What is the purpose of CAPWAP in wireless networks?

The purpose of CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) in wireless networks is to encapsulate and manage traffic between Lightweight Access Points (LAPs) and Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs). CAPWAP serves as a protocol that enables the central management of wireless access points, allowing them to communicate efficiently with the centralized controller.

This protocol is essential for several operational tasks, such as the configuration of access points, firmware management, monitoring, and forwarding client data traffic. It provides the framework to ensure seamless roaming for client devices and facilitates the transmission of data streams between the LAPs and the WLC, enabling a cohesive operation of the wireless network.

The encapsulation aspect means that CAPWAP allows for the transport of various types of data, including control messages and data traffic, using DTLS (Datagram Transport Layer Security) to ensure secure communication. This is crucial for managing a scalable and secure wireless network environment.