Cisco Systems OL-7426-03 About Cisco WCS Base, Cisco Features, Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES Server

	Cisco	Cisco
Features	WCS	WCS
	Base	Location
Supported Workstations:
• Windows 2000 or Windows 2003	Yes	Yes
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES Server	Yes	Yes

The Cisco Wireless Control System runs on Windows 2000 or 2003 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES servers. 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 Cisco WCS operators to control all permitted Cisco WLAN Solution configuration, monitoring, and control functions through Internet Explorer 6.0 on a Windows worksta- tion (or other) web browser window. The Cisco WCS operator permissions are defined by the Cisco WCS administrator 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 WCS Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Autodiscovery algorithm. The Cisco WCS uses industry-standard SNMP protocol to communicate with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers.

The Cisco WCS also includes the Floor Plan Editor, which allows you to vectorize bitmapped campus, floor plan, and outdoor area maps, add and change wall types, and import the resulting vector wall format maps into the Cisco WCS database. The vector files allow the Cisco WCS RF Prediction Tool to make much better RF predictions based on more accurate wall and window RF attenuation values.

About Cisco WCS Base

The Cisco WCS Base version supports wireless client data access, rogue access point detection and containment functions, Cisco WLAN Solution monitoring and control, and includes graphical views of the following:

•Auto-discovery of Cisco 1000 Series 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 WLAN Solution 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 access points, based on signal strength received by the 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.

5/26/05	Cisco WCS Base
OL-7426-03