Cisco offers a diverse catalog of wireless networking products designed to increase worker productivity, simplify teamwork, and sharpen interactions among employees, associates, and customers. Cisco's technology supports fast strategic applications and establishes a secure, mobile, productive environment so that companies can exceed customer expectations, stay ahead of their competitors, and realize a substantial return on investment in information technology. Cisco wireless products supported by Progent include wireless access points, bridges, wireless LAN controllers, and client devices.

Cisco's Unified Wireless Network solution offers economical wireless technology for business-critical mobility. Cisco's solutions support the same level of protection, expandability, and manageability for wireless LANs that companies insist on for their wired LANs. This includes integrated enterprise-class security that detects, prevents, and responds to familiar and new security attacks. It includes integrated mobility services such as voice, location services, guest connectivity, and expanded protection. Cisco wireless technology has the versatility and scalability to meet the needs of networks of all sizes, from small businesses to large-scale enterprises, within wireless LAN campus deployments or branch offices. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network technology enables customers to exploit the RF infrastructure to improve their business and enhance productivity by means of a mobile and connected workforce. Cisco's wireless products reduce operational costs and facilitate network implementation, operations, and maintenance.

Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points (WAPs
Cisco Aironet wireless access points (WAPs) offer protected, manageable, and dependable connectivity with exceptional coverage and efficiency. Centrally managed lightweight wireless access points operate in conjunction with Cisco's wireless network controllers and Cisco's Wireless Control System. Cisco offers access points with either single 802.11g radio for as high as 54 Mbps of throughput or dual 802.11g transceiver LAN access points supporting both 802.11g and 802.11a for as much as 108 Mbps of network capacity. The Aironet line includes wireless access points targeted for workplaces and ordinary indoor facilities, for noisy RF situations such as manufacturing plants and storage sites, and for outside areas. These devices can be installed on desktops, on walls, on or above ceilings, and on towers. Aironet Wireless Mesh access points allow cost-effective, expandable deployment of secure outdoor wireless LANs that incorporate Mesh technology.

All Cisco wireless LAN access points accommodate the Cisco Structured Wireless-Aware Network (SWAN), an architecture for wired and wireless interfacing that delivers high levels of security, manageability, and functionality.

Aironet 1000/1130AG family access points are ideal for offices and similar locations which have little environmental instability. These products have integrated antennas that provide predictable radio coverage patterns. The Cisco Aironet 1130G Series product is available for restricted domains that do not allow 802.11a/5GHz operation.

Aironet 1230AG/1240AG family wireless access points are ideal for more difficult radio frequency situations like factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which commonly require flexible protruding antennas and durable cases. The Cisco 1240G family product is intended for restricted locations that do not permit 802.11a/5GHz transmission.

Aironet 1500 Series lightweight outdoor mesh LAN access points offer an affordable, scalable, secure outdoor wireless mechanism for outdoor campus areas and public connectivity for portable phones or computers in outdoor areas.

Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges offer a high-performance and multi-featured technology for connecting multiple local area networks in a metropolitan situation or public wireless environment. Cisco Aironet bridges offer a versatile, manageable solution that meets the protection needs of public networking professionals. They handle both PTP and PTMP implementations with excellent range and the ability to handle data throughput up to 54 Mbps.

Cisco wireless LAN bridges offer throughput dramatically higher than E1/T1 lines for far less expense, doing away with the necessity of expensive leased lines when connecting separate buildings. Because wireless bridges carry no recurring costs, savings on leased-line services quickly pay for the startup equipment costs. Private lines and even leased lines using metal or fiber-optic cable often result in very expensive up-front expenses if they are impeded by obstacles like freeways, train tracks, or bodies of water. Cisco wireless LAN bridges can be installed rapidly with a fast return on investment.

Aironet 1300 outdoor access points/bridges can be deployed as independent access points, wireless bridges, or workgroup bridges. These products have a durable enclosure and provide high-speed, economical wireless interfaces between numerous stationary or mobile networks and clients.

Cisco Aironet 1400 family bridges offer fast, reliable outside bridging for LOS applications. These devices are housed in a ruggedized enclosure that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions and function within extended temperature extremes.

Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Cards
Aironet Wireless LAN cards attach a variety of products to a wireless network either in ad hoc client-to-client mode or in infrastructure mode with wireless LAN access points. Cisco Aironet Wireless Client cards work with Cisco Aironet network devices to offer transparent wireless network solutions.

Available in CardBus, PCMCIA and PCI packages, Cisco Wireless LAN Client cards easily attach PC and mobile computing devices to the wireless network in 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g-compatible networks. Using Aironet Wireless LAN Client cards, companies can instantly add additional workers to a network, support ad hoc workgroups, or enable web access in meeting rooms.

Capable of a hefty 100 milliwatts (mW) of transmission power and the best receive sensitivity available, the Aironet 350 Wireless LAN Client cards boast the longest coverage and highest dependability available for wireless devices. Sophisticated signal processing in the Cisco Aironet 350 Series LAN cards helps deal with the destructive interference often present in busy offices. Intelligent filtering overcomes RF noise and signal distortion that can degrade system performance.

The Cisco Aironet 350 family LAN Client cards offer high throughput so workers can enjoy virtually the identical access they get from wire-line interfaces. Designed with DSSS technology and running in the 2.4-gigahertz spectrum, the Aironet 350 family wireless Client cards adhere to the IEEE 802.11b specification, allowing compatibility with all compliant wireless LAN products.

Wireless Network Controllers
Wireless Network Controllers are responsible for centralized WLAN features, such as intrusion prevention, fast RF control, automatic deployment, and full N+1 redundancy. Wireless LAN controllers work with lightweight wireless LAN access points and a management device to deliver enhanced performance and advanced management capabilities.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers offer the control, expandability, security, and dependability that system managers require to build safe, enterprise-scale wireless environments, from satellite offices, to small businesses, to headquarter campuses. Cisco Wireless Controllers can be configured together to provide accommodation for as many as 2400 wireless access points per roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Module for Integrated Services Routers offers small-to medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprises a cost effective solution to deploy and manage protected WLANs at satellite offices. These devices manage as many as 12 Aironet lightweight WAPs and are supported on Cisco 2800/3800 Series Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers.

The Cisco 2106 WLC works. operates in conjunction with Cisco lightweight WAPs and Cisco's WCS platform to provide network-wide wireless LAN services. The Cisco 2106 Series Wireless LAN Controller supports as many as six Aironet lightweight wireless access points, making it an economical choice for multi-controller environments typical of large corporation satellite office installations. The Cisco 2106 Series WLC can also be utilized for single device solutions for small and medium-sized business (SMB) systems. The Cisco 2106 WLC includes eight Ethernet ports, two of which can deliver power to Aironet lightweight wireless access points.

Cisco's 4400 Series WLC offers systemwide wireless network services for medium to enterprise facilities. The Cisco 4400 WLC operates in conjunction with Cisco Aironet lightweight WAPs, the the Cisco Wireless Control System, and Cisco's Wireless Location Appliance to manage business-critical wireless mixed media applications. The Cisco 4400 Series WLC offers real-time communication between Cisco lightweight WAPs and other wireless controllers to offer integrated security policies, intrusion prevention system functions, advanced RF control, QoS, and mobility.

How Progent Can Assist Your Company with Cisco Wireless Technology
Progent can provide a certified CCIE or Cisco Certified Network Professional to help you to develop a comprehensive wireless network design and implementation plan that integrates a wide range of wireless products and technologies and provides the same protection, scalability, and ease of management you expect from a wired environment. Progent can help you to implement seamless integration between Cisco wireless technology and wireless products from other suppliers to offer your business the functionality you require plus the most protected, reliable, and cost-effective wireless networking solution available. Progent's CISM and CISSP security specialists can show you how to design security into your wireless network and into your company's operations.

For a further look at Progent's wireless consulting services, see Progent's Wireless Network Support.

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