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H3C WX3500X Wireless Controller Details

In today’s increasingly connected world, robust and reliable wireless infrastructure is paramount for organizations of all sizes. Wireless controllers serve as the central nervous system for these networks, managing access points, enforcing policies, and ensuring seamless connectivity for users and devices. The H3C WX3500X series of multi-service wireless controllers emerges as a compelling solution, promising a blend of performance, flexibility, and manageability. This document delves into the hardware specifics of the WX3500X series, providing a comprehensive overview for network professionals seeking to understand its capabilities and suitability for their deployments. We will explore the product’s models, physical characteristics, modular components, port configurations, indicators, and thermal management system, offering a detailed technical perspective on this critical networking device.

Product Overview H3C WX3500X

The H3C WX3500X series comprises multi-service wireless controllers designed to provide centralized control and management for wireless access points. These devices are fundamental components in building scalable and secure wireless networks, offering features such as access point management, radio frequency management, security policies, and quality of service (QoS) enforcement. The ‘multi-service’ aspect highlights their capability to support various functions beyond basic wireless control, potentially integrating features like wired access control or unified management for diverse network elements.

The WX3500X family includes several models catering to different network scale and performance requirements:

Product Technical Specifications

Understanding the technical specifications of the WX3500X controllers is crucial for assessing their suitability for specific deployment scenarios. These specifications outline the performance capabilities, physical characteristics, and environmental requirements of the devices. The series is built to handle demanding wireless environments, offering features essential for high-density deployments and critical business applications.

The following table provides a detailed breakdown of key technical specifications for the WX3500X series:

Hardware Architecture

The physical design of the H3C WX3500X series is a crucial aspect of its functionality and deployment flexibility. The controllers feature a standard rack-mountable form factor with a height of 44mm, a width of 440mm, and a depth of 435mm, making them suitable for deployment in standard data center racks. The base weight of the units without power supplies or other modular components is 6.3 kg, increasing to approximately 9.0 kg when equipped with dual power supplies, highlighting the robust build quality designed for enterprise environments.

The front panel provides key interfaces and indicators for monitoring and management. It includes slots for optional硬盘模块 (HDD modules), USB interfaces for file transfer and software upgrades, and a CONSOLE port for out-of-band management. A critical feature on the front panel is the inclusion of both 100/1000BASE-T adaptive Ethernet interfaces and 1000BASE-X SFP interfaces, offering versatile connectivity options for integrating the controller into existing wired networks. Additionally, a dedicated 100/1000BASE-T out-of-band management Ethernet interface is present, providing a separate channel for device administration, which is essential for maintaining network stability and accessibility even during high traffic periods. Expansion slots are also prominently featured on the front panel, allowing for the addition of optional interface cards to enhance the controller’s capabilities, such as support for IoT gateways or additional Ethernet/fiber ports. A RESET button on the front panel provides physical access for resetting the device or restoring factory defaults, a fundamental feature for troubleshooting and initial setup.

Turning to the rear panel, we find the power supply bays, capable of accommodating dual hot-swappable power modules for redundancy, ensuring continuous operation in the event of a power supply failure. MIM interface slots are also present on the rear, offering further expansion possibilities beyond the front panel slots, supporting specialized interface modules. A grounding screw is included on the rear panel, a vital component for safety by providing a secure earth connection to protect against electrical hazards and static discharge. The thoughtful layout of both front and rear panels, coupled with the inclusion of key interfaces and modular slots, reflects a design focused on flexibility, reliability, and ease of maintenance in enterprise network environments.

Software Architecture

While the provided document focuses primarily on the hardware aspects of the H3C WX3500X series, the functionality of these wireless controllers is significantly driven by their underlying software architecture. These devices operate on H3C’s network operating system, which is specifically tailored for managing wireless infrastructure. This operating system provides the framework for centralized control of access points, enabling administrators to configure and monitor APs across the network from a single point. Key functions facilitated by the software include dynamic RF management to optimize wireless coverage and minimize interference, robust security features such as WPA/WPA2/WPA3, rogue AP detection, and access control lists to protect the wireless network from unauthorized access and threats.

Furthermore, the software architecture supports advanced features like Quality of Service (QoS), allowing administrators to prioritize critical traffic, such as voice and video, ensuring a consistent and reliable user experience even in congested wireless environments. Centralized policy management is a cornerstone of the software, enabling consistent application of network access policies, security settings, and user profiles across all connected access points. The software likely includes integrated troubleshooting tools and monitoring capabilities, providing visibility into network performance and facilitating rapid identification and resolution of issues. Support for industry standards and protocols is also a critical aspect, ensuring interoperability with other network infrastructure components. The modular nature of the hardware is complemented by a software architecture that can potentially support various optional modules, such as the IoT gateway card (iCard-WX35-C1K), integrating different technologies and services under a unified management umbrella. The expandable storage option via the SSD enables logging, reporting, and potentially localized data processing functionalities within the controller itself. While the specific details of the operating system and its feature set beyond hardware interaction are not extensively covered in the hardware description, it is understood that a sophisticated and purpose-built software platform is essential to unlock the full potential and provide the comprehensive wireless control capabilities of the H3C WX3500X series.

Ports and Indicators Overview

The H3C WX3500X series wireless controllers are equipped with a variety of ports and indicators that provide essential connectivity, management access, and operational status feedback. These elements are critical for deploying, configuring, monitoring, and maintaining the devices effectively. The strategic placement and clear labeling of these components on both the front and rear panels enhance usability and simplify troubleshooting.

Front panel connectivity includes a CONSOLE port, which is a standard RJ-45 interface compliant with EIA/TIA-232, offering a serial connection for out-of-band command-line interface (CLI) access. This port supports adjustable baud rates from 9600 bps to 115200 bps, with a default setting of 9600 bps, making it compatible with various terminal emulation programs and local PC connections. Two USB 2.0 ports, compliant with the OHCI standard, are also present, supporting data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps. These USB ports are primarily used for interacting with the device’s flash file system, facilitating tasks such as uploading or downloading application files and configuration backups, providing a convenient method for software management and recovery.

For network connectivity, the front panel features eight 100/1000BASE-T adaptive Ethernet ports. These RJ-45 ports support auto-negotiation for speed and duplex mode (10M/100M full/half-duplex, 1000M full-duplex) and MDI/MDI-X crossover detection, offering flexible connections to wired network segments using Category 5 or higher twisted-pair cables up to 100 meters. Additionally, eight 1000BASE-X SFP interfaces are provided, utilizing LC connectors, which support standard Gigabit Ethernet SFP optical modules for fiber optic connections, extending network reach and bandwidth. A dedicated 100/1000BASE-T management Ethernet port, also an RJ-45 interface, is set aside for network management and bootstrapping, ensuring a segregated path for administrative traffic. The inclusion of both copper and fiber gigabit ports on the base unit offers inherent flexibility in deployment scenarios.

The front panel indicators provide immediate visual feedback on the device’s status. The SYSTEM (SYS) indicator shows the overall operating state: rapid green blinking during startup, slow green blinking when operating normally, solid red for critical alarms (power, fan, high temperature, software issues), and off when the device is powered down. Each SFP port has an indicator: solid green for a 1000Mbps link, blinking green for activity, and off when the link is down. The management Ethernet port has a LINK/ACT indicator: solid green for a link, blinking green for activity, and off when disconnected. The 100/1000BASE-T adaptive Ethernet ports have activity indicators that turn solid yellow for a 100Mbps link (blinking for activity) and solid green for a 1000Mbps link (blinking for activity), and are off when no link is established. Indicators for the power supply slots (PWR1/PWR2) on the front panel show green for a healthy, installed power module, solid red for an installed module that is not operational or has a fault, and off when no module is present. Similarly, indicators for the expansion card slots (SLOT1-SLOT3) show solid green for a properly installed and working expansion card, blinking red for an unsupported or faulty card, and off when the slot is empty. These comprehensive indicators allow administrators to quickly assess the health and operational status of the controller and its components without needing to access the command line interface.

Modular components also feature their own indicators. Power modules have an indicator that is solid green when working normally, blinking green when input current is detected but the module is not installed in the device, solid red for a fault or protective state, alternating red/green for certain alarms like overcurrent or overtemperature, and blinking red if there is no input current (especially in redundant configurations) or due to input undervoltage protection, and off with no power input. Expansion cards, depending on their type, may have specific indicators, such as a RUN indicator on the iCard-WX35-C1K that blinks green rapidly during software loading and slowly when operating normally. Interface expansion modules (like EWPM1WBCD0ENT/EWPM1WBCE0ENT and EWPXM1XG03/EWPXM1XG20) have link/activity indicators on their ports; 100/1000BASE-T ports on these cards typically show solid green for a 100/1000M link and blinking green for activity, while SFP+ ports on the EWPXM1XG03 show solid green for a 10G link (blinking for activity), yellow for a 1000M link (blinking for activity), and off when down. The EWPXM1XG20’s 10GBASE-R SFP+ ports show solid green for a 10G link and blinking green for activity. Finally, the optional HDD module has an indicator that is solid green when the drive is present, blinking green during data access, and off when the drive is absent. This detailed array of visual indicators provides a wealth of information at a glance, significantly aiding in monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining the H3C WX3500X series controllers.

Modular Components Customization

A key design philosophy behind the H3C WX3500X series wireless controllers is modularity, offering organizations the flexibility to customize the device’s capabilities based on their specific needs and evolve the infrastructure as requirements change. This is achieved through support for various hot-swappable or pluggable components, including power modules, expansion cards, and storage drives. The availability of multiple slots for these components allows for redundancy and feature expansion.

Power redundancy is a critical aspect of high-availability network infrastructure. The WX3500X series supports two swappable power module bays (PWR1 and PWR2) on the rear panel. Users can choose from AC power modules like the PSR250-12A1-D (100V~240V AC input, 250W max output) or DC power modules like the PSR450-12D (-48V~-60V DC input, 450W max output). The ability to install two power supplies, even of different types (though typically redundant power supplies are of the same type), ensures that the controller can continue operating uninterrupted even if one power feed or module fails. The document explicitly mentions support for replacing redundant backup power modules while the unit is still powered, provided the module being installed or removed is de-energized, highlighting the hot-swappable nature for enhanced uptime during maintenance.

Expansion capabilities are facilitated through multiple expansion card slots. The front panel houses an Ethernet interface expansion module slot, and the rear panel provides two MIM interface slots (MIM interface slot 1 and MIM interface slot 2), although the document’s detailing of slot usage indicates three general expansion slots labeled SLOT1, SLOT2, and SLOT3 on the front panel indicator view and referred to as such in the expansion card support table. The compatibility of specific expansion cards varies depending on the controller model and the specific slot. For instance, the iCard-WX35-C1K, an IoT gateway card with a console port, is supported in SLOT1 of all WX3500X models, but not in SLOT2 or SLOT3. The EWPM1WBCD0ENT/EWPM1WBCE0ENT wireless controller cards, providing additional management Ethernet, console, and USB ports, are supported in SLOT1 across all models, but the EWPM1WBCD0ENT is only supported in the WX3510X, while the EWPM1WBCE0ENT is supported in the WX3520X and WX3540X. Interface expansion modules offering copper Ethernet and SFP+ fiber ports are supported in different slots: the EWPXM1XG03 (8x 100/1000BASE-T, 2x SFP+) is supported in SLOT2 across all models, while the higher-density EWPXM1XG20 (2x 10G BASE-R SFP+) is only supported in SLOT3 of the WX3540X. This detailed compatibility matrix underscores the importance of selecting the correct expansion card for the specific controller model and target slot to ensure proper functionality. The flexibility offered by these expansion modules allows organizations to tailor the controller’s port density and types to meet their specific connectivity requirements, adding Gigabit copper, Gigabit fiber, or 10 Gigabit fiber ports as needed.

Storage expandability is provided through a dedicated HDD module slot on the front panel. While the base configuration includes 8GB of eMMC Memory, the option to install an SSD, specifically the SSD-1.92T-SATA3-WCG with a 1.92TB capacity and SATA 6Gb/s interface in a SFF form factor, provides significant additional storage. This expanded storage capacity can be crucial for storing larger volumes of logs, configuration backups, application files, or potentially supporting local data caching or processing capabilities within the controller itself. It is important to note that the document specifies that the HDD does not support hot-swapping, and attempting to do so may cause system abnormalities, requiring careful planning for installation or replacement during maintenance windows. The SSD is also listed as an optional purchase, not included by default. Collectively, the support for swappable power supplies, various expansion cards, and optional SSDs provides a high degree of customization and scalability for the H3C WX3500X series, enabling these controllers to adapt to diverse network requirements and future growth.

Thermal Management System

Maintaining optimal operating temperatures is essential for the long-term reliability and performance of network equipment. The H3C WX3500X series wireless controllers incorporate an efficient thermal management system designed to dissipate heat generated by the internal components, ensuring stable operation even under heavy load. The design of the thermal system directly influences the environmental conditions under which the device can operate effectively, as outlined in the product specifications regarding operating temperature ranges.

The primary mechanism for heat dissipation in the WX3500X series is a fan-based ventilation system. The document specifies a “left-inflow, right-outflow” cooling method. This indicates that cool air is drawn in through the left side of the chassis and exhausted through the right side. This type of directional airflow is a common and effective approach in rack-mounted equipment, facilitating efficient cooling when units are deployed in rows within a rack, provided adequate space and airflow are maintained around the equipment. The flow of air across the internal components helps to remove accumulated heat, preventing overheating which can lead to performance degradation, component failure, or even system shutdown.

Effective thermal management relies not only on the internal design of the device but also on the external environment and installation practices. The document implicitly highlights the importance of proper environmental planning by stating the operational temperature and humidity ranges. The operating temperature range is specified as 0°C to 45°C when an HDD module is not installed, and a slightly narrower range of 5°C to 40°C when a potentially heat-generating HDD module is present. The non-condensing relative humidity range is 5%RH to 95%RH without an HDD and 10%RH to 90%RH with an HDD. These ranges indicate the environmental boundaries within which the thermal system is designed to perform effectively. Operating the device outside these ranges can compromise the thermal management and potentially lead to issues.

For optimal performance of the thermal system and overall device stability, proper installation is crucial. The document advises aligning device placement with the environmental ventilation design. This means ensuring that there is unobstructed airflow to the left side (inflow) and from the right side (outflow) of the controller when it is installed in a rack or cabinet. Blocking intake or exhaust vents can severely impede airflow, causing internal temperatures to rise beyond acceptable limits. Maintaining adequate spacing between devices in a rack and ensuring that the rack or cabinet itself has proper ventilation or cooling mechanisms are vital considerations to support the controller’s thermal design. In environments with limited natural convection or high ambient temperatures, forced-air cooling systems within the rack or room may be necessary to maintain the operating environment within the specified ranges. The combination of the WX3500X series’ internal left-to-right airflow design and proper external environmental management ensures that the device can effectively dissipate heat, contributing to its reliability and performance in demanding network deployments.

Ordering Information

To acquire the H3C WX3500X series wireless controllers and their associated modular components, it is essential to utilize the correct ordering information. Each base unit and optional part is identified by a unique product code. Understanding these codes ensures that you receive the precise model and components required for your networking setup.

The core WX3500X controller models are identified by the following product codes:

When configuring a purchase, remember that power modules and the optional hard drive are not included by default and must be ordered separately based on your power requirements (AC or DC) and storage needs. The power modules available are:

If you require expanded connectivity or specialized functions, the compatible expansion cards must also be ordered separately. The product codes for these cards include:

For additional storage capacity beyond the base eMMC memory, the optional SSD can be ordered:

When placing an order, verify the compatibility of the chosen power modules and expansion cards with the specific WX3500X controller model you intend to purchase, referring to the compatibility tables provided in the detailed specifications. For global discount offers and to purchase these H3C WX3500X series wireless controllers and their associated components, please visit https://itmall.sale.

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