product families at a glance
Here you will find an overview of the WLAN controller manufacturers listed with us and which product families are supported:
| Features | Cisco | Juniper | HPE Aruba | Extreme | Huawei | Lancom | Fortinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Catalyst | Mist | Aruba Central | ExtremeCloud | eSight | Management | FortiWLC |
| Popular Model | Catalyst 9800-L | Mist Cloud | Aruba 7200 Series | ExtremeCloud IQ | AC6605 Series | WLAN Controller LANCOM WLC | FortiWLC 800D |
| Max. Number of Access Points | 6.000 | 10.000+ | 2.048 | 50.000+ | 2.000 | 1.000+ | 4.096 |
| Max. Clients | 64.000 | 50.000+ | 32.000 | 1.000.000+ | 64.000 | 10.000+ | 32.000 |
| Management Methods | DNA Center, CLI, Web | Cloud-based, API | Cloud-based, Web, CLI, API | Cloud-based, Web, CLI, API | Web, CLI, eSight | Web, CLI, LANconfig | Web, FortiGate Controller |
| Security Features | WPA3, 802.1X, Cisco TrustSec, Stealthwatch | WPA3, 802.1X, AI-driven security | WPA3, 802.1X, Aruba ClearPass, IDS/IPS | WPA3, 802.1X, Extreme Defender | WPA3, 802.1X, Huawei Agile Controller | WPA3, 802.1X, Lancom Public Spot | WPA3, 802.1X, Fortinet Security Fabric |
| Special Features | Supports Wi-Fi 6 and IoT integration | AI-driven management, network analytics | Scalable up to 10 controllers | AI-driven management, network analytics | Supports IPv6 and IPv4 dual-stack | Made in Germany, roaming support | Integrated firewall |
| Compatible Product Families | Aironet, Catalyst, Meraki | Mist APs, SRX, NFX, EX Switches | APs, Mobility Access Switches, ClearPass | Extreme APs, Switches, Routers | APs, Switches | LANCOM APs, Switches, VPN Routers | FortiAP, FortiSwitch |
| Portquantity | 8 to 16 | 8 to 48 | to zu 32 | 8 to 48 | to zu 16 | 4 to 120 | to zu 64 |
| Uplink-Ports | 2 to 4 | 2 to 4 | to zu 8 | 2 to 4 | 2 to 4 | 2 to 4 | to zu 2 |
| Datalink Protocol | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Integrated AI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Frequently asked questions about WLAN access points for enterprises
What is the difference between a standalone access point and a controller-based access point?
A standalone access point works alone and can be managed from a single device, while controller-based access points are managed from a central controller.
What factors should I consider when choosing an access point for my business?
Key factors include the number of devices that will be connected simultaneously, network coverage, network security, integration with other network devices and network scalability.
What type of antennas should I choose for my access points?
The type of antenna depends on the specific needs of your business. Indoor antennas are generally suitable for indoor use, while outdoor antennas are designed for outdoor use.
How can I make sure my Wi-Fi network is secure?
There are several security measures you can take to ensure the security of your WLAN network, such as implementing encryption, authentication and guest networks, updating firmware and setting up security policies.
How many access points do I need for my business?
The number of access points you need depends on several factors, such as the size of your organization, the number of devices that will be connected at the same time, the number of applications used at the same time, and the coverage of the network.
How can I ensure that my access points are performing at their best?
You should ensure that your access points are placed to provide optimal coverage, that they are operating at the correct frequency, and that they are able to efficiently distribute the network load. You should also ensure that your access points are updated with the latest firmware updates.