The Zyxel NWA5151-NI 802.11n Unified Access Point is an entry level AP for business, hospitality and education environments. With a 2-in-1 standalone/managed AP design, users can initially use it as a standalone AP, and convert it to a controller-managed AP when WiFi demand grows. The Series is designed with industry-leading technology to provide trouble-free wireless quality to lower IT overhead. The embedded antennas and signal output are fine-tuned to provide easy RF planning and maximum signal coverage. It also supports such features as dynamic channel selection, load balancing and pre-authentication for superb WiFi experience.
Solving the WLAN Problems of Tomorrow, Today
Benefits
Ceiling-mount design blends into environments
Different from traditional business routers, the slick “smoke detector” ceiling-mount design of Zyxel NWA5121-NI provides better coverage and performance. The NWA5121-NI is a PoE AP with a multifunction design that solves all problems by offering internal as well as external antennas to enhance wireless performance and to eliminate coverage dead spots. Moreover, the signal outputs have been fine-tuned to provide easy RF planning and excellent signal coverage especially for hospitality and education environments.
The Zyxel NWA5121-NI has been designed with plenum rating and made of non-toxic materials without hazardous emission – the safe design makes it more suitable for public indoor wireless deployments.
Zyxel ONE Network experience
Aiming for relieving our customers from repetitive operations of deploying and managing a network, Zyxel ONE Network is designed to simplify the configuration, management, and troubleshooting, allowing our customers to focus on the business priorities. Zyxel ONE Network presents an easy-to-use tool, Zyxel ONE Network Utility (ZON Utility), to realize speed network setup. Zyxel Smart Connect allows Zyxel networking equipment to be aware and recognize each other and further facilitating the network maintenance via one-click remote functions such as factory reset or power cycling. Zyxel ONE Network redefines the network integration across multiple networking products from switch to WiFi AP and to Gateway.
Effortless conversion from standalone to centrally-managed
The Zyxel NWA5121-NI Unified APs can be configured as a fully functional standalone AP and also capable to work with Wireless LAN Controller to form a robust controller-based WLAN solution with centralized management when WiFi demand grows, as well as auto AP provisioning over both LAN and WAN connections. After being installed and powered on, the APs automatically look for the Wireless LAN Controller and establish connections. Utilizing the CAPWAP protocol, connections can be established between the controller and APs without needing to change the existing LAN infrastructure.
Streamlined deployments for optimized WLAN experience
The NWA5121-NI features APFlexTM to simplify managed/standalone AP mode configuration to integrate with network environments automatically and to eliminate the need for pre-install preparations. To deliver optimized wireless experience for users, the NWA5121-NI features Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS), Load Balancing and Smart Client Steering, etc.
Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS) avoids interference from co-channel and channel overlapping at initialization, while Load Balancing enables administrators to set limits on the number of clients associated with each AP. Furthermore, Smart Client steering features Band Select, Signal Threshold and Band Balancing for stable, reliable wireless connections. Band Select and Signal Threshold monitor the capabilities of each wireless client and steer them to the less-congested band and the AP with better signal. Band Balancing detects dual-radio clients and distributes clients across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands on AP. These advanced functions ensure the NWA5121-NI to provide a smooth, consistent and uninterrupted wireless access experience.
Feature Highlights
WPA2 Enterprise
NWA5121-NI features with industrial strength WPA2 enterprise protection and supports a wide range of Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types. It can be seamlessly integrated with deployed corporate RADIUS servers.
ZyMesh
Wireless Mesh is an array of access points automatically forming dynamic wireless links. Built on this foundation of mesh networking, ZyMesh is Zyxel’s proprietary protocol for creating wireless mesh links for easy configuration, optimized management and enhanced reliability.
Wireless Layer-2 Isolation
The Layer-2 isolation protects private networks among client users, allowing users to access their shared devices without entering the rest of a private network for enhanced security. In addition, the intra-BSS blocking prevents different WiFi clients associated with the same AP from seeing each other and each other’s data.
Zyxel AP Configurator
While deploying a number of APs, repetitive configuration of each unit takes time and effort. Zyxel AP Configurator (ZAC) builds templates that allow users to copy one profile to several APs, allowing batch firmware upgrades and profile backups in three easy steps to significantly reduce configuration time and effort.
Zyxel One Network Utility
To streamline the management process, the NWA5121-NI comes with the Zyxel One Network Utility (ZON), allowing administrators to assign IP addresses to multiple APs through just one platform.
Administrators can avoid the hassle logging into each AP to change the default IP addresses before physical installation.
Zyxel APFlex™
Zyxel APFlex™ includes Zero-touch AP mode changing and Automatic IP configuration functions. The Zero-touch AP mode setting detects if there is an existing Zyxel controller and to choose stand-alone or managed mode accordingly. The Automatic IP configuration removes manual configuration and allows the AP to set itself to fixed or dynamic IP address automatically. With these two intelligent features, IT administrators can skip the two critical settings that had to be handled manually on legacy products and focus to more critical configuration tasks instead.
Zyxel Wireless Optimizer
Zyxel Wireless Optimizer (ZWO) provides a powerful tool for centralized management covering initial planning, adjustment during deployment and after-sale maintenance of an AP network. Architects can simulate AP deployment on a map displaying the number of APs needed. During deployment, ZWO will also map actual signal coverage for architects to adjust their AP locations or configurations.
After-sale, network administrators can access key performance details from ZWO, including channel in use, transmit retry rate and frame error rate, as well as the devices on the environment map. ZWO’s user-friendly presentation saves time and facilitates quick response to the network problems.
Application Diagram
