WLSE or WCS

[jorge.s]

Hi,

do you know if WCS is replacing completly the WLSE tool from Cisco? is having the same functions? and can it handle has well Cisco Aironet Autonomous devices (IOS running AP's) ?

[Rob Huffman]

Hi Jorge,

The WLSE has not been completly "End of Life" although I think its safe to say that Cisco is really promoting this change to LWAPP. They even have a migration path from the WLSE to WCS in place. There are many Autonomous AP's that can be converted to LWAPP as well. Have a look;

CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE)

End-of-Life and End-of-Sale Notices

From this doc;

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/cscowork/ps3915/prod_eol_notices_list.html

WLSE 2.11 End of Support April 19, 2010 (So if WLSE 2.13 has not yet been EOL then it is safe to say it will be sometime after this date)

CiscoWorks WLSE Migration to Cisco WCS

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/cscowork/ps3915/prod_bulletin0900aecd804b4635.html

Conversion of a WLSE Autonomous Deployment to a WCS Controller Deployment

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6305/products_configuration_guide_chapter09186a00806b71db.html

Autonomous Access Points Convertible to LWAPP

The following autonomous AP models can be converted to a WCS controller deployment.

Cisco Aironet 1230AG Series Access Point (AP 1232AG AP)

Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series Access Point (AP 1240AG AP)

Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point (AP 1200)

Cisco Aironet 1100AG Series Access Points (AP 1131AG,AP 1121)

Cisco Aironet 1310AG Series Access Point (AP 1310AG AP)

Hope this helps! We bit the bullet last summer and switched from Autonomous (WLSE) to LWAPP (WLC & WCS) and it has been a good change :)

Rob

[Rob Huffman]

Hi Jorge,

I came across this new doc that I thought you might want to see. Here is a clip;

Customers that have purchased the CiscoWorks WLSE are encouraged to transition to the Cisco WCS and the Cisco Unified Wireless Network. Customers can use the CiscoWorks WLSE to Cisco WCS conversion CDs (Cisco WCS SKU Family WCS-WLSE-UPG-K9) to convert an existing CiscoWorks WLSE (Model 1130-19 and 1133) to operate as a Cisco WCS server.

From this good doc;

Guidelines and Tools for Migrating to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns340/ns394/ns348/ns337/networking_solutions_white_paper0900aecd804f1a23.shtml

Take care,

Rob