Additional items I'm sure you've seen in the archives, but not listed here:
Controller Pros:

-          Easy central config management and monitoring

-          Centralized rogue detection and coutermeasures
Controller Cons:

-          Controllers are critical hardware to monitor and manage

-          License chaos (do you have the correct licenses on the controller 
for the APs you have)

The cloud-based "controllerless" options like Aerohive seem to strike a middle 
balance, but I'm a little leery; too many cloud-based things are not living up 
to the hype.

Thomas Carter
Network and Operations Manager
Austin College
903-813-2564
[cid:[email protected]]

From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Barros, Jacob
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 9:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Distributed WiFi model - Thin vs Thick debate revisited

Hello all.  We are seriously considering replacing our Aruba infrastructure in 
favor of a distributed model.  We are having controller issues this academic 
year and the appeal of a controller-less model is strong.

It feels like I am coming full circle to where I was six years ago.  Though I 
know its not exactly the same, I went back to the thin vs thick debates in the 
archives.  A few things stood out to me as considerations:  One concern was 
vendor longevity.  Another was whether or not the thick AP model would be able 
to keep up with the controller based architecture.  An advantage of the 
controller based architecture that stood out to me was central processing, 
specifically regarding key exchange.

Are these points still valid concerns?  If your administration asked you to 
consider a distributed architecture, what other (vendor-neutral) concerns would 
you have?

Thanks, in advance, for your opinions!



Jake Barros  |  Network Administrator  |  Office of Information Technology
Grace College and Seminary  |  Winona Lake, IN  |  574.372.5100 
x6178<tel:574.372.5100%20x6178>
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