Wireless Consulting Expertise

Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers streamline the management of wireless networks by unifying the configuration and management of wireless APs, tuning Wi-Fi performance by reducing the impact of RF congestion, enhancing wireless uptime with rapid zero-touch failover, and tightening security by detecting attacks and filtering content based on user class and location.

Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers operate with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture, which supports as many as Wi-Fi 18,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 users. Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi controllers are offered at prices and with feature sets appropriate for venues ranging from small offices to large enterprises and campuses. Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers and APs are designed to deliver the same level of protection, performance and management ease that companies expect in their wired networks. Cisco wireless controller technology incorporates built-in mobility services like VoIP, HD video, and safe access for guest clients. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure allows organizations to create networks that combine wired and Wi-Fi resources into a centrally managed connectivity experience that delivers maximum business value.

Progent's certified Wi-Fi consultants can help your organization to assess the benefits of using Catalyst wireless controllers to manage wireless deployments of any size. Progent can help you to maintain and troubleshoot your existing wireless environment or help you plan and implement a smooth transition from outdated Wi-Fi controllers to current models.

Progent's Cisco-certified wireless infrastructure consultants can provide affordable online consulting throughout the U.S. and Canada to assist you to create and manage Wi-Fi solutions. Progent also offers onsite consulting in major metro areas across the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent offers economical online and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to help you to design and implement a Wi-Fi environment with efficient access point clustering to align with your specific office environment, building materials, client concentration, and application workloads.

Cisco Wave 2 WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers enable fast data exchange, deployment, control, analysis and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and software services. Cisco has developed both physical and virtual wireless controllers for centralized management of wireless networks, but WLANs with a large number of wireless access points are better served by hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Wave 2 wireless controller appliances from Cisco deliver major benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier models including higher throughput, simultaneous support for both 1G and 10G interfaces, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and advanced, integrated security.

The Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level device available in a desktop form factor and designed for small and medium-sized organizations. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized WLAN architecture such as in lean branch and home-based offices administered across the WAN via Cisco FlexConnect, or in bridge installations where wiring is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller supports up to 150 WiFi access points and 3,000 clients, delivers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 WiFi controller includes a Cisco Multigigabit port and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet connections. APs can be connected directly to the WiFi controller via two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller features fast failover for APs and clients, which allows uninterrupted availability for applications. As with other current Wave 2 wireless controllers from Cisco, the 3504 model has the integrated capability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 wireless controllers.

The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit enclosure, is intended to support midsize to large enterprises and campus environments and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller can handle as many as 1,500 APs and 20,000 users, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and incorporates solid-state storage, backup fans, optional dual power supplies, and subsecond failover for nonstop availability.

Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit form factor, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 Wireless controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and can handle up to 6,000 wireless APs and 64,000 users. The 8540 WiFi controller offers data rates up to 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 comes with four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features solid-state storage, backup power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco wireless network controllers cut the time and expense required to configure, manage, and operate wireless networks by offering single-point control of tasks such as setting up wireless access points, applying single-point policies across converged wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service for IP voice and video, monitoring and optimizing system performance, activating intrusion prevention capabilities to defend against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and handling IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has developed wireless network controllers for businesses of all sizes and can provide standalone desktop controllers, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco routers and Catalyst switches, and Catalyst switches with built-in wireless controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless network controllers include Cisco CleanAir technology to minimize RF interference and create self-healing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and security. Integrated Bonjour Gateways enable discovery throughout the enterprise for Apple-based applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers support access point and client stateful switchover by permitting a standby HA controller to synchronize with a main wireless controller for AP license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the main wireless controller fails, thousands of APs and clients can switchover immediately to the backup wireless controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E offers entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 Series routers used by small to medium-sized organizations and satellite offices. This affordable and scalable solution can support up to 200 access points and up to 6000 wireless clients. (To learn concerning Progent's remote and on-premises consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and satellite offices and come with an integrated wireless network controller with the ability to support 40 Gb of wireless capacity for each switch and up to 25 access points and 1000 clients per switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches intended for midsize and large organizations and include an integrated wireless network controller supporting 40 Gb of wireless capacity on each switch and support for 50 APs and 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 (WiSM2) is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless network controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps throughput and with support for up to 1000 wireless access points and up to 15,000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's support for Catalyst switches, see Cisco Catalyst switches configuration and troubleshooting services.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are economical desktop appliances that simplify the provisioning and operation of wireless networks for small and midsize businesses and branch offices. The Cisco 2500 wireless controller can handle from five to 75 access points and 1000 clients and can deliver sustained performance of up to 1 Gbps.

The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is an expandable 1RU unit intended for mid-to-large sized enterprises and campus environments and can support 500 APs and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 5760 Series 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 performance of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high amounts of media-rich applications.

The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed to enable centralized management of thousands of wireless branches from one location, avoiding the requirement for a Wi-Fi controller at each remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you create a private cloud to deploy, track, manage, and repair as many as 6000 access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. The Cisco 8500 Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount appliance designed to monitor and control Wi-Fi environments for large campuses or service providers and can scale to support 6000 wireless points and 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless Network Controllers centralize the management of WLANs by simplifying the handling of common functions such as intrusion prevention, real-time RF control, automatic configuration, and N+1 redundancy. Cisco Wireless Network controllers work with lightweight access points to offer superior throughput and advanced administration capabilities.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) provide the manageability, scalability, protection, and fault tolerance that system managers need to build safe, enterprise-scale wireless networks, from branch locations to small companies to headquarter campuses. Cisco's legacy Wireless Controllers can be configured together to offer accommodation for as many as 2400 WAPs for each roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Module for IS Routers offers small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and large corporations a cost effective way to deploy and control secure WLANs at satellite offices. These devices supervise as many as a dozen Cisco access points and are supported on Cisco 2800/3800 Series Routers and 3700 Series Routers. (To learn concerning Progent's online and on-premises consulting services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router deployment and management consulting.)

How Progent's Consultants Can Help You with Cisco Catalyst Wireless Controllers
Progent can provide a Cisco-certified consultant to help you to design, deploy, manage and troubleshoot a converged wired and wireless infrastructure integrating a broad range of wireless products that provide the identical protection, extensibility, and ease of management you demand from a wired environment. Progent can help you to support legacy Wi-Fi products from Cisco or migrate seamlessly to current 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology. Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security consultants can advise you about how to design protection into your WLAN and into your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity consultants can show you how to set up the high availability features incorporated into Cisco's wireless and wired products so your converged infrastructure delivers non-stop business value.

Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey helps you to plan and implement a robust wireless network customized for your environment, offering a Wi-Fi solution that delivers comprehensive coverage, high performance and density, Quality of Service to handle IP video, advanced security, and streamlined management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed remotely to reduce time and expense, or on premises to deal with more challenging facilities.

For a further look at Progent's wireless integration services, see Progent's Wireless Support Services.

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

• Introduction to Cisco Support
• Timely Online Support from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Consulting and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewalls Engineering Help
• Cisco PIX Firewall Maintenance Services
• Cisco Routers Consulting Services
• Cisco Wireless Consulting Help
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless APs System Design Help
• Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Planning, Configuration and Troubleshooting Consulting
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consultants
• Meraki Wireless APs Deployment Support
• 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 VoIP Phone Configuration
• Cisco Jabber and Management Services
• Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Consulting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA two-factor authentication (2FA) services for remote workers
• Design Solutions for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Network Optimization Services for Service Providers
• Centralized Management Strategies for Cisco-powered Environments
• NetApp and Cisco Private Cloud Platform Consulting