D-Link offers resellers new cloud revenue streams

D-Link has launched Central WiFiManager, wireless controller software to enable channel partners to easily and effectively manage and monitor multiple networks.

The cloud-enabled tool is free with selected D-Link wireless access points (APs). It offers the ability to manage up to 500 APs through a single, secure portal – creating the ability to offer remote network management as a hosted cloud managed service to customers.

Paul Routledge, sales and marketing manager for D-Link UK, said: “The D-Link Central WiFiManager allows authorised D-Link partners to deliver real-time monitoring and management as well as detailed reporting, all as a managed service.

“The end result is a network that is easy to deploy, set up, monitor and upgrade. This opens up new potential revenue streams and drastically simplifies the remote administration of several client networks.”

As well as real-time monitoring of the entire wireless network, the D-Link Central WiFiManager includes a wide range of access, security, optimisation and control features.

Network optimisation is delivered through automatic channel and power output control, as well as advanced bandwidth optimisation and band steering. Security is assured thanks to support for local database, external RADIUS server, LDAP and wifi passcode authentication types, and user access control means only authorised people have access to the various functions.

The multi-tenant architecture provides multi-layer management authority, making it easy to assign roles for multi-site management. As a result a D-Link partner can manage and monitor the APs across all clients, while business owners can only see their local network. This framework is augmented by NAT pass through, which means the controller can manage APs that are behind a router or firewall.

An additional benefit is the ability to configure an AP once and apply that configuration to multiple wireless APs. On top of this comes detailed and highly visual report generation, all provided through a management interface that supports multiple languages.

Antony Savvas

York, UK-based Antony Savvas has been a technology journalist for 25 years and has expertise in all major areas of enterprise and consumer IT. He has worked for a number of leading technology magazines and websites and his work is syndicated across the internet. He also undertakes corporate work for some of the world's leading technology companies.