Huawei AC6500 Series – Scalable AC6507S & AC6508 WLAN Controllers

The Huawei AC6500 Series WLAN Controllers (AC6507S & AC6508) deliver robust, multi-gigabit throughput and centralized management for growing enterprise networks.

With support for up to 512 APs, 4–10 Gbps forwarding, and advanced SmartRadio technologies, these Huawei Wireless Controllers ensure seamless connectivity and simplified operations across campus and branch deployments.

Product Line Overview & Model Highlights

Feature	AC6507S	AC6508
Managed APs (Default/Max)	32 / 128	32 / 512
Max Access Users	2,048	4,096
Forwarding Capacity	4 Gbps	10 Gbps
Ethernet Interfaces	10× GE + 2× 10 GE SFP+	10× GE + 2× 10 GE SFP+
Uplink Redundancy	AC/DC adapter support	AC/DC adapter support
HA Mode	1+1 HSB or N+1 backup	1+1 HSB or N+1 backup
Networking Layer	L2 or L3	L2 or L3
Radio Protocols	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ac wave2/ax	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ac wave2/ax/be

Core Features & Differentiators

High Scalability: Start with 32 AP licenses; expand to 128 (AC6507S) or 512 (AC6508) without hardware changes.
SmartRadio Optimization: Smart roaming load-balancing and air-interface tuning improve client distribution and RF stability.
Multi-Gigabit Throughput: 4 Gbps forwarding on AC6507S and 10 Gbps on AC6508 aggregate user traffic seamlessly.
Flexible HA & Clustering: Active-standby (1+1) or N+1 backup modes with sub-second failover maintain service continuity.
Centralized Management: Unified GUI/CLI, SNMPv3, and RESTful APIs integrate with Huawei iMaster NCE and third-party NMS.
Layer 2/3 Deployment: Supports both deployment models—no network redesign required when scaling across buildings or sites.

Competitive Comparison

Feature	Huawei AC6507S	Huawei AC6508	Cisco Catalyst 9800-40	Aruba 7205
Max APs	128	512	200	256
Forwarding Capacity	4 Gbps	10 Gbps	10 Gbps	10 Gbps
Ports	10× GE + 2×10 GE SFP+	10× GE + 2×10 GE SFP+	6× GE + 4×10 GE SFP+	8× GE + 4×10 GE SFP+
SmartRadio	Yes	Yes	ClientMatch	AirMatch
HA Modes	1+1, N+1	1+1, N+1	1+1, N+1	1+1, N+1
Management	Cloud/AC/Standalone	Cloud/AC/Standalone	DNA Center/On-prem	Aruba Central/On-prem

Deployment Scenarios

Campus Core & Aggregation
– AC6508 clusters manage hundreds of high-density APs in lecture halls and auditoriums with 10 Gbps uplinks.
Branch Office Expansion
– AC6507S fits small-to-mid-sized sites, controlling up to 128 APs via existing 1 GbE infrastructure.
Retail & Hospitality
– Rapid, zero-touch provisioning via cloud or on-prem controller automates rollout across multiple venues.
Smart Buildings & IoT
– Seamless integration of Wi-Fi 6/6E APs supports massive sensor and device connectivity.
Service Provider Wi-Fi
– AC6508’s high AP and user capacity simplifies managed Wi-Fi offerings for malls and public venues.

Management & Configuration

iMaster NCE-WLAN: Cloud-native platform for zero-touch on-boarding, firmware scheduling, and real-time analytics.
Controller GUI/CLI: Intuitive web interface and scripting via CLI for granular policy, QoS, and RF profiles.
AP Grouping & Templates: Define SSID, security, VLAN, and RF settings once; apply across multiple AP groups.
RESTful APIs & SNMPv3: Integrate with OSS/BSS or third-party monitoring systems for event-driven automation.
Smart Roaming & Load Balancing: AI-powered algorithms steer clients to optimal APs, balancing network load automatically.

Technical Configuration

Enable Secure Management

system-view

stelnet server enable

ssh server enable

http secure-server enable

Configure AP Discovery

wlan ac enable

wlan ap discovery 255.255.255.255

Create SSID & Security Profile

wlan ssid-profile CorpWiFi

ssid-name CorpSSID

security wpa2-aes

authentication-mode wpa2-psk

preshared-key cipher MySecureKey

vlan 100

Assign SSID to AP Group

ap-group default-group

wlan ssid-profile CorpWiFi

SmartRoaming & Load Balancing

radio smart roaming enable

radio load-balance client 20

High-Availability Setup

ha enable

ha peer-ip 10.10.10.2

ha mode active-standby

save

FAQ – Huawei HCIE Expert Answers

Q1: How many APs can each controller manage?

AC6507S: up to 128 APs
AC6508: up to 512 APs

Q2: What forwarding performance do they offer?

AC6507S: 4 Gbps
AC6508: 10 Gbps

Q3: Can I mix L2 and L3 AP deployments?
Yes—both controllers support Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking without reconfiguration.

Q4: What high-availability options exist?
Active-standby (1+1) or N+1 backup clustering ensures sub-second failover.

Q5: Do they support Wi-Fi 6/6E APs?
Absolutely—compatible with Huawei’s entire 802.11ax/be AP lineup.

Q6: How is SmartRadio implemented?
Client- and band-based load balancing, plus real-time air-interface tuning, maintain optimal performance.

Q7: Are management APIs available?
Yes—both RESTful APIs and SNMPv3 simplify integration with automation and monitoring platforms.

Q8: Can I deploy zero-touch across multiple branches?
Yes—iMaster NCE-WLAN’s zero-touch provisioning automatically configures and registers new controllers and APs.

Conclusion

The Huawei AC6500 Series (AC6507S & AC6508) provides a scalable, high-performance WLAN Controller platform for enterprises of any size.

With multi-gig forwarding, advanced SmartRadio, and flexible management, these Huawei Wireless Controllers simplify deployment and ensure reliable, high-capacity Wi-Fi service across campus and branch networks.

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