Riverstone Networks OAW-AP80, OAW-AP41, OAW-AP60, OAW-AP65, OAW-AP70 User Manual

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess
Wireless LAN Access Point Family

OAW-AP41, OAW-AP60, OAW-AP61, OAW-AP65,
OAW-AP70, OAW-AP80

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess
access points (APs) are small,
lightweight and can be securely
deployed in a variety of locations
such as on walls, cubicles,
desktops, and in the ceiling.
The AP antenna diversity allows
for the best possible signal
processing using dual,
omni-directional antennas.

Alcatel-Lucent | OmniAccess AP2

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess access points (APs) are small,

lightweight and can be securely deployed in a variety of locations

such as on walls, cubicles, desktops, and in the ceiling. The AP

antenna diversity allows for the best possible signal processing

using dual, omni-directional antennas.

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs work with the Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess 6000, OmniAccess 4324,

OmniAccess 4308, and OmniAccess 4304 to provide a high performance, centrally managed, wireless

mobility solution for enterprises. Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs have an extended lifespan because

they can automatically configure themselves across any L2/L3 network using a discovery protocol,

allowing easy upgrades when new features, capabilities, or standards emerge.

Thin AP Architecture

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs function as “thin” APs which provide 802.11a/b/g user

access, but are not overburdened with processing-intensive functions. These fuctions, such

as wireless user authentication, link layer encryption, VPN termination, and upper layer

MAC (media access control) services are better suited and handled by Alcatel-Lucent

OmniAccess WLAN switches. This makes Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs cost-effective and

simple to deploy and manage. Alcatel-Lucent's APs can simultaneously service wireless

users and act as wireless monitoring devices eliminating the need for a separate overlay of

RF sensors to troubleshoot and optimize the wireless environment.

Moving these functions into a centrally-located Alcatel-Lucent

OmniAccess WLAN system gives administrators greater control

over the entire system including better scalability, higher

performance, and easier system-wide changes as standards

and security schemes change. Additional benefits include

better support for roaming and low-latency (sub 5 millisecond)

handoffs between APs – making the Alcatel-Lucent

OmniAccess WLAN system ideal for handling delay-sensitive

applications such as voice over wireless.

3Alcatel-Lucent | OmniAccess AP

ADAPTIVE RF MANAGEMENT (ARM), RF PLANNING, DYNAMIC

CALIBRATION, AND ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING

With previous generations of WLAN technology,

AP deployment was an expensive proposition.

Corporations had to painstakingly

undertake extensive RF planning,

complete site surveys, climb into ceilings

to run new cabling, and mount the APs.

In turn, APs were deployed sparingly.

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs change

this deployment model through

Adaptive Radio Management (ARM)

technology that negates the need for

detailed RF planning.

To ease implementation, the Alcatel-Lucent

OmniAccess Wireless system combines online

RF planning tools and ARM for fine-tuning,

automated performance and capacity

optimization. The Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess

RF planning gives administrators the power to

quickly provision APs based on coverage,

performance or resiliency requirements.

IT staff can import floor plans and automatically

determine the placement of APs and air monitors.

Once the network is deployed, administrators can

use ARM to automatically perform system-wide

calibration, determine the actual propagation

characteristics of RF signals, and set AP transmit

power and channel assignments to desired levels.

Alcatel-Lucent | OmniAccess AP4

In addition, the Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Wireless system uniquely
provides automatic tuning of the mobile environment through
sophisticated system calibration and distributed, radio resource
allocation technologies.

ARM and Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Aps constantly

scan the ambient radio environment to determine

coverage holes, interference, and congestion. If

discovered, Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs

automatically change channel assignment or power

transmit levels to ensure optimal operation and

report these changes back to the WLAN switch. In

the event of a failure, the OmniAccess WLAN system

automatically alters adjacent AP settings to ensure

no loss of WLAN service occurs.

For manual troubleshooting, Alcatel-Lucent
OmniAccess APs support packet capture and
provide wireless RMON capabilities, letting
administrators quickly diagnose and resolve
wireless problems.

Alcatel-Lucent | OmniAccess AP 5

ZERO CONFIGURATION, PLUG-AND-PLAY DEPLOYMENT

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs are completely

plug-and-play, requiring no manual configuration.

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs can

be attached to any existing Ethernet

switch or IP router and across any

subnet boundary. Once connected,

the APs self configure by

automatically building a secure IP

(GRE or IPSec) tunnel to the Alcatel-

Lucent OmniAccess WLAN switch.

The WLAN switch automatically

configures each OmniAccess AP

based on the policies and

configurations set by the

administrator. This automation

dramatically simplifies operation

and eliminates the need for

reconfiguring the existing network.

Alcatel-Lucent | OmniAccess AP6