Wireless Consulting Expertise

Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers simplify the management of Wi-Fi networks by centralizing the deployment and management of Wi-Fi access points, optimizing wireless performance by mitigating the impact of RF interference, improving wireless availability with rapid zero-touch failover, and tightening data protection by identifying attacks and filtering content according to user type and location.

Cisco Catalyst wireless controllers operate with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture, which supports up to Wi-Fi 18,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 users. Cisco wireless controllers are available at prices and with features appropriate for environments ranging from branch offices to enterprises and campuses. Catalyst 802.11ac wireless controllers and APs are designed to deliver the same level of protection, performance and management ease that organizations demand in their wired networks. Catalyst Wi-Fi controller technology incorporates integrated mobility services like VoIP, HD video, and safe access for guests. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture allows you to build environments that seamlessly combine wired and Wi-Fi infrastructure into a centrally managed connectivity ecosystem that delivers maximum business value.

Progent's Cisco-certified wireless experts can assist your organization to assess the advantages of using Catalyst wireless controllers to manage Wi-Fi deployments of any size. Progent can help you to maintain and debug your existing wireless environment or help you design and carry out an efficient transition from legacy Wi-Fi controllers to current models.

Progent's Cisco-certified Wi-Fi network experts offer affordable online consulting across the U.S. and Canada to help you to create and manage wireless solutions. Progent also offers onsite support in major metro areas across the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent offers low-cost remote and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to assist you to plan and implement a Wi-Fi network with optimal access point selection and placement to align with your particular workplace layout, building structure, user density, and usage patterns.

Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac WiFi LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers enable fast communication, configuration, administration, analysis and troubleshooting for Cisco wireless appliances and services. Cisco offers both physical and software-based Wi-Fi controllers for unified management of wireless environments, but WLANs with a large number of Wi-Fi access points typically require hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Wave 2 Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco deliver major advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and older products such as greater performance, concurrent support for both 1G and 10G Ethernet, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, built-in security.

Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level device with a desktop body and designed for smaller businesses. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized WLAN architecture such as in lean branch and home-based offices managed over the WAN with FlexConnect, or in bridge deployments where Ethernet cabling is limited. The 3504 wireless controller can handle as many as 150 WiFi access points and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 wireless controller includes a Cisco Multigigabit interface and four 1-GB Ethernet interfaces. APs can be attached to the controller through two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers subsecond failover for APs and users, which allows nonstop availability for apps. As with other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated capability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WiFi controllers.

Cisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit (RU) enclosure, is intended to support larger enterprises and campus environments and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller supports as many as 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 client users, delivers 20 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller features two 10 GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup fans, optional dual power supplies, and subsecond failover for uninterrupted availability.

Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit (RU) package, is a top-of-the-line wireless controller intended to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports up to 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 users. The 8540 WiFi controller offers throughput as high as 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 comes with four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features solid-state storage, dual power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the time and cost needed to configure, manage, and operate wireless networks by offering single-point control of tasks like provisioning wireless access points, enforcing consistent policies throughout converged networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for IP voice and HD video, tracking and troubleshooting system health, activating wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS) tools to guard against unauthorized access and Distributed Denial of Service attacks, and handling IPv6 clients. Cisco has designed wireless LAN controllers for organizations of any size and offers desktop or rackmount controllers, modular add-on controllers for Cisco ISR routers and switches, and Catalyst switches with integrated wireless network controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless LAN controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize signal interference and produce self-healing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and security. Integrated Apple Bonjour Gateways allow discovery across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple-based applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers allow AP and client stateful switchover by permitting a backup HA controller to synch with a primary wireless controller for access point license count, CAPWAP keys, and AP CAPWAP state. If the primary wireless controller stops working, thousands of wireless access points and clients can switchover at subsecond speeds to the backup controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E provides basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers used by smaller businesses and branch offices. This affordable and scalable module can handle up to 200 APs and up to 6000 clients. (To learn about Progent's online and onsite consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting services.)

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches intended for SMBs and satellite offices and have a built-in wireless network controller with the ability to handle up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and up to 25 APs and 1000 clients on each switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches designed for mid-size businesses and large enterprises and feature a built-in wireless network controller supporting up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and support for up to 50 APs and up to 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is an add-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with an integrated wireless controller designed for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps performance and with support for 1000 APs and as many as 15,000 wireless clients. (To find out concerning Progent's consulting services for Cisco switches, refer to Cisco Catalyst switches configuration and troubleshooting support.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop units that simplify the deployment and operation of Wi-Fi networks for small and midsize businesses and branches. The 2500 Series wireless controller supports 5 to 75 access points and 1000 wireless clients and can deliver throughput of up to 1 Gbps.

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

Cisco's Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is intended to manage thousands of wireless remote sites from a single datacenter, avoiding the need for a wireless controller at each branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you establish a private cloud to configure, monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot as many as 6000 wireless access points and 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device engineered to monitor and control Wi-Fi environments for very large campuses or for service providers and can be expanded to handle up to 6000 access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps performance.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco WLAN Controllers centralize the management of wireless networks by simplifying the handling of common technologies such as integrated IPS, real-time RF management, zero touch configuration, and N+1 redundancy. Wireless LAN controllers work with lightweight wireless access points to deliver enhanced performance and high-end administration capabilities.

WLAN Controllers provide the manageability, expandability, security, and dependability that IT managers need to build safe, enterprise-scale wireless networks, from satellite offices to small businesses to headquarter campuses. Cisco's first-generation WLCs can be clustered to provide support for as many as 2400 access points per roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Controller Module for Integrated Services Routers provides small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises an economical solution to deploy and manage secure WLANs at satellite offices. These wireless controllers supervise up to a dozen Cisco Aironet access points and are installable in Cisco 2800/3800 Series Routers and 3700 IS Routers. (To find out about Progent's online and on-premises consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)

How Progent's Experts Can Help You with Cisco Catalyst Wireless Controllers
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consultant to help your business to design, deploy, manage and troubleshoot a converged wired and wireless infrastructure incorporating a broad range of wireless devices that offer the identical protection, extensibility, and manageability you expect from your wired network. Progent can assist you to maintain early-generation Wi-Fi solutions from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology. Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security specialists can show you how to design protection into your wireless network and into your company's operations. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planners can help you to configure the high availability (HA) features built into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged network provides non-stop return on investment.

Progent’s Wireless Site Survey helps you to plan and deploy a robust wireless network customized for your facilities, offering a Wi-Fi solution that provides comprehensive coverage, high speed and capacity, Quality of Service to handle IP voice and video, enterprise-class security, and streamlined management. Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey can be performed remotely to reduce time and expense, or on premises to deal with more difficult facilities.

For a more in-depth discussion of Progent's wireless integration capabilities, see Progent's Wireless Help.

For details about Progent's consulting expertise for additional Cisco network infrastructure technology, chose a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Support
• Fast Remote Access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower Services: Consulting and Management Support
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Upgrade. Migration Support
• PIX Series Firewall Management Expertise
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Expertise
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Engineering Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless Access Points Engineering Support
• Catalyst Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Access Points Planning, Deployment and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consulting
• Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Engineering Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Voice over IP Phones and IP Video Desktop Phones Consulting and Wireless VoIP Phone Configuration
• Cisco Jabber Integration Services
• Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Security Consulting Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and CUBE Integration Expertise
• Design Solutions for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Infrastructure Design Expertise for ISPs
• Centralized Network Management Technologies for Cisco Infrastructure
• NetApp and Cisco FlexPod Private Cloud Platform Consulting