Definition[]
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.[1]
Overview[]
Traditional wireless LAN deployments consist of access points operating as separate and independent nodes that are autonomously configured.[2] Also called “fat” access points, these access points on the network are managed, operated, and configured independently.[3] 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.[4] By virtue of its centralized location and intelligence, the wireless LAN controller is aware of the wireless LAN environment.[5] It provides services that can lower the cost of deployment, simplify management, and provide multiple layers of security.[6]