WLC-15 Wireless Access Controller Pre-production

In March, mass production of WLC-30, the first model in ELTEX series of hardware wireless controllers for medium-sized networks, began. Recently the development of the junior model WLC-15 has been completed. It is an optimal choice for small businesses that need a reliable tool for managing corporate Wi-Fi networks in offices, shops and enterprises.

The new model supports connection of up to 50 access points via L2/L3 (compared to 150 access points for WLC-30). The controller has a default basic configuration, which speeds up the initial network deployment process. At the same time, engineers can flexibly adjust all the necessary parameters to the needs of a particular project.

WLC-15 supports operation with all current ELTEX Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 access points.

Interfaces

WLC-15 is equipped with a universal set of interfaces: four Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 1 Gbps SFP ports for connecting to the network infrastructure. An RJ-45 console port and a USB 2.0 port are provided on the front panel.

For projects requiring higher bandwidth and density of wireless client connections, the WLC-30 controller with two 10Gbps optical ports is recommended.

Like WLC-30, the junior model has a slot for a 2.5-inch hard drive to locally collect data on user registration and network activity*. This is a prerequisite for authenticating users on public networks.

^* The feature will be available in future updates.

Routing and traffic protection

WLC-15 is based on the ESR-15R router hardware platform. It combines routing and security capabilities with advanced wireless network configuration, management and monitoring functionality.

WLC-15 supports static and dynamic IPv4/IPv6 routing, trust zone, application, and L2/L3/L4-field-based firewall.

Additional licences to extend the protection capabilities with IDS/IPS intrusion detection systems and Kaspersky SafeStream II threat can be used.

Authentication

Flexible authentication options allow you to optimally organise access control to your Wi-Fi network in accordance with your company's security policies.

The controller allows RADIUS authentication using an external or local server. WPA2/WPA3 Personal and Enterprise encryption standards are supported.

In future updates, LDAP authorisation will be available. This will simplify administration and make corporate network access more flexible.

Radio parameter setting system

One of the key benefits of the WLC-15 controller is the built-in Airtune system for managing parameters of connected APs. It helps simplify configuration and ensure optimal Wi-Fi performance even in dense client environments and challenging radio environments.

The system functionality includes automatic configuration of radio parameters, selection of optimal channels and transmission power for access points, and load balancing between them. The system provides seamless roaming for clients when travelling across the enterprise in accordance with the 802.11k/v standard.

With Airtune, administrators have an intelligent toolkit for building a high-performance and reliable Wi-Fi network based on WLC-15.

To find out more about WLC-15, please contact the ELTEX sales department: foreign.sales@eltex-co.ru