`LWAPP brings harmony to WLANs
`By Pat Calhoun and Jeff Aaron, special to Network World
`Network World |
`DEC 1, 2003 12:00 AM PST
`
`Lightweight Access Point Protocol's goal is to provide consistent behavior across WLAN devices,
`ensure multi-vendor WLAN interoperability, protect WLAN hardware investments and create a
`foundation for delivering advanced WLAN functionality in enterprise environments.
`
`Centralized security and management of wireless LANs is a rapidly growing trend in which a WLAN
`device such as a switch, appliance, or router is used to create and enforce policies across many
`streamlined, or lightweight, radio access points.
`
`As is the case with any network technology, standardization is key to widespread adoption. More
`specifically, a standardized protocol is required that governs how WLAN system devices
`communicate with lightweight access points to ensure interoperability and to avoid having to buy
`from only one vendor.
`
`This is the role of the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP), a dra standard the Internet
`Engineering Task Force is considering as part of the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access
`Points (CAPWAP), which is in the preliminary stages of becoming an IETF working group.
`
`Traditional WLANs function on a stand-alone basis. As such, they are based on a device known as a
`fat access point, which contains all wireless processing capabilities. This traditional architecture
`doesn't let di erent vendors' equipment interoperate. The new, hierarchical WLAN architecture
`departs from this model.
`
`LWAPP's goal is to provide consistent behavior across WLAN devices, ensure multi-vendor WLAN
`interoperability, protect WLAN hardware investments and create a foundation for delivering
`advanced WLAN functionality in enterprise environments. LWAPP helps companies simplify WLAN
`deployment and management, and build large-scale wireless networks.
`
`Exhibit 1007
`Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company v. Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC
`Page 000001
`
`
`
`An LWAPP-managed network consists of multiple access points connected via Layer 2 (Ethernet) or
`Layer 3 (IP) to an access controller. Access controllers typically are WLAN appliances or WLAN
`switches. With LWAPP, access points are essentially remote radio frequency interfaces that no
`longer house all the mandatory wireless processing capabilities and are controlled by the access
`controller.
`
`LWAPP governs how access points and access controllers communicate with each other by defining
`the following activities:
`
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`Access point device discovery and authentication - When an access point is plugged into a
`wireless network, it uses LWAPP to discover available access controllers. A er the access point is
`certified as a valid network device, it associates with the best available WLAN switch/appliance.
`
`Access point information exchange, configuration and so ware control - The access point is
`updated with the most recent so ware load and configured with appropriate WLAN system
`information, such as Service Set Identifiers, channel assignments and security parameters.
`
`Communications control and management between access point and wireless system devices
`- LWAPP handles packet encapsulation, fragmentation and formatting of data being transferred
`between access points and access controllers.
`
`LWAPP has several practical benefits for enterprise environments. By reducing the amount of
`processing within an access point, the LWAPP specification lets the limited computing resources on
`the access point focus on wireless access, rather than filtering and policy enforcement. The
`protocol centralizes tra ic handling, authentication, encryption and policy enforcement (quality of
`service and security) capabilities within the access controller, improving the e ectiveness of WLAN
`management.
`
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`
`Exhibit 1007
`Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company v. Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC
`Page 000002
`
`
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`Taking the risk out of the semiconductor supply chain
`
`LWAPP also improves WLAN security because it provides a generic and secure encapsulation and
`transport mechanism for multi-vendor access-point interoperability, either by means of a Layer 2
`infrastructure or an IP-routed network.
`
`Finally, LWAPP lets network administrators use an array of interoperable access points and wireless
`system devices from multiple vendors. As a result, they can make purchasing decisions based on
`the functionalities of individual access points and access controllers rather than simply buying gear
`from the same product line as a matter of necessity. This is also expected to drive down access
`point pricing.
`
`LWAPP is expected to move to a working group within the IETF in the first half of next year.
`Standardization is projected to take approximately 18 to 24 months, but early vendor
`implementations exist today.
`
`Aaron is senior manager of product marketing at Airespace. Calhoun is CTO of Airespace and one of
`the co-authors of the LWAPP protocol. They can be reached at jaaron@airespace.com and
`pcalhoun@airespace.com, respectively.
`
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`Copyright © 2003 IDG Communications, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1007
`Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company v. Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC
`Page 000003
`
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`
`Exhibit 1007
`Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company v. Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC
`Page 000004
`
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