The network infrastructures in the industrial and office areas are coming ever-closer together. This applies also in the area of wireless communication, causing a constant increase in the number of access points and WLAN clients to be managed. If such networks are established with a large number of stand-alone access points, with each one having to be configured separately, this results in huge costs for initial configuration and operation.

Central wireless LAN controllers enable low-cost, user-friendly and secure operation of large WLAN infrastructures here. Management of the WLAN clients connected to such WLANs is significantly simplified thanks to their division into user groups with different security policies.

The SCALANCE WLC711 IWLAN Controller is a device for centralized management (configuration, diagnostics, firmware updates, access control, security settings, coordination) of a wireless LAN in the industrial environment.

• Fast establishment of a new WLAN or expansion of an existing WLAN with the help of the SCALANCE W786C and SCALANCE W788C controller-based access points
• Parallel operation of different services (e.g. communication between programmable controllers, Internet access, Voice-over-IP telephony and video transmission) on the same controller-based WLAN infrastructure without requiring additional SSIDs for this purpose.
• Seamless transition between production WLAN and corporate WLAN
• Simplified commissioning as well as increased reliability and security thanks to the central management functions of the IWLAN controller in comparison to a WLAN comprising stand-alone access points that have to be configured individually