Wireless Consulting Support

Catalyst wireless controllers streamline the administration of wireless networks by unifying the configuration and management of Wi-Fi access points, optimizing Wi-Fi performance by reducing the effects of RF interference, improving wireless availability with rapid zero-touch failover, and tightening security by identifying threats and filtering content according to user type and location.

Cisco Catalyst wireless controllers work with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture, which can support up to Wi-Fi 18,000 wireless access points and 64,000 users. Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers are available at price points and with features appropriate for environments ranging from branch offices to large enterprises and school campuses. Catalyst 802.11ac Wi-Fi controllers and access points are designed to provide the same level of security, performance and manageability that organizations expect in their wired networks. Catalyst wireless controller technology includes integrated mobility functions like Voice over IP, HD video, and secure access for guests. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture allows you to create environments that seamlessly combine wired and Wi-Fi infrastructure into a unified connectivity experience that delivers maximum business value.

Progent's Cisco-certified Wi-Fi experts can help you to evaluate the benefits of adopting Catalyst wireless controllers to manage Wi-Fi networks of any size. Progent can assist you to maintain and troubleshoot your current wireless network or help you design and implement a smooth transition from earlier generation wireless controllers to modern solutions.

Progent's Cisco-certified wireless infrastructure consultants offer cost-effective remote consulting across the U.S. and Canada to help you to create and manage Wi-Fi solutions. Progent also offers on-premises consulting in major metro areas across the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent can provide economical remote and onsite wireless site surveys to help you to plan and install a Wi-Fi environment with efficient AP clustering to align with your specific workplace layout, building materials, user density, and application workloads.

Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers allow realtime communication, configuration, control, monitoring and debugging for Cisco wireless appliances and software services. Cisco offers both physical and virtual wireless controllers for unified management of wireless networks, but WLANs with many Wi-Fi access points typically require hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Wave 2 wireless controller appliances from Cisco deliver significant benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and older products including greater throughput, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, improved application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, integrated protection.

Cisco's 3504 WiFi Controller is an entry-level appliance available in a desktop enclosure and intended for smaller businesses. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network environment such as in lean branch and home-based offices managed across the WAN via FlexConnect, or in mesh installations where wiring is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller supports as many as 150 APs and 3,000 clients, offers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 WiFi controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet port (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-GB Ethernet ports. APs can be connected to the controller through two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers subsecond failover for APs and users, which allows uninterrupted availability for applications. As with other current Wave 2 wireless controllers from Cisco, the 3504 model has the built-in ability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

The Cisco 5520 WiFi Controller, available in a 1RU form factor, is intended for larger enterprises and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller supports as many as 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 users, delivers 20 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller features two 10 GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, backup fans, optional dual power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.

The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2RU form factor, 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 supports up to 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 clients. The 8540 Wireless controller offers throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller comes with four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, redundant power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the time and cost needed to configure, monitor, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of critical functions like provisioning APs, enforcing consistent policies across converged wired and wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for IP voice and video, tracking and optimizing system performance, implementing security capabilities to guard against cyber break-ins and DDoS attacks, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of all sizes and can provide standalone desktop appliances, modular add-on controllers for Cisco routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with built-in wireless LAN controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi network controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to avoid RF interference and produce self-healing wireless networks for top 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Integrated Apple Bonjour Gateways allow discovery and policy across the enterprise for Apple applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless network controllers allow access point and client stateful failover by permitting a backup HA controller to synch with a primary wireless controller for access point license count, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. If the main controller fails, thousands of access points and wireless clients can failover immediately to the backup controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers used by smaller organizations and satellite offices. This value-priced and scalable solution can support up to 200 wireless access points and up to 6000 wireless clients. (For information concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches designed for SMBs and satellite offices and have an integrated wireless controller with the capability to handle up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput for each switch and 25 APs and 1000 clients on each switch. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches designed for midsize and large organizations and feature an integrated wireless controller with 40 Gb of wireless throughput on each switch and support for 50 APs and 2000 clients. The WiSM2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include an integrated wireless controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and capable of 20 Gbps performance and able to handle up to 1000 wireless access points and up to 15,000 wireless clients. (To find out concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Catalyst switches, see Cisco switches configuration and troubleshooting services.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop devices that simplify the deployment and operation of Wi-Fi LANs for SMBs and branches. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller supports from five to 75 wireless access points and 1000 wireless clients and can deliver sustained performance of up to 1 Gbps.

Cisco's 5500 Series Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance designed for medium-sized to large businesses and campuses and can support 500 wireless access points and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large campus environments with support for 1000 access points and 12,000 clients and providing throughput of 60 Gbps to accommodate high client densities and high usage of media-rich applications.

Cisco's Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed to manage thousands of wireless branches from a single location, eliminating the need for a Wi-Fi controller at each branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance allows you to create a private cloud to configure, track, maintain, and troubleshoot as many as 6000 access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount device engineered to monitor and manage wireless networks for very large campuses or service providers and can be expanded to handle 6000 access points and 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps performance.

Legacy Cisco WLAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless Network Controllers centralize the management of wireless networks by streamlining the handling of common functions such as integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS), fast RF control, zero touch deployment, and N+1 redundancy. Cisco WLAN controllers operate with lightweight wireless access points to offer enhanced performance and high-end administration functions.

Wireless LAN Controllers provide the control, expandability, security, and reliability that system managers require to build secure, large-scale wireless environments, from satellite locations to small companies to headquarter campuses. Cisco's first-generation WLCs can be configured together to offer accommodation for up to 2400 wireless access points for each roaming domain.

The Cisco WLCM or WLCM-E Controller Module for Integrated Services Routers provides small-to medium businesses and large corporations a cost effective solution to deploy and control protected wireless networks at branch locations. These wireless LAN controllers supervise up to twelve Aironet access points and are supported on 2800/3800 Series IS Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (To learn about Progent's online and on-premises consulting support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)

How Progent's Experts Can Help You with Catalyst Wireless Controllers
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consulting professional to help your business to plan, deploy, manage and repair a converged wired and wireless infrastructure integrating a broad array of wireless technologies that offer the same security, expandability, and ease of management you demand from your wired environment. Progent can assist you to manage early-generation wireless solutions from Cisco or migrate efficiently to the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology. Progent's CISM and CISSP security consultants can advise you about how to build security into your WLAN and into your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity planning consultants can show you how to configure the HA features built into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged infrastructure provides continuing business value.

Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey assists you to plan and deploy a robust wireless network customized for your environment, offering a Wi-Fi solution that provides seamless coverage, high speed and density, Quality of Service features to accommodate IP video, advanced security, and simplified management. Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey can be delivered online to cut time and expense, or onsite to deal with more difficult environments.

For a more in-depth look at Progent's wireless integration capabilities, see Progent's Wireless Network Consulting Services.

For more information about Progent's consulting services for other Cisco networking products, select a topic:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Consulting Services
• Fast and Affordable Online Access to a CCIE Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower Services: Consulting and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Services
• Cisco PIX Firewall Upgrade. Migration Expertise
• Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Help
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Design Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Consulting Services
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Solution Design, Deployment and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Experts
• Cisco Meraki APs Engineering Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Voice over IP Phones and IP Video Phones Consulting Services and Cisco Wireless IP Phone Integration
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Catalyst Switches Engineering Expertise
• Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco Security and VPN Integration Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Remote Workers
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Infrastructure Design Services for Service Providers
• Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Network Management Technologies for Cisco-based Infrastructure
• NetApp and Cisco FlexPod Cloud Platform Consulting Services