Cisco Systems Network Support Outsourcing

Cisco provides a diverse portfolio of wireless connectivity solutions designed to increase worker output, simplify teamwork, and sharpen interactions among workers, partners, and clients. Cisco's technology supports real-time strategic applications and establishes a secure, mobile, productive environment so that companies can exceed client expectations, stay ahead of their competitors, and realize a measurable return on investment. Cisco wireless technologies familiar to Progent include access points, bridges, wireless LAN controllers, and wireless adapters.

Cisco's Unified Wireless solution delivers economical wireless technology for strategic mobility. Cisco's products enables the identical level of security, scalability, and ease of management for wireless networks that companies insist on for their wired LANs. This includes integrated enterprise-grade protection that identifies, prevents, and adapts to known and new security threats. Cisco's wireless portfolio includes unified mobility functions such as voice services, location services, guest connectivity, and enhanced protection. Cisco wireless technology has the flexibility and scalability to meet the needs of environments of any size, from small companies to large-scale enterprises, within wireless LAN campus installations or satellite offices. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network platform enables customers to exploit their RF infrastructure to streamline their operations and enhance productivity through a mobile and connected workforce. Cisco's wireless products lower overall operational costs and facilitate network deployment, management, and support.

Cisco Wireless Access Points
Cisco access points (WAPs) offer protected, manageable, and dependable connectivity with exceptional range and efficiency. Lightweight access points operate in conjunction with Cisco's wireless local area network controllers and Cisco's Wireless Control System (WCS). Cisco provides LAN access points equipped with either single 802.11g wireless transceiver for up to 54 Mbps of capacity or dual 802.11g radio LAN access points handling both 802.11g and 802.11a to deliver as much as 108 Mbps of network capacity. The Aironet series features wireless access points targeted for offices and similar sites, for noisy RF environments such as factories and storage sites, and for outside areas. These wireless access points can be installed on desktops, on walls, on or above ceilings, and on towers. Cisco Wireless Mesh access points allow cost-effective, expandable deployment of secure outside wireless LANs that incorporate Mesh networking.

All Aironet access points accommodate the Cisco Structured Wireless-Aware Network (SWAN), an architecture for wired/wireless interfacing that delivers enhanced degrees of security, operational control, and important services.

Cisco Aironet 1000/1130AG Series wireless access points are ideal for conventional workplaces and similar locations which have minimal environmental variability. These access points include built-in antennas that provide dependable radio range profiles. The 1130G Series WAP is offered for regulatory locations that do not allow 802.11a transmission.

Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG family wireless access points are designed for more problematic RF situations such as factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which often call for adjustable protruding antennas and ruggedized enclosures. The 1240G family wireless access point is intended for regulatory domains that do not permit 802.11a/5GHz transmission.

Aironet 1500 Series lightweight outside mesh LAN access points provide a cost-effective, scalable, secure outdoor wireless solution for outdoor campus areas and public access for mobile devices in outside areas.

Cisco Wireless Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges provide a high-throughput and multi-featured technology for integrating multiple LANs in a metro area or public access environment. Cisco bridges offer a versatile, manageable technology that satisfies the security needs of wide-area networking specialists. These devices support both P2P and PTMP implementations with excellent coverage and support for traffic throughput up to 54 Mbps.

Cisco wireless bridges offer throughput significantly faster than E1/T1 lines for a fraction of the cost, doing away with the requirement for costly leased lines when linking different buildings. Because wireless bridges carry no ongoing costs, the expenses saved on leased-line services quickly cover the startup equipment costs. Self-installed private lines and even leased lines made of metal or optical cable can result in high initial expenses if they are separated by barriers such as highways, train tracks, or bodies of water. Cisco Aironet wireless bridges can be deployed quickly with a fast return on investment.

Cisco Aironet 1300 outdoor wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as independent access points, wireless bridges, or wireless group bridges. These devices have a durable cover and provide high-speed, economical wireless interfaces between multiple fixed or mobile environments and clients.

Aironet 1400 family bridges offer fast, dependable outside wireless bridging for line-of-sight (LOS) applications. These devices are housed in a ruggedized cover that can hold up to harsh outdoor conditions and operate within wide temperature ranges.

Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Adapters
Cisco Wireless LAN Client Adapters connect a range of products to a wireless environment either in ad hoc peer-to-peer mode or in infrastructure mode with access points. Cisco Wireless LAN Client cards are compatible with Aironet network devices to offer seamless wireless local area network solutions.

Offered in CardBus, PC Card and PCI form factors, Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client Adapters quickly connect PC and portable computers to the wireless LAN in 802.11x-compliant environments. Using Cisco Aironet Wireless Client cards, businesses can quickly connect additional workers to a network, support temporary teams, or offer Internet connectivity in meeting rooms.

Capable of a hefty 100 mW of transmit power and the best receive sensitivity available, the Aironet 350 Series LAN cards boast the longest coverage and top reliability available for wireless devices. Sophisticated engineering in the Cisco 350 LAN Adapters helps manage the destructive interference often encountered in busy offices. Smart filtering overcomes ambient noise that can degrade network functionality.

The Cisco Aironet 350 Series LAN Client cards provide high speed so workers can benefit from practically the same access they gain from wire-line connections. Based on direct sequence spread spectrum technology and operating in the 2.4-GHz band, the Aironet 350 family wireless LAN cards comply with the IEEE 802.11b specification, which supports interoperability with all compliant WLAN products.

Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Wireless LAN Controllers are responsible for system wide wireless LAN features, such as integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS), real-time RF management, zero touch configuration, and N+1 redundancy. Wireless LAN controllers work with lightweight wireless LAN access points and a management mechanism to offer enhanced performance and advanced administration capabilities.

Wireless LAN Controllers offer the manageability, scalability, security, and dependability that network managers require to create safe, large-scale wireless environments, from branch locations, to small businesses, to headquarter campuses. Cisco WLCs can be configured together to provide support for as many as 2400 access points for each roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Controller Module for IS Routers provides small-to medium businesses and large corporations an economical solution to implement and manage protected WLANs at branch locations. These wireless LAN controllers manage up to 12 Aironet lightweight access points and are installable in Cisco 2800/3800 Series IS Routers and 3700 Series IS Routers.

The Cisco 2106 Series Wireless LAN Controller works. operates in conjunction with Aironet lightweight wireless access points and Cisco's WCS platform to support centralized WLAN functions. Cisco's 2106 Series WLC supports as many as six Cisco Aironet lightweight WAPs, making it an economical solution for multi-controller architectures typical of large corporation branch office deployments. The Cisco 2106 Series WLC can also be utilized for single controller installations for small and midsize business (SMB) systems. Cisco's 2106 Wireless LAN Controller provides eight Ethernet ports, two of which can provide power directly to Aironet lightweight access points.

Cisco's 4400 Series WLC offers centralized WLAN functions for medium to enterprise environments. Cisco's 4400 Series Wireless LAN Controller operates in conjunction with Cisco lightweight wireless access points, the Cisco's Wireless Control System, and Cisco's Wireless Location Appliance to manage vital wireless data, voice, and video applications. Cisco's 4400 WLC provides instant communication between Cisco lightweight wireless access points and other WLCs to offer integrated security policies, wireless IPS functions, advanced RF management, quality of service, and mobility.

How Progent's Consultants Can Assist Your Business with Cisco Wireless Products
Progent can provide a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) to assist you to develop a comprehensive wireless network design and implementation strategy that integrates a wide array of wireless appliances and technologies and provides the same protection, expandability, and manageability you demand from a wired environment. Progent can assist you to implement seamless integration between Cisco wireless technology and wireless technology from third-party suppliers to offer your business the features you require plus the most protected, reliable, and economical wireless networking solution available. Progent's CISA and ISSAP security specialists can show you how to build protection into your wireless network and into your company's operations.

For a further look at Progent's wireless consulting services, see Progent's Wireless Consulting Services.

To learn additional information about Progent's engineering support for Cisco technology, pick a topic:

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Consulting Services
• Fast Remote Assistance from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• ASA and PIX Firewall Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Routers Consulting Support for Cisco Routers
• Cisco Voice over IP Consulting Support
• Cisco Switches Professional Support
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Professional Expertise
• Solutions for Cisco-based Data Centers
• Engineering Services for Small and Mid-size ISPs
• Network Management Consulting for Cisco-powered Networks

In order to contact Progent about professional expertise for Cisco networking, phone 1-800-993-9400 or e-mail cisco-help@progent.com.