Zyxel NXC2500
Wireless LAN Controller

Benefits:

Adaptive and resilient Wi-Fi deployments with ZyMESH technology

Surpassing the mesh networking technology, ZyMESH creates wireless mesh links with easy configuration, better management and enhanced reliability. ZyMESH eases extending Wi-Fi coverage to places where cabling is difficult. In addition, each repeater APs can have multiple route selections to provide high resilience achieving non-stop Wi-Fi service. In the past, administrators had to assign channel and MAC addresses in each AP while setting up a WDS link to extend Wi-Fi service; now they can make initial provision and centralized management with ZyMESH and Zyxel NXC2500 controller to manage and deploy networks easily.

Enhanced RF management and WLAN optimization

All wireless networks face a major challenge: ensuring Wi-Fi clients get service levels they’d need. The difficulty to resolve is that different kinds of Wi-Fi clients exist on the network, and these users tend to make their own connectivity and roaming decision.

The Zyxel NXC2500 features with advanced WLAN optimization technologies that help administrators monitoring and maintaining health of the wireless network easily. Client steering utilizes functions of band steering and client signal threshold to match every Wi-Fi client to the best radio of the best AP. Band steering sets 5 GHz as the first priority to optimize network connectivity for dual-band clients. Client signal threshold ensures all clients connect to the APs with stronger signal. Auto healing is another WLAN optimization function that deployed APs detect status of nearby APs and adjust power automatically while failure occurred in neighboring AP. Auto healing provides reliable and always-on wireless coverage. The Zyxel NXC2500 also features dynamic channel selection to optimize Wi-Fi quality and performance while minimizing administration efforts by auto, instant channel selection.

Authentication with simplified management

The Zyxel NXC2500 uses comprehensive authentication methods to manage Wi-Fi accessibility for devices with AD, LDAP or RADIUS authentication servers. The NXC2500 also provides a built-in RADIUS server, a captive portal server and a DHCP server to facilitate small and medium businesses deploying secured employee and guest access services without any additional server. The user-friendly guest account generator can dynamically create user accounts for guests at reception or equally easy by office administrators. The NXC2500 also supports applying external customized portal pages which largely benefit the access authentication in hospitality venues like hotels. Also, with IETF standard-based CAPWAP, secured communication can be established between the NXC controller and access points without changing the existing LAN infrastructure. The NXC2500 can offer a secured Wi-Fi network with easy installation for your business.

Application Diagram:

Specifications:

Model		NXC2500
Port Density
10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports		6
USB Port		2
Performance
Throughput (Gbps)		1
Managed AP number (default/max.)		8/24
Fanless		Yes
WLAN Features
Wireless security (WPA/WPA2-PSK, Enterprise)		Yes
Dynamic channel selection		Yes
Client RSSI threshold		Yes
Wireless multicast setting		Yes
Rogue AP detection		Yes
AP load balancing		Yes
Security Features
IEEE 802.1X		Yes
Web authentication		Yes
MAC filtering		Yes
RADIUS authentication		Yes
Microsoft AD authentication		Yes
LDAP authentication		Yes
Embedded RADIUS server		Yes (256 user)
Rogue AP detection		Yes
Identity-based user security management		Yes
Wireless intrusion detection		Rouge AP detection
Control and Provisioning
Managed AP discovery		Broadcast/DHCP Option/DNS/Manual
CAPWAP		Yes
AP data forwarding mode support		Distributed (local bridge)
Management interface		HTTP/HTTPS/Telnet/SSH/SNMP
Output power control		Yes
Dynamic channel assignment		Yes
AP planning and site-survey		Yes (AP planning and coverage detection)
Wire/wireless packet capture		Wired
Network
VLANs		Yes
DHCP client		Yes
DHCP relay, server		Yes
NAT		Yes
Static routing		Yes
Policy routing		Yes
Access Control
MAC filter list		Yes
MAC authentication		Yes
Customizable web login portal		Yes
QoS
WMM/power save		Yes
DiffServ marking		Yes
AP load balancing		Yes
Management Features
CLI with SSH		Yes
Web UI with SSL		Yes
SNMP		Yes
Multi-level administration roles		Admin, guest operator
User/Application Management
Authentication		RADIUS/Microsoft AD/LDAP/Local
Local user database		Yes (256)
MAC authentication		Yes (Internal/External RADIUS)
User/group policy		Yes
Captive portal		Yes
External portal page		Yes
Page upload		Yes
Other
Dynamic channel selection		Yes
System diagnostic tool		Yes
Certification
EMC		FCC Part 15B CE EN55022, EN55024: 2010 ERP Lot 6 C-tick AS/NZSCISPR22: 2009 BSMI CNS13438: 2006
Safety		LVD EN60950-1: A12: 2011 BSMI CNS14336: 2010
Power Requirements
Power supply		12 VDC, 100 - 240 VAC
Physical Specifications
Item	Dimensions (WxDxH)(mm/in.)	242.0 x 175.39 x 35.5/9.53 x 6.9 x 1.4
	Weight (kg/lb.)	1.254/2.76
Packing	Dimensions (WxDxH)(mm/in.)	395 x 238 x 101/15.55 x 9.37 x 3.98
	Weight (kg/lb.)	2.49/5.49
Environmental Specifications
Operating	Temperature	0°C to 40°C/32°F to 104°F
	Humidity	5% to 95% (non-condensing)
Storage	Temperature	-20°C to 70°C/-4°F to 158°F
	Humidity	5% to 95%
MTBF (hr)		815,464

Access Point Compatibility List

Series	NWA3000-N Series	NWA5000 Series	NWA5120 Series
	Unified Pro Access Point	Managed Access Point	Unified Access Point
Model	NWA3160-N NWA3560-N NWA3550-N	NWA5160N NWA5560-N NWA5550-N	NWA5121-NI NWA5121-N NWA5123-NI
Functions
Auto provisioning over WAN & LAN	Yes	Yes	Yes
CAPWAP	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto channel selection	Yes	Yes	Yes
AP load-balancing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Monitoring mode	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rogue AP	Detection	Detection	Detection (Standalone mode)
Packet capture	Yes	Yes	Yes
Data forwarding	Local bridge	Local bridge	Local bridge

Other Information

License
Item	Description
Managed AP scalability	The NXC2500 Managed AP License increases the number of APs that can be managed by the NXC2500 WLAN controller by increments of 8 APs at a time. The maximum number of APs supported is 24.

System Requirement
Zyxel Wireless Optimizer
Description	Easy for AP planning, coverage detection and monitoring
Operating system	Microsoft® Windows XP Professional SP2+ Windows Vista (32-bit) Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Processor	Intel® Pentium® 4 1.4 GHz or higher recommended
RAM	2 GB recommended
Hard disk	100 MB of free disk space
Map import	A site map in the following supported formats: .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .png

Documentation:

Download the Zyxel NXC2500 Series Datasheet (PDF).