The new product, known as the Wireless LAN Service Module (WLSM) but more colorfully code-named Screaming Eagle, is designed to support up to 300 Cisco Aironet access points (APs) and up to 6,000 WLAN users on a single Catalyst 6500 with full Layer 3 roaming.

The system also provides centralized configuration and security policy enforcement. Firewall, intrusion detection and VPN services are also available, either natively from the switch through Cisco’s Supervisor Engine 720 or via other modules.

These services provide similar functionality to the new generation of wireless or WLAN switches, pioneered by specialists such as Aruba Wireless Networks, Airespace and Trapeze Networks. However, Cisco was at pains to deny that the introduction of WLSM is a nod towards this market, despite stories early yesterday based on leaked information concentrating on this angle.

It’s a wireless device, it’s going into the switch, therefore it’s a switch to some people. But that’s definitely not the case, Ian Phillips, manager of mobility marketing for Cisco told ComputerWire. Screaming Eagle is not a vindication of wireless switches or anything like that.

Screaming Eagle is really intended as an additional product that offers Layer 3 mobility to the Catalyst 6500, said Phillips. It’s really for applications like voice or for mobile devices where you’re roaming between subnets without dropping the connection.

The philosophy behind WLAN switches links thin APs, each with its own radio but little else, directly to a specialized device, or switch, that handles most security and management tasks for a discrete wireless network.

In comparison, Cisco’s approach to WLAN management and security continues to focus on fat APs with each AP maintaining a considerable degree of autonomy. In this scenario the wireless network is an overlay of the existing wired infrastructure rather than a distinct entity.

Phillips said WLAN switches, as generally understood today, do not form part of Cisco’s current strategy, despite WLSM offering a degree of functional centralization. Nor, it seems, are they likely to in the near future if Phillips’ comments are taken at face value.

Wireless switch is a misnomer anyway, said Phillips. Effectively they’re just management devices. We’re not going to do dumb access points. Our strategy is and always has been to put intelligence in the network where it’s needed.

A major downside of a switch-based WLAN, according to Phillips is a lack both of scalability and of reliability relative to a system employing more distributed intelligence. If you’ve only got one management device the entire wireless network fails [if it goes down].

However, Cisco was unable to provide much in the way of customer feedback to illustrate its point with only the Nasdaq stock exchange cited as a user. We’ve not had a huge amount of customer interaction yet but our 7920 wireless IP phone is selling reasonably well. I imagine those are the sorts of people that will be interested, said Phillips.

This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire