Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Wireless Access Points

AW-AP60, OAW-AP61, OAW-AP70
The Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess family of next generation, multi-purpose access points (APs) is designed to meet the needs of any enterprise wireless LAN (WLAN) deployment.
The Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs include single and dual-radio 802.11a/b/g models with a variety of fixed and detachable antenna options.

All Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs function as “thin” APs. Upper layer media access control (MAC) processing functions such as encryption and authentication are integrated into Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess WLAN switches, making Alcatel OmniAccess APs cost-effective and simple to deploy and manage. Alcatel OmniAccess APs can simultaneously service wireless users and act as wireless monitoring devices. This eliminates the need for a separate overlay of RF sensors to troubleshoot and optimize the wireless environment.

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs work with the Alcatel OmniAccess 6000
 
high performance, centrally managed wireless mobility solution for enterprises. Alcatel OmniAccess APs automatically configure themselves across any L2/L3 network using a discovery protocol, allowing easy upgrades when new features, capabilities, or standards emerge and increasing their life span.

All plenum rated, Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs are small and lightweight and can be securely deployed in a variety of convenient locations such as on walls, cubicles, desktops, and in the ceiling. Antenna diversity allows for the best possible signal processing using dual, omni-directional antennas.

Thin AP Architecture
Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Wireless access points (APs) are “thin” APs that provide 802.11a/b/g user access, but are not overburdened with processing-intensive functions such as wireless user authentication, link layer encryption, VPN termination, and upper layer MAC services better suited for a purpose-built processing system.
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.

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.
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.
 
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 selfconfigure 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.

Unparalleled Security
Acting as an air monitor, the Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs deliver 100 Mbps of intrusion analysis and relays alerts back to the OmniAccess WLAN switch. Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs detect and thwart rogue APs and wireless intrusions such as DoS and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Since the OmniAccess WLAN switch manages Alcatel-Lucent’s OmniAccess APs, no critical configuration information – such as passwords, encryption keys, or digital certificates – is stored on the APs. If APs are lost or stolen, no sensitive information can be obtained.

Conventional WLAN systems decrypt wireless traffic at the AP and store electronic keys derived from the requisite exchanges performed between the client and the authentication server of each AP. Local storage of this information poses serious security risks for large corporations if an access point is lost or stolen, or if a fake AP or man-in-the-middle attack is launched.

Secure Remote Office Deployment
Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs can be securely deployed in a remote office letting network managers easily extend their corporate 802.1X framework across the Internet. Alcatel -Lucent OmniAccess APs use the industry standard IPSec protocol to create secure tunnels that connect APs to a central OmniAccess WLAN switch. Tunneling traffic inside IPSec prevents an attacker from intercepting messages between the switch and AP, allows APs to be deployed across an un-trusted network, and enables AP to be deployed with a network address translation (NAT) device between the AP and switch. Remote office security policies are centrally defined and enforced. In addition, like all Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess APs, secure remote APs simply appear as another AP on the system and have the same features and functions, which are centrally managed by Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess WLAN switches.