New D-Link Access Point Simplifies Unified Wireless for SMBs

Seamless Wireless Connectivity Lowers Network Configuration Costs, Raises Productivity

2013/01/17

Today D-Link released its new Unified N Single-band PoE Access Point (DWL-2600AP), an advanced, indoor 802.11n Wi-Fi access point designed for flexible deployment in diverse business settings. With support for unified wireless, it is capable of both standalone operation and seamless integration into a cluster of access points that acts as a single, large wireless network. It is ideal for highly connected offices, especially ones with "bring your own device" (BYOD) policies which allow users to carry their own smartphones or tablets.

As soon as a small or medium business requires more than one wireless network access point, problems are likely to arise. Different models come with different configuration settings and may not integrate well. Network administrators spend more time managing them, while end users deal with the hassles of connecting to separate networks. Resource sharing across them is a nightmare. One answer is a unified wireless network, in which multiple access points are linked together in a centrally-managed cluster. To users it appears as a single wireless network, so they need only connect and authenticate once to enjoy a wireless connection everywhere in the office, with access to all network resources.

The DWL-2600AP makes it easy to bring the benefits of a unified wireless network to SMBs of any size. A single DWL-2600AP operating in standalone mode is a powerful business-class access point. Up to eight of them can be clustered together without need for any additional hardware; once one has been set up, its settings can be copied to the others across the network at the touch of a button with the powerful wireless setup wizard. As network scales increase, up to 256 DWL-2600APs can be deployed together and managed by one of D-Link’s Unified Wireless Switches.

"Businesses of all sizes are discovering that seamless wireless capability is great for productivity. The DWL-2600AP makes it easy for SMBs to roll out a unified wireless network, even without specialist IT staff. When the business grows, the network can be expanded as well, just by adding additional units," said [NAME, TITLE]. "No matter the scale, it remains just as simple to manage. Multiple DWL-2600APs integrate intelligently for a superior wireless experience. Physical deployment is also quick and easy, as the DWL-2600 AP can be mounted practically anywhere."

For the best performance, each DWL-2600AP senses RF interference from other units nearby and automatically selects a non-interfering channel. This eliminates the guesswork from selecting channels and ensures that the strongest possible signal is available everywhere. In operation, a DWL-2600AP that is under heavy load can automatically route new connection requests to a neighboring access point. As a result, network traffic is more evenly distributed over the whole network, no single access point is overburdened, and users enjoy faster, more reliable connections.

Sleek and lightweight, the DWL-2600AP is also a snap to install. It can be mounted on a wall or ceiling, and support for the 802.11af standard means it requires only a single cable for both network and power connections. A plenum-rated version of the DWL-2600AP is also available.