WLSE Express limitations

[lieven]

Hello,

Does anyone know what the feature limitations are for that WLSE Express comparing the WLSE appliance, or aren’t there any? As it is pretty new, I don’t have found all the information yet about that WLSE Express.

The AAA Server, is it a striped ACS only running RADIUS?

I already installed WLSE appliances, but would like to propose now several WLSE Express to offer the same functionalities for a smaller environment. The full blown solution with dedicated ACS and WLSE appliance is 10 times more expensive and is not even mentionable in cases where only a dozen AP’s a max 100users are part of the Wireless infrastructure.

kind regards,

Lieven

[rmushtaq]

The main difference between the express and the appliance is the device scalability, which is 100 for the express and 2500 for the appliance. Other difference is the built-in AAA server in the express which is not part of the appliance. Rest of the features are pretty much the same for both.

[mark.mcgregor · Accepted solution]

WLSE Express is a different hardware platform.

WLSE Regular is Pentium IV 3.6GHz with (if I recall) 3 GB RAM. WLSE Express is a VIA C3 1 GHz CPU with 1 GB of RAM.

Performance is noticeably slower on WLSE-X.

The WLSE Express chassis is similar in size to a MAC mini -- with the same inherent rackmount headaches. You will likely have to put it on a shelf.

In terms of functionality, WLSE-X supports only 50 APs, although there is a license "upgrade" available to give you 100.

Both platforms have the same features, except that WLSE-X includes the AAA server.

The AAA server is not "stripped down" ACS. It is RADIUS only. You set up NAS clients and users the way you would with any RADIUS server. WLSE-X AAA does support LEAP, Cisco PEAP, MS PEAP, EAP-TLS and EAP-FAST. Obviously, support for the Cisco EAPs -- LEAP and EAP-FAST -- is nice to have. The WLSE-X AAA server can point to a LDAP or Windows Domain in addition to its local database.

NOTE: WLSE-X AAA services listen on port 1812 and 1813. The default settings when using the GUI of an AP are ports 1645 and 1646. Be sure to manually specify 1812/1813 if the APs are using WLSE-X AAA. This is not an issue with ACS, since it listens on both sets of ports by default.

Hope this helps,

Mark