Users Guide
Dell PowerConnect W-Series Instant Access Point 6.2.0.0-3.2.0.0 | User Guide
205 | Dell PowerConnect W-Air-
Wave Integration and Management
Chapter 23
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave Integration and Management
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave is a powerful and easy-to-use network operations system that
manages Dell wireless, wired, and remote access networks, as well as wired and wireless
infrastructures from a wide range of third-party manufacturers. With its easy-to-use interface, Dell
PowerConnect W-AirWave provides real-time monitoring, proactive alerts, historical reporting,
and fast, efficient troubleshooting. It also offers tools that manage RF coverage, strengthen
wireless security, and demonstrate regulatory compliance.
DellW-IAPs communicate with Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave using the HTTPS protocol. This
allows an Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave server to be deployed in the cloud across a NAT device,
such as a router.
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave Features
This section describes the Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave features that are available in the
DellW-Instant network.
Image Management
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave allows you to manage firmware updates on WLAN devices by
defining a minimum acceptable firmware version for each make and model of a device. It remotely
distributes the firmware image to the WLAN devices that require updates, and it schedules the
firmware updates such that updating is completed without requiring you to manually monitor the
devices.
The following models can be used to upgrade the firmware:
l Automatic— In this model, the Virtual Controller (VC) periodically checks for newer updates
from a configured URL and automatically initiates upgrade of the network.
l Manual— In this model, the user can manually start a firmware upgrade on a VC-by-VC basis
or set the desired firmware preference per group of devices.
W-IAP and Client Monitoring
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave allows you to find any W-IAP or client on the wireless network
and to see real-time monitoring views. These monitoring views can be used to aggregate critical
information and high-end monitoring information.
Template-based Configuration
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave automatically creates a configuration template based on any of
the existing W-IAPs, and it applies that template across the network as shown in Figure 148. It
audits every device on an ongoing basis to ensure that configurations never vary from the