Mobility requires next-generation access without regard to user physical location. And today’s user- owned or “bring your own device (BYOD)” environment is fueled by multiple device operating system platforms including devices which run on Android or Apple iOS.  Mobile “anywhere” user-access needs to support multiple device types. The way next-generation mobility is first enabled is through the access layer which is delivered through several alternative approaches/architectures.

Centralized or distributed processing? Centralized processing concentrates the majority of processing functions in a centralized controller. When a single controller is used, single point of failure results unless one has controller redundancy (which adds cost and administrative complexity). Controllers typically can host a finite number of nodes. So when controller capacity is reached, additional controller capacity is required.   In addition, centralized architectures typically route some traffic through (via) the controller which results in routing inefficiencies and can result in the controller becoming a bottleneck to efficient traffic flow.   Another system/network approach is to distribute the processing among network nodes instead of concentrating it in the controller. By distributing the processing, economies of scale can reduce network component unit cost, network architecture is simplified, it becomes inherently easier to scale the network (just add more nodes without the “controller node-capacity constraint”), and a potential single point of failure (controller) is eliminated resulting in higher availability of service. Synercomm recommends distributed processing architecture, also sometimes called “controller-less” architecture.

Local, remotely-accessed or cloud-based network administration?   In some networks, one must locally connect to a network controller to perform network administration functions and performance monitoring.  In others, a remote connection is established for this. And still in others, the network can be administered through the cloud.   Synercomm recommends topology enabling customer choice of any of the above based on specific customer requirements and preferences.

Complex or Simple? While some audiences prefer high complexity, the winning philosophy at Synercomm is network simplicity. Synercomm recommends the simplest network topology which meets customer/stakeholder requirements because simple designs have proven less costly to administer, and require the least time, effort, and cost to trouble-shoot and maintain.   Simplicity should be complemented by user-friendliness and minimum hassle to configure and operate which yields highest productivity and satisfaction with your network.