Wireless Consulting Services

Cisco wireless controllers streamline the administration of Wi-Fi environments by unifying the deployment and administration of wireless APs, maximizing Wi-Fi performance by reducing the impact of RF congestion, enhancing Wi-Fi uptime with fast auto-failover, and hardening security by detecting cyber threats and filtering traffic content based on client type and location.

Cisco's wireless controllers integrate with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center management solutions and are able to support as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi APs and 64,000 client users. Cisco's family of Wi-Fi controllers are available at price points and with capabilities appropriate for venues that run from branch offices to service provider systems, enterprises, and dense campus environments. Cisco's Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 controllers and APs are designed to deliver the same level of security, performance and robustness that users are accustomed to in their wired network. Cisco's technology incorporates integrated mobility support such as IP voice, HD video, and secure guest access. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center architecture make it possible for organizations to build environments that integrate wired and wireless networks into a centrally managed solution that delivers a consistent and productive work environment.

Progent's certified Wi-Fi consultants can help your organization to determine the business value of installing Cisco Wi-Fi controllers to manage WiFi networks of any size. Progent can assist your business to manage and troubleshoot your current Cisco wireless solution or help you to plan and carry out a smooth migration from older Wi-Fi controllers to current products to deliver improved functionality and security and to streamline administration.

Progent's Cisco-certified integration consultants can provide affordable online consulting expertise across the U.S. and Canada to help businesses to create and enhance Wi-Fi solutions. Progent also offers on-premises consulting in larger metropolitan areas across the United States and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent offers online predictive and onsite Wireless Site Surveys to assist your company to design a Wi-Fi network with wireless access points located and configured efficiently for your specific office layout, application workloads, and user density.

Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers help you manage modern wireless networks that support 802.11ax APs. 802.11ax, popularly known as Wi-Fi 6, builds on prior generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) appliances by delivering lower latency and more predictable performance, supporting higher client user density, providing greater protection, conserving energy for battery-dependent mobile devices, and offering more flexibility for handling the latest kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Catalyst 9800 line wireless controllers feature always-on availability with transparent software updates, hot fixes, and the ability to add APs without service interruption. Advanced cybersecurity features include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), image signing, and Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to monitor and understand network and endpoint health. All devices in the Catalyst 9800 line are based on Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or Prime Infrastructure management tools. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 wireless network controllers can support Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 wireless APs concurrently with Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 APs.

Cisco's 9800-L Wi-Fi 6 Controller is a value-priced device available in a half-width 1RU body that permits side-by-side mounting in a standard 19-in rack. Designed for small and medium-sized organizations, the 9800-L delivers extra throughput and scale if you purchase a Performance license. The 9800-L supports 250 Wi-Fi access points and 5,000 users (500 access points and 10,00 users if you have Cisco's Performance license). The controller offers 5 Gbps data rates (10 Gbps with a Performance license), and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Deployment options include Centralized, FlexConnect for branch office deployments, and fabric. Integrated uplinks include four 2.5G/1G ports plus either two 10G/Multigigabit copper (Catalyst 9800-L-C) or two 10G/Multigigabit fiber ports (Catalyst 9800-L-F). Additional ports include an RJ-45 console port and a Micro USB console interface for management, a USB 3.0 interface for adding external RAM memory, an RJ-45 service port, and an RJ-45 high-availability redundancy interface used for stateful switchover.

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit form factor, is designed to support midsize campus environments. The 9800-40 supports 2,000 Wi-Fi access points and 32,000 users. The appliance delivers 40 Gbps throughput and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Deployment scenarios include Centralized, FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless. Integrated ports include four GE SFP/10 GE SFP+ or SFP interfaces and an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy port. Other fixed ports include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console interfaces, an RJ-45 management interface, an RJ-45 redundancy port for SSO, and two USB 3.0 ports for plugging in external RAM memory.

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-80 802.11ax Wireless Controller, available in a 2RU package, is an expandable, top-of-the-line wireless controller designed to support large campus and service provider deployments. The 9800-80 supports 60,00 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 users. The controller delivers up to 80 Gbps throughput and supports 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless (SD-Access). Fixed uplink ports include eight 10G SFP+ ports or six 10G ports plus two 1G ports. Optional uplink modules include 18 1GE interfaces, 10 10GE interfaces, a 40GE port, two 40GE ports, or one 100GE interface. Additional fixed ports include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console interfaces, an RJ-45 service interface, an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy port for SSO, an RJ-45 redundancy interface for stateful switchover, and two USB 3.0 interfaces for adding external RAM.

Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 controllers enable realtime data exchange, deployment, administration, analysis and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and software services. Cisco has developed both physical and virtual Wi-Fi controllers for unified administration of wireless networks, but WLANs with many Wi-Fi access points are better served by physical wireless controllers. Wave 2 Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco deliver major benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier products including higher throughput, simultaneous support for both 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control, and hardened, integrated security.

Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level appliance available in a desktop form factor and intended for small and medium-sized organizations. You can use the 3504 in a centralized WLAN architecture such as in small branch and home-based offices administered over the WAN with FlexConnect, or in bridge installations where Ethernet cabling is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 150 WiFi access points and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 wireless controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet port and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet connections. Access points can be connected directly to the controller through two PoE ports. The 3504 wireless controller features fast failover for access points and clients, which allows high 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, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

Cisco's 5520 WiFi Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit (RU) enclosure, is designed for midsize to large organizations and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller supports as many as 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 users, delivers 20 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup fans, optional dual power supplies, and subsecond failover for uninterrupted availability.

The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2RU form factor, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports as many as 6,000 access points and 64,000 users. The 8540 Wireless controller offers throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller includes four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, dual power supplies, redundant fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco wireless controllers cut the effort and cost required to deploy, monitor, and operate Wi-Fi networks by offering single-point control of functions like setting up access points, enforcing single-point policies throughout wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for voice and video, monitoring and optimizing system health, implementing security capabilities to defend against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for organizations of all sizes and can provide standalone desktop controllers, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco ISR routers and switches, and switches with integrated wireless network controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi LAN controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and create self-optimizing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and protection. Built-in Apple Bonjour Gateways permit discovery across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple applications. For high availability (HA), Cisco wireless LAN controllers allow wireless access point and client stateful failover by permitting a backup HA wireless controller to synchronize with a main wireless controller for access point license tabulation, CAPWAP keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller fails, thousands of access points and clients can failover immediately to the backup wireless controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides basic 802.11n and 802.11ac support for Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers deployed by smaller organizations and branches. This affordable and expandable solution can handle from five to 200 APs and as many as 6000 wireless clients. (To find out about Progent's remote and on-premises consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and management services.)

Cisco Legacy Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches designed for SMBs and satellite offices and come with an integrated wireless network controller with the capability to handle up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and up to 25 wireless access points and 1000 clients per switch or stack. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches designed for midsize businesses and large enterprises and feature an integrated wireless LAN controller with up to 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and the ability to handle 50 access points and up to 2000 clients. The WiSM2 is an add-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include a built-in wireless controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps throughput and with support for 1000 access points and up to 15,000 wireless clients. (To learn about Progent's support for Cisco switches, see Catalyst switches deployment and management services.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are economical desktop devices that streamline the deployment and management of Wi-Fi LANs for small and midsize businesses and satellite offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller can manage from five to 75 wireless access points and up to 1000 clients and offers throughput of 1 Gbps.

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

Cisco's Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is designed to manage thousands of wireless branches from one datacenter, avoiding the requirement for a wireless controller at each branch. The 1RU Flex 7500 appliance allows you to create a private cloud to deploy, monitor, maintain, and repair as many as 6000 APs and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. The Cisco 8500 Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance engineered to manage wireless networks for very large campuses or service providers and can scale to support up to 6000 access points and 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

To learn additional information concerning Progent's engineering assistance for Cisco solutions, pick a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Support
• Fast and Affordable Remote Support from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Services
• ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower Services: Integration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewall Engineering Support
• Cisco PIX Firewall Consulting Support
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points Deployment Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Consulting Support
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E APs Solution Design, Deployment and Debugging Services
• Meraki Access Points Engineering Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Consulting and Troubleshooting
• Cisco VoIP Phones and IP Video Phones Consulting and Cisco Wireless IP Phone Solutions
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Security Engineering Support
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Telecommuters
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Datacenters
• Data Center Design Services for Service Providers
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Strategies for Cisco Environments