User's Manual

3/11/05 Cisco Wireless Control System
OL-7426-02
The Cisco Wireless Control System runs on Windows 2000 or 2003 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES
Server workstations. The Windows Cisco WCS can run as a normal Windows application, or can be
installed as a service, which runs continuously and resumes running after a reboot. The Linux Cisco
WCS always runs as a normal Linux application.
The Cisco WCS User Interface allows Network operators to control all permitted Cisco SWAN configura-
tion, monitoring, and control functions through Internet Explorer 6.0 on a Windows workstation (or
other) web browser window. The Network operator permissions are defined by the Cisco WCS adminis-
trator in the Cisco WCS User Interface using the Cisco WCS User Interface Admin tab, which allows the
Cisco WCS administrator to administer user accounts and schedule periodic maintenance tasks.
Cisco WCS simplifies Cisco Wireless LAN Controller configuring and monitoring while decreasing data
entry errors with the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Autodiscovery
algorithm. The Cisco WCS uses
industry-standard SNMP protocol to communicate with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers.
About the Cisco Wireless Control SystemCisco Wireless Control System
The Cisco Wireless Control System supports wireless client data access, Rogue AP detection and
containment functions, Cisco SWAN monitoring and control, and includes graphical views of the
following:
• Auto-discovery of Cisco 1000 Series IEEE 802.11a/b/g Lightweight Access Points as they
associate with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers.
• Auto-discovery, and containment or notification of Rogue Access Points.
• Map-based organization of Access Point coverage areas, helpful when the enterprise spans
more than one geographical area. (Refer to Using Cisco WCS and Checking the Cisco SWAN
Network Summary.)
• User-supplied Campus, Building and Floor graphics, which show the following:
- Locations and status of managed access points. (Refer to Adding a Cisco Wireless LAN
Controller to Cisco WCS.)
- Locations of Rogue APs, based on signal strength received by nearest managed Cisco
1000 Series lightweight access points. (Refer to Detecting and Locating Rogue Access
Points.)
- Coverage hole alarm information for Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points is
based on received signal strength from clients. This information appears in a tabular
rather than map format. (Refer to Finding Coverage Holes
.)
- RF coverage maps.
• System-wide control:
Global and Individual AP Security Policies Yes Yes
Monitors and Configures Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Yes Yes
Supported Workstations:
• Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 Yes Yes
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES Server Yes Yes
Features
Cisco
WCS
Base
Software
Cisco
WCS
Location
Software