Spacing your device servers correctly is an important task. The ability to manage your wireless network depends on servers being able to locate and communicate with your devices. There are two primary methods of installing servers: centralized and distributed.
Centralized Server Method
In centralized server installations, a single server location is responsible for managing all of the devices on the network. Centralized server installations are typically found in environments where specific locations within a network might be unable to support their own servers. An example of this environment is a collection of retail stores. While the headquarters for these stores can support an infrastructure server, it might not be possible for each individual store to have its own server. In this case, installing the server centrally is an ideal solution.
A Centralized Installation of Avalanche (Simplified)
If you determine that a centralized server installation is the best choice for your wireless network, it is important to remember the following:
| • | You must know the network subnets to ensure the server knows where to listen for infrastructure broadcasts. |
| • | You must know what switches and routers reside between the server and devices. This is particularly helpful if troubleshooting becomes necessary. |
| • | You must have a general understanding of the overall performance of the wireless network, to ensure that specific time-based features (such as WEP key rotation) are configured correctly. |
| • | Should organizational needs change, a centralized installation of Avalanche can be modified to a distributed model without needing to uninstall or reinstall Avalanche. |
Distributed Server Method
In distributed server installations, a server resides on each network subnet. These servers are responsible for managing on a per-subnet basis. Often, distributed server installations of Avalanche are found in environments where wireless connectivity is critical to business operations. For example, if a company has multiple locations across the country, connectivity between each server location might depend on factors outside the company’s control such as weather, the performance of third-party services, and so on. In these situations, installing a server on each subnet provides a more robust environment in which wireless network downtime is minimized.
If you determine that a distributed server installation is the best choice for your wireless network, it is important to remember the following:
| • | Because you are installing multiple servers on multiple systems, it might take more time to completely install and optimize Avalanche for your network. |
| • | You must ensure that when you upgrade Avalanche, you upgrade all servers across the network. |
A Distributed Installation of Avalanche (Simplified)
For information about deploying servers, see
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