Clustering Provides Single Point of Control Enabling Small Businesses and IT Administrators to Manage Multiple APs through a Single Interface without a WLAN Controller
PLAYA VISTA, Calif., March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Linksys®, a leader in networking solutions for the home and business, today announced it will include clustering, at no additional cost, across its entire portfolio of wireless access points (APs) for small businesses. Clustering enables easy management of core AP functionality without the cost and complexity of cloud-based controllers or hardware wireless LAN controllers. This reduces the costs and complexity of managing multiple wireless access points. Originally limited to the Linksys Pro Series Access Point, the clustering feature is now available on all Linksys business wireless-ac access points. Existing Linksys business wireless-ac access point customers can download the firmware upgrade today at no additional cost.
The Linksys clustering feature is designed for small businesses that need a simple, affordable solution to manage multiple access points efficiently. A cluster provides a single point of administration for up to 16 APs and lets administrators view, deploy, configure and secure the wireless network as a single entity rather than a series of separate wireless devices. When an administrator makes a change on one access point, it will automatically push the change to the other access points in the cluster.
Linksys Wireless Access Point Clustering provides a number of key enhancements around simplified management, including:
Current WLAN management solutions do not cater to small businesses and are built for the needs of large enterprises that require either a costly hardware controller or a cloud-based management solution saddled with a recurring fee. Existing small business solutions force IT Administrators to choose between deploying costly WLAN controllers, or manually configuring individual access points, a process which is inefficient and prone to errors.
"Our customer focus guides product development, helping to ensure that we continue to deliver quality products purpose-built for small businesses," said Nandan Kalle, director of commercial networking, Linksys. "WLAN controllers are expensive and over-engineered with unnecessary functionality that small businesses don't need. The Linksys portfolio of APs provides the right feature set that small businesses need to run a productive business environment at an affordable price point."
In addition to clustering, Linksys added captive portal across its entire wireless AP product line. This is a fully customizable landing page for businesses to welcome visitors and provide wireless access in a branded environment that is separated from the core business network in order to maintain security for critical business assets.
Kalle continued, "We're committed to delivering value to small businesses and continuing to invest and improve our existing products in order to solve important unmet customer needs, and adding clustering and captive portal across our entire AP line delivers on that promise."
Availability
The clustering feature is available today on all Linksys Business Wireless-AC Dual Band Access Points. Small Businesses and their reseller/managed solution provider partners can download the firmware for Wireless-AC Access Points at
Clustering is planned to be available on Linksys Business Wireless-N Access Points later this spring.
Linksys PartnerAdvantage Program
Linksys Small Business resellers can register for the Linksys PartnerAdvantage Program here. Resellers who register and qualify will benefit with new incentives to help drive sales, increase profit and better identify and generate new opportunities through sales training, rewards, marketing/sales support and much more. There is no cost to join and all previous Linksys CCN partners will need to apply to take advantage of the new program.
About Linksys
The Linksys brand has pioneered wireless connectivity since its inception in 1988 with its leading innovation and engineering strategies, and best-in-class technology, design and customer service. Linksys enables a connected lifestyle for people at home, at work and on the move, and with its award-winning products, simplifies home control, entertainment, security and Internet access through innovative features and a growing application and partner ecosystem. For more information, visit linksys.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or watch us on YouTube.
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SOURCE Linksys
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