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