Wireless Consulting Expertise

Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers streamline the administration of Wi-Fi networks by centralizing the deployment and management of wireless access points, tuning Wi-Fi performance by mitigating the effects of RF interference, improving Wi-Fi availability with fast zero-touch failover, and improving data protection by detecting threats and filtering content according to client class and location.

Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers operate with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture, which can support up to Wi-Fi 18,000 wireless APs and 64,000 clients. Cisco Catalyst wireless controllers are available at price points and with feature sets appropriate for environments ranging from branch offices to large enterprises and campuses. Cisco 802.11ac Wi-Fi controllers and access points are engineered to provide the same level of security, throughput and manageability that companies expect in their wired networks. Cisco Wi-Fi controller technology includes built-in mobility functions such as Voice over IP, HD video, and safe access for guests. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture allows you to build networks that combine wired and wireless infrastructure into a unified connectivity experience that delivers maximum business value.

Progent's certified Wi-Fi experts can assist your organization to evaluate the benefits of using Cisco wireless controllers to manage wireless networks of any size. Progent can assist you to support and debug your current wireless network or help you design and implement an efficient transition from outdated Wi-Fi controllers to current models.

Progent's Cisco-certified Wi-Fi network experts offer cost-effective remote consulting and troubleshooting across the U.S. and Canada to help you to deploy and refine wireless solutions. Progent can also provide on-premises support in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent can provide low-cost remote and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to help you to design and install a Wi-Fi environment with efficient AP selection and placement to match your particular workplace environment, building structure, client density, and application workloads.

Cisco Wave 2 WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers allow realtime communication, deployment, control, monitoring and debugging for Cisco wireless appliances and software services. Cisco has developed both physical and virtual wireless controllers for centralized management of wireless environments, but WLANs with a large number of Wi-Fi access points are better served by hardware-based wireless controllers. New wireless controller appliances from Cisco offer significant advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and older models such as greater performance, concurrent support for both 1G and 10G Ethernet, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and advanced, built-in protection.

Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is a value-priced device with a desktop form factor and designed for smaller businesses. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network environment such as in lean branch and remote offices managed over the WAN via FlexConnect, or in bridge deployments where Ethernet cabling is limited. The 3504 wireless controller can handle up to 150 APs and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller features a Cisco Multigigabit interface and four 1-GB Ethernet connections. APs can be connected directly to the WiFi controller through two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 wireless controller offers subsecond failover for access points and clients, which provides uninterrupted availability for apps. As with other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 device has the built-in capability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1RU form factor, is designed for midsize to large enterprises and campus environments and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle as many as 1,500 access points and 20,000 users, offers 20 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and incorporates solid-state storage, backup fans, optional redundant power supplies, and subsecond failover for high availability.

The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2RU enclosure, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and can handle up to 6,000 APs and 64,000 client users. The 8540 Wireless controller can deliver throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller comes with four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features solid-state storage, backup power supplies, backup fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless controllers cut the time and cost needed to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks by offering single-point control of tasks like setting up wireless access points, applying single-point policies throughout converged wired/wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for voice and video, tracking and troubleshooting network performance, implementing security capabilities to guard against unauthorized access and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and handling IPv6 clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of any size and can provide standalone desktop appliances, modular add-on controllers for Cisco routers and switches, and switches with built-in wireless controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and create self-healing and self-optimizing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Built-in Bonjour Gateways enable discovery, advertisement and policy across the enterprise for Apple applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless controllers support access point and client stateful switchover by enabling a standby high-availability wireless controller to synch with a primary wireless controller for access point license tabulation, CAPWAP keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the main controller stops working, thousands of wireless access points and wireless clients can switchover in less than a second to the backup wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac support for 2900 and 3900 Series routers deployed by small to medium-sized organizations and branches. This value-priced and expandable module can support from five to 200 access points and up to 6000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting support.)

Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches designed for small to mid-size businesses and branches and come with an integrated wireless LAN controller with the capability to support 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and 25 APs and 1000 wireless clients on each switch or stack. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches designed for mid-size businesses and large enterprises and include a built-in wireless LAN controller with 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and support for up to 50 wireless access points and up to 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include a built-in wireless network controller designed for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps performance and with support for up to 1000 access points and up to 15,000 wireless clients. (For information about Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Catalyst switches, refer to Catalyst switches configuration and troubleshooting support.)

Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are economical desktop appliances that streamline the deployment and management of Wi-Fi networks for small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices. The 2500 Series wireless controller supports 5 to 75 access points and up to 1000 wireless clients and can deliver sustained performance of 1 Gbps.

The Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controller is an expandable 1RU unit intended for medium-sized to large organizations and campus environments and can manage up to 500 APs and 7,000 clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large campuses with support for up to 1000 access points and 12,000 clients and delivering throughput of 60 Gbps to accommodate high client densities and high amounts of video-intensive mobile applications.

The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed to enable centralized management of thousands of wireless remote sites from a single datacenter, eliminating the need for a Wi-Fi controller at every branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you create a private cloud to configure, track, manage, and repair as many as 6000 access points and 64,000 clients while handling 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount appliance engineered to monitor and control wireless networks for large campuses or service providers and can scale to handle 6000 APs and 64,000 clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers centralize the management of WLANs by simplifying the handling of key technologies including intrusion prevention, fast RF management, zero touch deployment, and full N+1 redundancy. Cisco WLAN controllers work with lightweight access points to deliver enhanced throughput and advanced management functions.

Wireless LAN Controllers provide the manageability, expandability, protection, and resilience that network managers require to build safe, large-scale wireless networks, from satellite offices to small companies to headquarter campuses. Cisco's first-generation Wireless Network Controllers can be clustered to provide accommodation for up to 2400 WAPs for each roaming domain.

The Cisco WLCM or WLCM-E Module for Integrated Services (IS) Routers provides small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and large corporations an affordable way to implement and control protected wireless LANs at branch locations. These devices supervise up to a dozen Aironet access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Series Routers and 3700 IS Routers. (To learn about Progent's remote and on-premises support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and management support.)

How Progent's Consultants Can Help You with Catalyst Wi-Fi Controllers
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified expert to assist your business to design, install, manage and repair a converged wired/wireless ecosystem incorporating a wide array of wireless products that provide the identical security, extensibility, and ease of management you expect from a wired environment. Progent can assist you to manage legacy Wi-Fi solutions from Cisco or migrate efficiently to current 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology. Progent's CISM and CISSP security specialists can show you how to build protection into your wireless network and into your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity consultants can assist you to set up the HA technology incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged infrastructure delivers significant business value.

Progent’s Wi-Fi Site Survey assists you to plan and deploy a robust WLAN customized for your environment, providing a Wi-Fi solution that delivers comprehensive coverage, high speed and density, QoS features to support IP video, advanced security, and easy management. Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey can be delivered remotely to reduce time and costs, or on premises to deal with more complex facilities.

For a further look at Progent's wireless integration services, visit Progent's Wireless Consulting Services.

For more information about Progent's consulting services for additional Cisco network infrastructure products, chose a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Consulting Services
• Fast Online Support from a Cisco CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower: Setup and Troubleshooting Services
• ASA 5500 Firewall Upgrade. Migration Help
• Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Routers Consulting Support
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Expertise
• Aironet APs Consulting Support
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless Access Points Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6 Wireless APs Planning, Deployment and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Experts
• Cisco Meraki Access Points Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Consulting and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones and IP Video Desktop Phones Consulting and Cisco Wireless IP Phone Integration
• Cisco Jabber Integration Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Services
• Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Meraki Switches Deployment Expertise
• Cisco VPN Engineering Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunking and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Datacenters
• Network Design Expertise for Service Providers
• Centralized Management Solutions for Cisco-powered Infrastructure
• NetApp and Cisco FlexPod Cloud Platform Consulting Services