Integrated Wired and WLAN Services using the Cisco Infrastructure and Cisco IOS Software

With the Cisco wireless-aware framework, Cisco has introduced new features
specific to WLANs to their familiar IOS software.Anyone familiar with Cisco’s
product line is also familiar with their IOS software, which provides the ability to
monitor and configure switches and routers. Cisco is now using the IOS software
to allow network administrators to use a familiar tool to configure and monitor
new WLAN equipment.As of the time of this writing, the new wireless features
of Cisco’s IOS software is only available on the Cisco Aironet line of APs and
client wireless adapters. In the early part of 2004, they will be releasing updates
and new wireless-aware LAN features to new and existing lines of Cisco
switching and routing hardware.
The new Cisco IOS features include end-to-end delivery of WLAN services
such as rogue AP detection, security, mobility, quality of service (QOS), and network
management.These new features help make integration of a WLAN into
an existing wired LAN a relatively painless task. Also, seamless integration
between the WLAN and wired LAN make support and maintenance of the
overall network infrastructure a manageable feat rather than a nightmare of mismatched
equipment and services.