By unifying wired and wireless networks, you can not only enable new business applications but significantly cut the total cost of network ownership.

Companies of all sizes are embracing wireless networking because it delivers business benefits with an increase in competitive advantage and productivity improvements. As wireless networks grow, how can the associated costs be controlled?

The answer lies in integrating WLANs into existing wired networks. Over five years, a single unified system will cost significantly less than parallel wired and wireless networks in ongoing operations, support, and downtime.

Just as large-scale wired networks demand centralized, automated configuration and management, so do large-scale wireless networks. Network managers need to be able to scale and manage their WLANs as easily as they do their LANs. To that end, companies have already shifted from standalone intelligent access points to centralized WLAN controllers, which dramatically simplify configuration, management, and operation.

At the same time, wireless networks need to match the business-class scale, reliability, and security of wired networks. That is why businesses are shifting to integration of wireless systems into Layers 2 and 3 of the switching infrastructure of wired networks.

A unified network architecture preserves all the benefits of wireless LAN controllers while capitalizing on the trusted bandwidth, security, reliability, and management capabilities of Layers 2 and 3 switching infrastructure and providing a strong platform for expansion.

Why a Unified Network Reduces Costs

In unified network architecture, shared infrastructure for backbone, power, and cooling helps cut costs. Network configuration and management can be automated using the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) standard. Integrating wired and wireless networks:

• Simplifies deployment
• Makes more efficient use of facilities and equipment
• Streamlines management
• Speeds upgrades
• Provides superior reliability

Over a five-year period, the total cost of ownership (TCO) for a unified network will be lower than for separate networks. Two factors contribute to that difference:

• The proportion of acquisition cost to TCO
• The proportion of indirect costs, mostly downtime, to TCO

The initial acquisition cost of IT technologies typically represents only 20% of the TCO over a five-year period. Ongoing upgrades, maintenance, and support make up the other 80%.

A unified network significantly lowers the cost of ongoing maintenance because it combines facilities and equipment, and since there are no separate networks, there are not multiple software upgrades or support contracts to pay for.

Implementing either unified or parallel networks involves direct costs including

• Installation
• Upgrades to switching hardware
• Maintenance contracts
• Facilities costs for power, cooling, and space

Direct costs are straightforward to measure and compare, but they typically represent less of the TCO. The greatest cost of parallel networks stems from an indirect cost: unplanned downtime.

Reduce Unplanned Downtime

As carefully as a company might plan rollouts, purchase management tools, and invest in IT training, unplanned downtime will occur simply because parallel networks are more complex than a unified network. The extra time it takes administrators to troubleshoot downtime in a parallel network environment multiplies the problem.

Whether network performance degrades or fails completely, it can have serious effects on productivity and revenue.

Reducing unplanned downtime delivers hard benefits to a business. For example, it results in a better return on infrastructure investment, and it allows IT managers to apply more of their knowledge and training to business-enhancing IT programs.

The soft benefits of reduced downtime may be even more important. High wireless network availability helps maintain employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and productive relationships with partners. Ultimately, an undependable network may affect a company’s reputation and image.