Description

The WL-AC1000 Wallys Access Point Controller is a high-performance network solution designed for managing and optimizing the operation of multiple access points (APs) within large-scale wireless networks. It provides centralized control, advanced configuration, and monitoring of Wallys’ access points, ensuring seamless connectivity, enhanced security, and network performance. Ideal for industrial, enterprise, and high-density environments, the WL-AC1000 offers scalability, reliability, and ease of use for both wired and wireless communication systems.

The WL-AC1000 is designed to centralize the management of Wi-Fi networks, enabling IT administrators to control multiple Wallys access points with ease. With support for various network topologies, it provides superior performance, advanced security features, and robust management tools, making it a perfect fit for applications in smart cities, enterprise networks, industrial settings, and more.

The WL-AC1000 is powered by a quad-core Arm processor coupled with 1GB RAM, 8MB NOR flash, and 256MB NAND flash. It is equipped with four GbE ports and one 2.5GbE port to connect the access points through switches. It’s available as a desktop version and a 1U enclosure to mount in a rack.

The AP controller is accessible through a web dashboard that allows the centralized management of multiple access points within a single graphical user interface.

■ Centralized Management;Simplifies the configuration and management of multiple access points from a single interface, reducing complexity and overhead.

■ Batch Configuration;Easily configure multiple devices simultaneously for quick deployment across large networks.

■ Firmware Upgrade Management;Simplifies device firmware upgrades by enabling batch upgrades, ensuring that all connected devices run the latest software.

■ Wi-Fi Configuration;Customize Wi-Fi settings, including SSID, security protocols, and bandwidth management, to optimize network performance.

■ Device Firmware Upgrades: Supports firmware upgrades for Wallys and compatible third-party devices with minimal downtime, ensuring devices stay updated with the latest features and security patches.

■ Delete Offline Devices;Automatically or manually remove offline or inactive devices from the network to ensure efficient network management and security.

■ Import Whitelist;Import and manage a whitelist of authorized devices, preventing unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.

■ Execute Command;Execute custom commands across multiple devices simultaneously, facilitating bulk configuration tasks and troubleshooting.

■ Multiple IP Address Setup;Supports the configuration of multiple IP addresses across different network segments, enabling more flexible and scalable network topologies.

The WL-AC1000 supports the following Wallys devices:

Wallys APs: DR5018,DR5018S,DR6018,DR6018S,DR6018C

Our test report : 

Key features include:

• Batch configuration – Configure multiple devices simultaneously for quick deployment across large networks.
• Device firmware upgrade management (batch upgrades support)
• Remote WiFi configuration (SSID, security protocols, and bandwidth management) for each AP.
• Delete offline devices – Automatically or manually remove offline or inactive devices from the network
• Whitelist – Import and manage a whitelist of authorized devices, preventing unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.
• Execute Command – Execute custom commands across multiple devices simultaneously for bulk configuration tasks and troubleshooting.
• Multiple subnets setup for more flexible and scalable network topologies

A limitation is that it only works with Wallys’ DR4029, DR4019, DR5018, DR5018S, DR6018, DR6018S, and DR6018C access points for now, although the documentation mentions support for “compatible third-party devices”. I asked if other OpenWrt devices could be supported, but a company representative confirmed the solution was only compatible with Wallys’ DR access points.

Since a host computer is required to access the WL-AC1000 dashboard, I asked why a hardware solution was needed since users could load a program on a laptop to perform remote configuration and firmware upgrades in a similar. The only feature that would not be supported is the automatic removal of offline devices if the laptop is not always on. I was told that  “hardware AP is better than software, it’s local, data is secure”. But I’m unconvinced since a program could also be used only run on the local network, you don’t need the cloud for everything… I assume its multiple Ethernet ports must have some benefits for larger installations. An article on LinkedIn also mentions time synchronization between access points, a feature that may be important for industrial environments where precise time synchronization is essential.

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