PB722724
Overview
Cisco® Unified Wireless Network (CUWN) Software Release 7.4 brings advancements to the wireless market with innovative features and a category of new wireless solutions to help customers integrate business operations more closely with mobile devices and wireless infrastructure for better end-user experience and value-added IT services.
Release 7.4 delivers:
● Consistent Application Visibility and Control (AVC) for wireless and wired networks.
● Bonjour Services Directory for Apple device services across L3 domain.
● Connected mobile experience through innovations in mobility services engine (MSE) and recently acquired ThinkSmart Technology.
● The new Cisco Aironet® 1600 Series Access Points, which offer great performance, functionality, and reliability at a great price point.
● Wireless Security and Spectrum Intelligence module for the Cisco Aironet 3600 Series Access Point enables enterprises to secure their full wireless spectrum.
The feature-packed 7.4 release also introduces the ability for smartphones to conserve battery while roaming in an enterprise network, a new low-cost, high-availability (HA) SKU for 2500 Series controllers, the capability to place an HA SKU in a geographically different location from a primary controller, and a number of enhanced security features.
In addition, a GPS receiver and antenna for Aironet® 1550 Series outdoor access points is supported in the 7.4 release.
Platform Support
The Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 7.4 is supported on the following platforms:
● Cisco Aironet access points running Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) Protocol
● Cisco 2500 and 5500 Series Wireless LAN Controllers
● Cisco Catalyst® 6500 Series Wireless Services Module 2 (WiSM2)
● Cisco Flex7500 Series FlexConnect Wireless LAN Controller
● Cisco 8500 Series Wireless LAN Controller
● Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Module for Integrated Services Routers G2 (WLCM2) (Cisco Wireless LAN Controller on Cisco Services-Ready Engine)
● Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller (vWLC)
● Mobility Services Engine (MSE)
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers: New Features
In Software Release 7.4xxx, Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers provide solutions to enable wireless as primary access and simplify deployments for bring your own device (BYOD). Table 1 describes the new features of the wireless controller in this release.
Table 1. New Controller Features in Cisco Unified Wireless Network Release 7.4.xxx
Cisco Aironet Access Points: New Features
Table 2 describes the new access point features in Cisco Unified Wireless Network Release 7.4.
Note: Management support for Release 7.4 will be delivered as part of Cisco Prime Infrastructure roadmap Release 1.3.
Table 2. New Access Point Features in Cisco Unified Wireless Network Release 7.4
Feature |
Description |
Benefit |
Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Access Point |
Access point with rich feature set including Cisco ClientLink 2.0, Cisco CleanAir™ technology, and 3 x 2:2 radio design that enables data rates up to 300 Mbps. |
An affordable and secure way to handle the explosion of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) megatrend for small and mid-sized organizations, Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Access Points allow mid-market and K-12, customers to build the platform needed to accommodate the transition to BYOD networking. |
GPS support for 1550 Series |
GPS receiver and antenna as optional items on 1552C/CU/E/EU/I. |
Automatically provides the access point location to the WLC and Cisco Prime Infrastructure to accurately display on maps. |
Link Local Discovery Protocol (LLDP) |
Support of LLDP and the “Power via MDI TLV” to negotiate with Enhanced Power over Ethernet (PoE+) access layer devices. Supported in the following access points: 3600, 3500, 2600, 1600, 1140, 1250, 1552, and 1520 Series access point. |
Allow customers to connect to PoE+ capable Ethernet ports within their access-layer network, to power their Cisco Aironet Series Access Points. |
Additional feature support for autonomous access points |
Full autonomous support for 1600, 3500, 3600 and 1550 Series Access Points. |
With autonomous support for these platforms, customers have the complete flexibility in deployment modes available while standardizing in same access point platform. |
Spectrum Expert mode for 2600, 3500, 3600, and1550 Series Access Points to connect access points to the Cisco Spectrum Console Version 4.1 or later. |
The Spectrum Console and application provides detailed drill-down visibility into the RF spectrum, which supports RF troubleshooting as well as enhancing site survey functionality. |
|
Quick Setup screen via GUI. |
Autonomous GUI was updated to provide a single screen to allow for quick setup of the necessary network configuration (for example, radio settings and security settings). This supports quick setup for site surveys as well as quicker setup of network. |
|
Cisco BandSelect technology. |
The Cisco BandSelect feature allows for load balancing and more importantly steering 5-GHz capable clients to the cleaner, more available 5-GHz spectrum. |
Mobility Services
Table 3 describes new Mobility Services Engine (MSE) features Cisco Unified Wireless Network Release 7.4.
Table 3. New Cisco MSE Features in Release 7.4
Feature |
Description |
Benefit |
Advanced Location Services |
Integrates the recently acquired ThinkSmart technology in Cisco MSE. It provides real-time location analytics alongside historical trends such as network utilization, peak usage, and the number and types of devices. |
Lines of business can better understand how customers behave by tracking Wi-Fi signals within their venue, documenting their movements throughout facilities and using this context-aware data for engaging with customers better. |
Advanced Location Services (Mobile Concierge) |
Allows engaging users through a native app on smart mobile device. It includes a Mobile Concierge SDK for mobile app developers to easily use MSE and provide highly personalized content using user and location information. Support for Layer 2 MSAP allows service discovery without associating to the network and without requiring a native app on the smartphone. This capability will be available only on Android phones shipping in CY13 that have the Snapdragon chipset from Qualcomm. Qualcomm Atheros will also deliver precise indoor location capabilities on mobile devices, by interoperating with Cisco Wi-Fi infrastructure. |
Mobile Concierge SDK allows end users to receive push notifications, be seamlessly on-boarded to the Wi-Fi network, and receive personalized services.
|
Wireless Security and Spectrum Intelligence nodule for 3600 Series Access Point |
24x7 full spectrum monitor and mitigation for aWIPS, CleanAir®, Context Awareness, Rogue Detection, and RRM. 24x7 on-channel aWIPS threat protection. |
24/7 on-channel and full spectrum threat protection. 23x more security and spectrum coverage. 30%+ CapEx cost savings versus dedicated monitor radio. Zero-touch configuration. |
Rogue enhancement |
Define custom rogue rules, add severity definition, and auto containment. Ad hoc rogue classification, filtering, and containment. |
Granular and easier rogue classification and containment. |
Rogue scaling |
Rogue clients per rogue access point are increased from 16 to 256 for all WLCs and 64 for WLC 2504. |
Scaling rogue entry and increasing rogue clients per rogue access point. |
Adaptive WIPS Signature Enhancement |
New signatures supported in Enhanced Local Mode (ELM). |
Signature parity with Monitor Mode access points. |
Adaptive wIPS containment |
Blocked list and contain wIPS threats. |
New containment capabilities. |
Signature update |
Support for 3 new 802.11 Fuzzing Attacks. |
Can detect and mitigate
● Beacon Fuzzing
● Probe Request Fuzzing
● Probe Response Fuzzing
|
New MSE licensing |
Base location license now includes support for Advanced Spectrum, Location tracking for rogues, interferers, Wi-Fi clients, and tags. Advanced location license now includes support for Base location + Mobile Concierge + Location analytics. |
Access-point-based licensing for location and advanced location services. |
Cisco Prime Infrastructure (CPI)
Cisco Prime Infrastructure provides a single pane of glass for device management and application visibility across switches, routers, wireless controllers, MSE, and access points (see Figure 1).
CPI release 1.3 will offer support for features introduced in CUWN release 7.4 as described in Table-4. It is currently scheduled for general availability by Q1CY13.
Table 4. New Cisco Prime Infrastructure 1.3 Features that Support Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 7.4
Feature |
Description |
Benefit |
Assurance for Wireless feature |
Monitor, configure, report, and troubleshoot application traffic using tools like NBAR-2 and NetFlow. |
Network managers can proactively monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot application health, and quantify end user experience. |
Management support for Bonjour Services Directory (mDNS) feature |
Monitor, configure, and troubleshoot Bonjour Services Discovery. |
This feature allows customers to easily deploy and manage Bonjour Services Directory. |
Support for FlexConnect RADIUS enhancement |
Ability to configure up to 100 RADIUS servers per FlexConnect group. |
This allows for ease of deployment where a RADIUS server is required per FlexConnect group. |
Management support for new access point hardware: WSSI module: field-upgradable, third radio module add-on to the 3600 Series Access Point |
SNMP MIB enhancements for the monitor module within the specific 3600 Series access point. |
Enables increased client performance by offloading spectrum Monitoring and Security capabilities to third radio, while the integrated radios concurrently serve 2.4 and 5 GHz client devices. |
Management support for new 1600 Series Access Point |
Ability to manage the 1600 Series from Cisco Prime Infrastructure. |
Customers can plan, deploy, and manage the 1600 Series through Cisco Prime Infrastructure. |
Management support for new MSE 7.4 features: WSSI module, Qualcomm, Meridian, wIPS |
Ability to support MSE’s new features that are introduced in Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 7.4. |
Cisco Prime Infrastructure supports the new MSE features that are introduced in Release 7.4. |
Service and Support
Services from Cisco and our partners can help you assess, design, tune, and operate your wireless LAN to transparently integrate mobility services and take advantage of the systemwide capabilities of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network.
Our professional services help you align your interference management, performance, and security needs with your technical requirements to better utilize the self-healing, self-optimizing features built into the silicon-level intelligence of Cisco CleanAir technology and the increased performance of the 802.11n standard. These services can enhance deployment and operational efficiencies to reduce the cost and complexities of transitioning to new technologies.
Our technical support services help you maintain network availability and reduce risk. Optimization services provide ongoing assistance with performance, secure access, and maintaining a strong foundation for business evolution and innovation.
For More Information
● For more information about planning, building, and running services for Cisco CleanAir technology, Cisco 802.11n, and the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, visit Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Professional Services.
http://www.cisco.com/go/services
● For more information about Cisco wireless products, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/wireless.
● For more information about the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/unifiedwireless.