Aruba Networks Version 3.3 manual Data center ManagementMaster

Aggregation Layer Mobility Controllers allow user traffic to stay close to associated servers; there is no need to tunnel user traffic all the way to the Management layer.

zWireless Access

The Wireless Access layer is comprised of APs: single or dual-band, 802.11a/b/g or n, indoor or outdoor. They can be connected using wired switch ports, secure mesh or Remote AP.

Data center

ManagementMaster

active

Control

File

Web

Master
standby	PBX
	RADIUS

Aggregation Local

Local

Data

Wireless

Access

Air monitor

Together, the Management, Aggregation, and Wireless Access layers overlay on the Core, Distribution and Access infrastructure in a seamless, secure and high-performance manner. Any Aruba controller can serve as in the Management and Aggregation layer, and in smaller networks, a single controller provides both functions.

The network architect typically chooses the controller model that has capacity appropriate to the size of the user and AP population. In contrast to the Core/Distribution/Access model with capacity increasing as you approach the Core; a User-Centric network requires more capacity in the middle layer where tunnels are terminating and policies are being applied.

Other Aruba Reference Architectures

This Campus Wireless LAN Reference Architecture represents a large scale, highly available WLAN deployment model for a campus environment with numerous buildings that house thousands of users. This is the recommended deployment for this environment. There are other reference architectures that are considered best practices at different scales, and for different types of customer scenarios. Other Reference Architecture models that are commonly deployed by our customers are described in Appendix C on page 71.

Campus Wireless Networks Validated Reference Design Version 3.3 Design Guide Campus WLAN Validated Reference Design 21