In large enterprise WLAN networks, multiple ACs (Access Controllers) are often deployed to expand network capacity or improve reliability. However, when each AC manages its own licenses independently, resource allocation and daily maintenance can become more complicated.
Centralized License Management is designed to address this challenge.
1. What Is Centralized License Management?
In a multi-AC network, Centralized License Management designates one AC as the License Server, responsible for centrally managing license resources across the network. The other ACs act as License Clients, reporting their local licenses to the License Server for unified management.
This approach allows license resources to be managed centrally and allocated or released according to actual AP usage, reducing the complexity of managing licenses on individual ACs.
2. How Does Centralized License Management Work?
The basic workflow consists of three steps:
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License Reporting: Each License Client reports its local license information to the License Server for centralized management.
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AP Goes Online — License Request: When an AP comes online through a License Client, the client requests the required license resources from the License Server.
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AP Goes Offline — License Release: When an AP goes offline, the License Client can notify the License Server to release the corresponding license resources for future allocation.
With this mechanism, licenses are no longer managed solely by individual ACs. Instead, they can be managed centrally and allocated more flexibly across the network.
3. What Are the Benefits?
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Unified Management: Manage license resources across multiple ACs centrally, simplifying daily operations.
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Flexible Allocation: Allocate and release licenses based on actual AP usage to improve resource utilization.
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Simplified Maintenance: Reduce the workload of managing licenses on individual ACs and make large WLAN networks easier to maintain.
Please note that the supported features, configuration methods, and fault-handling mechanisms depend on the device model, software version, and vendor implementation.
Conclusion
As WLAN networks continue to grow, license management needs to become more flexible and efficient. Centralized License Management simplifies the management of license resources in multi-AC networks through centralized control and on-demand allocation, helping enterprises maintain their wireless networks more efficiently.
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