Colubris WLAN

The Colubris product line is centered on the deployment and centralized management of Enterprise Wireless LANs and includes controllers, access points, and peripheral offerings. Central configuration and management of all connected, plug-n-play access points (hundreds of access points can be managed per controller), RF-based security, fast roaming, and automated discovery are all listed as potential features of the platform.

An important distinction in the Colubris platform is that, though the access points are centrally managed by the service controllers, the client traffic to and from the access points is not centrally switched through the controllers. Rather, client traffic is switched at the network edge via the access points themselves, integrating the WLAN traffic with the wired network, with the controllers only handling the transmission of network control and management information. According to the vendor, this architecture both reduces overall backbone traffic and enables the WLAN traffic to benefit from security features that may be present on the wired LAN, such as network IPS/IDS, NAC, and VLANs.

The core of the Colubris platform is the MultiService Controllers, or MSCs. Driven by the vendor's Colubris Operating System (COS), the MSCs serve as the central management and control point for the distributed MultiService Access Points (MAPs), featuring automated discovery of the access points and mutual authentication (via digital certificates) between the MSC and its MAPs. Following authentication with the MAP, an encrypted tunnel is established over which configuration and control information is exchanged between the MSC and MAP; with each MSC managing the configuration and operation of all MAPs in its "mobility group," including the installation of AP software upgrades. The MSC itself is accessed and policies are defined via a Web GUI.

MSCs additionally support a Public/Guest Internet access service, which provides a customizable Web login screen for guest sign-ons.

At the edge of the network are the MultiService Access Points, which can be deployed in both "controlled" (via the MSCs) or stand-alone "autonomous" operation modes. Each MAP can deliver as many as 16 independent WLAN services (each mapped to a unique SSID and MAC address), and, together with the MSCs, enable the definition of Virtual Service Communities (VSCs) - groups of network users that can be managed via their own common set of service policies, including QoS, security settings, and the customization of Delivery Traffic Information Map (DTIM) signals, which client devices can use to reduce power consumption. All MAPs contain monitoring capabilities (packet capture for offline analysis); and some additionally include RF Security Sensor capabilities (one particular MAP offers only the sensor capabilities, without access point functions), enabling the detection of rogue connections or wireless intrusions.

Other potential components of the Colubris platform offered by the vendor include:

- Network Management System (NMS), offered as an appliance or as application software, which enables the central management and monitoring of thousands of controllers and access points at remote locations.

- RF Manager and Planner, for the security monitoring, auditing and modeling of WLAN coverage and deployments.

- WLAN Client Bridge, which enables legacy wired gear to communicate over the WLAN.

- MGW-3500 WAN Access Controller, a 1U appliance designed for large-scale public or guest Internet access services (such as hotspot services in public areas or a guest network for contractors, vendors, etc.).

New to the Colubris WLAN gear is the MAP-630 access point, a triple-radio access point in which the radios are dedicated to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and RF security, respectively. With the MAP-630, both RF security scanning and client communications can occur simultaneously without having to preempt one another.

The MAP-630 (as well as the 802.11n capable MAP-625, also recently announced by the vendor) are expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2007. Pricing for MAPs start at $499, MSCs at $799. The WLAN Client Bridge is priced at $329, the NMS prices start at $7,999, and the RF Manager prices start at $9,999.

Visit the vendor's Web site for further information.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

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