Software Used: Wavelink Mobile Manager
Device Type: Symbol AP4131
Number of Devices: 312 Symbol AP4131 & AP4121
Scope: 23 Plants/Warehouses

Explanation:

During the site survey project, one of the initiatives was securing the existing, and new wireless devices. Knowing how many access points were scheduled, the need for access point management software was unavoidable. Wavelink Mobile Manager was the perfect fit for their environment.

Organization:

After the site surveys were conducted, Brent determined the needs for the implementation. Brent requested a range of IP's in each subnet that would be getting wireless. This would enable Brent to be able to setup static IP's on these devices. Brent then proceeded to setup Wavelink Mobile Manger. Mobile Manager is a program that enables centralized management of networking infrastructure; specifically, access points. Once the access points are discovered by mobile manager and assigned to a profile, they are configured via SNMP.

In mobile manager, there were two profiles setup. One profile was for the AP4131 and one for the existing AP4121. The only difference between these were the firmware revisions, being they are different devices internally. The profiles mandated that the access points had to have the same configuration. Through intermittent polling of the access points, if mobile manager discovered a security setting changed, it will reconfigure the access point back to the profile settings.

Implementation:

Throughout the implementation stage, Brent worked very closely with the cabling company and the LAN administrators.  Brent asked the cabling company to record the MAC addresses of the access points as they were being placed in the locations specified by the site surveys. This enabled Brent to setup Mobile Manager with the proper location names, warehouse names, and access point numbers. After a location was completely setup, Brent had the LAN administrators test each access point for connectivity.

Since the implementation required new Intermittent Distribution Facilities in almost every location, Brent assisted the LAN administrators in setting up the network equipment. Brent also diagnosed connectivity issues on the existing network infrastructure.

Since the end of the Implementation stage, the access points maintained a 100% uptime efficiency.