TRENDnet TEW-WLC100 Wireless LAN Controller with Built-in 5-Port Gigabit Switch

Elevate your wireless network with centralized control using the TRENDnet TEW-WLC100 Wireless LAN Controller. This compact, powerful device serves as the backbone for scalable Wi‑Fi deployments, delivering streamlined administration, robust security features, and seamless guest access across multiple access points. Designed to work with popular TRENDnet AP models such as TEW-755AP, TEW-821DAP, TEW-825DAP, and TEW-826DAP*, the TEW-WLC100 consolidates management into a single interface, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring consistent policy enforcement across your entire wireless footprint. By consolidating monitoring, firmware updates, roaming decisions, and captive portal capabilities, this controller helps IT teams deliver reliable, high-performing networks for small businesses, schools, hotels, and larger deployments—without sacrificing ease of use.

The TEW-WLC100 centralizes control for up to 128 wireless access points, enabling a scalable architecture that grows with your business. Whether you’re expanding a campus network, deploying guest Wi‑Fi across a storefront, or provisioning multiple APs across several buildings, this controller provides a unified management plane that simplifies configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Its built-in 5-port Gigabit switch adds a practical edge to the deployment by providing local connectivity for APs and management devices, helping to minimize cabling complexity and reduce latency between devices. In addition, its slideshow of features—ranging from advanced roaming support to captive portal capabilities—ensures users experience fewer handoffs during movement, while administrators retain tight control over roaming decisions, client policy, and SSID segmentation. By integrating AP management with a strong security posture, the TEW-WLC100 helps organizations maximize coverage, performance, and guest experience, all from a single, user-friendly interface.

The TEW-WLC100 is built for reliability in real-world environments. Its compatibility with TEW-755AP, TEW-821DAP, TEW-825DAP, and TEW-826DAP access points ensures a cohesive ecosystem where firmware updates and policy settings propagate consistently across all connected devices. The controller supports IEEE 802.11k radio resource management, which enables cooperative neighbor reporting and efficient spectrum use, helping APs select optimal channels and minimize interference. With IEEE 802.11r fast roaming, clients experience smoother handoffs when moving between APs, reducing latency and connection drops as they traverse hallways or campuses. Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC) adds an additional layer of security by speeding up the authentication process during roaming, improving both security and user experience. For hotspots and guest networks, the built-in captive portal enables flexible splash pages, authentication flows, and branding opportunities without requiring external hardware. Together, these features empower administrators to deliver secure, efficient, and highly available wireless networks that scale with your organization's needs.

Beyond core functionality, the TEW-WLC100 emphasizes ease of management and monitoring. The centralized dashboard presents real-time status for each AP, client distribution, airtime usage, and roaming metrics, so IT teams can identify bottlenecks, optimize network layout, and quickly respond to issues. The solution is designed to minimize downtime during expansion—APs can be adopted and managed from the controller, with centralized firmware updates and configuration backups ensuring rapid recovery from any incident. For venues that depend on guest access or marketing campaigns, the captive portal is a powerful tool that can drive engagement while maintaining control over access policies, bandwidth, and session duration. With TRENDnet’s focus on reliability and enterprise-grade features in a compact, affordable package, the TEW-WLC100 makes enterprise-grade wireless management accessible to a broader range of organizations.

• Centralized AP management for up to 128 wireless access points, delivering consistent policy enforcement, simplified administration, and unified monitoring from a single interface.
• Built-in 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch provides local connectivity for APs and management devices, reducing network clutter and improving data throughput near the edge of the network.
• Broad compatibility with TEW-755AP, TEW-821DAP, TEW-825DAP, and TEW-826DAP access points, enabling scalable, future-proof deployments that grow with your business needs.
• Advanced roaming and security features including IEEE 802.11k radio resource management, IEEE 802.11r fast roaming, and Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC) to ensure fast handoffs and strong security during client movement.
• Dedicated captive portal for hotspot applications and streamlined client/SSID management to support guest access, branding opportunities, and secure policy control across networks.

Technical Details of TEW-WLC100

• Product type: Wireless LAN Controller with built-in Gigabit switch
• Model: TEW-WLC100
• Compatibility: TEW-755AP, TEW-821DAP, TEW-825DAP, TEW-826DAP
• Management capacity: Up to 128 wireless access points
• Ethernet: Built-in 5-Port Gigabit switch
• Standards supported (via APs): IEEE 802.11k, IEEE 802.11r, Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC)
• Security features: Centralized policy enforcement, captive portal for hotspot applications, client and SSID management
• Deployment scenario: Centralized controller for enterprise-grade wireless networks, ideal for SMBs and campuses

How to install TEW-WLC100

• Unbox and place the TEW-WLC100 in a central, well-ventilated area near power and network access. Connect the included power supply and attach the device to your network using the built-in 5-port Gigabit switch for initial management connectivity.
• Assign or obtain an IP address for the WLC (static IP recommended for consistency, or use DHCP with reservation). Access the management interface from a browser using the WLC’s IP address and log in with the administrator credentials you create.
• Adopt compatible APs: Ensure TEW-755AP, TEW-821DAP, TEW-825DAP, and TEW-826DAP units are powered and connected to the same Layer 2 network. In the WLC interface, discover and adopt eligible APs into the centralized controller, applying base configurations to all devices.
• Configure SSIDs and security: Create essential SSIDs for internal and guest networks, set appropriate security (WPA2/WPA3 as supported), and tailor access policies. Enable the captive portal for hotspot users if required, including splash pages and authentication methods.
• Enable roaming and optimization features: Activate IEEE 802.11k for efficient neighbor reporting, 802.11r for fast roaming, and OKC to speed up key exchange during handoffs. Adjust band steering, airtime fairness, and QoS policies to balance performance across APs and clients.
• Test and monitor: Verify connectivity for clients, observe roaming behavior with moving devices, and check the status of APs and clients through the TEW-WLC100 dashboard. Schedule firmware updates and backup configurations to protect against outages.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the TEW-WLC100? The TEW-WLC100 is a centralized Wireless LAN Controller with a built‑in 5‑port Gigabit switch, designed to manage up to 128 TRENDnet wireless access points from a single interface, while providing features such as captive portals and roaming optimization.
• How many APs can it manage? It can manage up to 128 wireless access points, enabling scalable deployments across smaller offices to larger campuses.
• Which AP models are compatible? It is compatible with TEW-755AP, TEW-821DAP, TEW-825DAP, and TEW-826DAP access points, allowing cohesive, centralized management across multiple device types.
• Does it support 802.11k, 802.11r, and OKC? Yes. The TEW-WLC100 supports IEEE 802.11k radio resource management, IEEE 802.11r fast roaming, and Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC) to improve roaming speed and security.
• Is there a captive portal? Yes, the controller includes a captive portal feature for hotspot applications, guest access, and branding opportunities while maintaining centralized policy control.