Cisco WLC Deployment Models

Lessons Discussion
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This topic is to discuss the following lesson:

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Great overview, thanks :slight_smile:

Kind regards,
Martin

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In the Cisco ENCOR Blueprint it mentions models like centralized, distributed, and controller-less. I can see that Unified is the centralized model, and possible distributed is the embedded, but what about the controller-less model. Which one of models mentioned in this video would be controller-less? Am I right about the embedded?

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Hello Curtis

The Cisco ENCOR Blueprint does indeed outline the wireless deployment models that you mention. Specifically:

1.2 Describe wireless network design principles
1.2.a Wireless deployment models (centralized, distributed, controller-less, controller-based, cloud, remote branch)

These are covered in the lessons like so:

  1. Centralized uses a dedicated hardware/appliance Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) in a central location, managing all APs. It provides unified configuration, RF management, and policy enforcement. This aligns with the “Unified WLC” deployment.
  2. Controller-less model uses APs that operate independently without a central controller. Each AP is manually configured making it suitable for small deployments. This matches the “Autonomous AP Deployment”.
  3. Distributed is where APs connect to a central WLC but can switch traffic locally during WLC outages, blending centralized management with distributed data forwarding. This architecture is not the same as embedded WLC, but it aligns with FlexConnect.
  4. Embedded WLC is actually the case where a switch or router or even an AP hosts the WLC. While distributed geographically, this still uses a controller and doesn’t qualify as controller-less. It supports smaller-scale deployments.

I will let Rene know to take a look at this and ask him to consider rephrasing some of the names so that it aligns better with the blueprint terminology. Thanks for the question, it’s helpful to work these things out!

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz

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Hello everyone.

My book describes the following:

Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless for a Switch
Catalyst 9800 wireless controller software for the Cisco Catalyst 9300 switch brings the wired and wireless infrastructure together with consistent policy and management. The Cisco Catalyst 9800 embedded wireless controller software package can be installed on Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches to enable wireless controller functionality for distributed branches and small campuses.

Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless for an AP
The Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller on Catalyst Access Point (EWC-AP) is a next generation Wi-Fi solution that combines the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controllers with the latest Wi-Fi 6 Cisco Catalyst 9100 access points.

Cisco Mobility Express
This is a reliable and affordable wireless solution for enterprise branches or small
to medium-size businesses that want a managed AP solution without being required to buy, maintain, and manage a separate WLAN controller appliance. Cisco Mobility Express is a virtual wireless LAN controller that is integrated into an access point. By default, all access points run the Cisco Aironet CAPWAP image.

What is the difference between EWC and Mobility Express? Is EWC the more modern option for 9800 WLCs while Mobiliy Express was for older APs/AireOS WLCs?

Thank you.
David

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Hello David

EWC runs on modern IOS-XE platforms, including the newer Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points. This is the same software platform as the 9800 series controllers. So it’s a scaled down version of the same software as the independent controller running on the switch, but it runs on the specific series of access points.

Cisco Mobility Express is based on the older AirOS platform and lacks many of the advanced capabilities of EWC.

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz