Z-COM Wireless network deployment for huge workspace of enterprise

Z-COM Wireless network deployment for huge workspace of enterprise (2-stories office building nearly 3,305 m²)

Requirements

Solution

●Indoor Access Points

●Wireless LAN controller

● Switches

Features 

●Stable and Fast Network Connectivity

●Centralized Management and Configuration of All Access Points by a WLC

●Reliable Performance

●supports IAM (Identity& Access Management) and application for more clients

●multiple network structures to prevent ingress

●Configure private groups for different wireless networks by requirements

Project brief

This project sis for a famous consultant company which has have wired and wireless networks over the 2-stories office building nearly 3,305 m² but the Wi-Fi signals at some areas are weaker or interfered by walls. Z-COM assisted the company to customize the network planning according to the layout, the number of users and house size and expected to offer a secure and centralized managed network with comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage for multiple clients.

Network Deployment & Deployment Challenge

The offices of consultant company can be divided as 991.7 m² of the first floor and 1 983.5 m² of the second floor. The number of users is about 600 people and the network is shared by mobile phones and laptops. Z-COM is planning to add a VLAN interface to the firewall physical interfaces, configure the VLAN mapping, segment intranet and internet by DHCP Server and Radius Server and then create at least 2 SSIDs for general employees and for guests. 

1. Only wired network with few household APs in meeting rooms.

2. Some areas with poor Wi-Fi signals

3. Wi-Fi signals interfered by walls

4. 2 SSIDs required; one for guests and one for users with different accessing UI

Deployment structure

This project is to create wireless networks based on the enterprise existing wired networks, providing enterprise-level network efficiency and security. Except segmenting networks as multiple independent domains by different floors/areas, Z-COM deployed the wireless networks by installing TAPs and WLC. The IT staff is able to centralized manage all butch of TAPs by WLC. WLC is able to auto adjust TX power and auto channel of TAPs to optimize RF Wi-Fi signals and load-balance of each APs and improve users’ experience. Because the floor height is lower, the customer required to hide TAPs into ceiling to avoid affecting the beauty of office. Besides, Z-COM rearranged the deployment of APs to improve wireless network coverage. 

1. Centralized management of all TAPs by WLC

2. Each internet data center is connected to APs by one PoE Switch

3. Customer required to hide APs into the ceiling

Achievement

Cost-effective and easy to maintain

WLC with data visualization tool is able to implement real-time monitoring, centralized managing all APs of wireless networks and dynamically managing the networks. No matter where the APs are, IT staff can realize the real-time status of wireless network and adjust RF relevant parameters of APs by WLC to optimize the efficiency of wireless network accordingly. That reduces the maintenance cost of networking.

Network security functions are listed below: 

Z-COM has ability of network system integration; take the security functions for example: 

1.  Set up VLAN/ VAP User Grouping and Wi-Fi MAC ACL (access control list) according to enterprise network policy to segment networks as intra-net and internet and protect confidential information. 

2. Customize wireless network; configure access control in multiple SSIDs; configure URL whitelist/ blacklist.

3. WPA3-Enterprise 

    4.  Hidden Wi-Fi SSID is one of the security mechanisms  implemented by Wi-Fi networks by hiding their                   name,since a client device can only connect to a Wi-Fi network with a known SSID. To hide SSID is 

         a good and secure method for IoT applications such as printer or IPCAM.