Cisco Wi-Fi controllers streamline the management of Wi-Fi environments by centralizing the configuration and administration of wireless access points, maximizing Wi-Fi throughput by reducing the impact of RF interference, enhancing Wi-Fi availability with rapid and automatic failover, and tightening security by uncovering threats and filtering traffic content based on user ID and location.

Cisco's wireless controllers work with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure platform, which can support as many as 6,000 wireless access points and 64,000 clients. Cisco's family of Wi-Fi controllers are available at price points and with capabilities suitable for venues ranging from small or home offices to service provider networks, multi-site enterprises, and large campus environments. Cisco's 802.11ax controllers and access points are engineered to deliver the same level of protection, performance and reliability that users are accustomed to in their wired environments. Cisco's technology includes integrated mobility support such as Voice over IP, HD video, and safe guest access. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture allows businesses to implement environments that combine wired and Wi-Fi networks into a unified ecosystem that delivers a consistent and productive user experience.

Progent's certified Wi-Fi experts can assist your organization to assess the business value of deploying Cisco wireless controllers to administer WiFi networks of any size. Progent can assist your business to maintain and debug your existing Cisco-based wireless ecosystem or assist you to plan and implement a smooth transition from earlier generation Wi-Fi controllers to modern models to get enhanced performance and protection and to streamline administration.

Cisco Wireless Controller Experts

Cisco's latest model wireless controllers have the speed to handle 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi

Progent's Cisco-certified network consultants offer low-cost online consulting expertise across the U.S. to assist organizations to create and refine Wi-Fi networks. Progent can also provide on-premises consulting and troubleshooting in larger metropolitan areas across the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent can provide affordable online and on-premises Wi-Fi Site surveys to help you to design a Wi-Fi network with wireless access points placed and set up efficiently for your particular site environment, application workloads, and user density.

Cisco Wave 2 WiFi LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers enable fast communication, configuration, control, analysis and debugging for Cisco Wi-Fi devices and software services. Cisco offers both hardware and software-based Wi-Fi controllers for unified administration of WiFi networks, but networks with a large number of Wi-Fi APs typically require hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Current generation Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco deliver significant advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and older products including greater throughput, concurrent support for 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control, and advanced, integrated security.

Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller Configuration ConsultantsThe Cisco 3504 WiFi Controller is a value-priced device with a desktop body and intended for small and medium-sized organizations. You can install the 3504 in a centralized WLAN architecture such as in small branch and home-based offices administered across the wide-area network with Cisco FlexConnect, or in mesh deployments where wiring is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller can handle as many as 150 wireless APs and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 wireless controller features a multi-gigabit Ethernet interface and four 1-GB Ethernet connections. Access points can be attached directly to the WiFi controller via two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 wireless controller features fast failover for APs and users, which provides nonstop availability for apps. As with other current Wave 2 wireless controllers from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated ability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

Cisco 5520 Wi-Fi Controller Configuration ConsultingThe Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1RU form factor, is intended to support larger organizations and campus environments and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller can handle as many as 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 wireless controller features two 10 GE interfaces and features SSD storage, redundant fans, optional redundant power supplies, and subsecond failover for high availability.

Cisco 8540 Wi-Fi Controller Setup and Troubleshooting ConsultingThe Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2RU enclosure, is a high-end wireless controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports as many as 6,000 access points and 64,000 users. The 8540 WiFi controller offers throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 comes with four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, redundant power supplies, redundant fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Wireless Network Controllers ConsultantsCisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the effort and expense needed to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks by offering single-point control of critical tasks like setting up access points, applying single-point policies across wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for voice and HD video, tracking and optimizing system health, implementing wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS) capabilities to guard against cyber break-ins and Denial of Service threats, and managing IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has designed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of any size and can provide desktop or rackmount appliances, modular add-on controllers for Cisco ISR routers and switches, and switches with integrated wireless controllers.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Module ConsultantsCisco's Wave 1 WiFi LAN controllers include Cisco CleanAir technology to avoid RF interference and produce self-optimizing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Integrated Apple Bonjour Gateways allow discovery across the enterprise for Apple applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers support wireless access point and client stateful failover by enabling a standby high-availability controller to synchronize with a main wireless controller for access point license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller goes down, thousands of access points and clients can switchover immediately to the backup wireless controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac support for Cisco 2900 and 3900 routers used by small to medium-sized businesses and satellite offices. This affordable and expandable solution can support up to 200 wireless access points and up to 6000 wireless clients. (To find out about Progent's online and on-premises consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)

Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and branch offices and have a built-in wireless network controller with the ability to support up to 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and up to 25 APs and 1000 clients per switch or stack. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches intended for midsize businesses and large enterprises and feature a built-in wireless controller supporting 40 Gb of wireless throughput on each switch and support for up to 50 access points and up to 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include an integrated wireless controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and capable of 20 Gbps throughput and with support for 1000 wireless access points and 15,000 wireless clients. (To find out concerning Progent's consulting services for Cisco switches, refer to Catalyst switches deployment and management consulting.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop appliances that streamline the deployment and operation of wireless LANs for small to medium-sized enterprises and satellite offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller can handle from five to 75 APs and up to 1000 wireless clients and can deliver throughput of up to 1 Gbps.

Cisco Wireless Controllers ConsultantsCisco's 5500 Series Wireless Controller is an expandable 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large sized 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 device designed for mid-to-large campuses with support for 1000 access points and 12,000 clients and offering throughput of 60 Gbps to accommodate high wireless client densities and high usage of video-intensive applications.

The Cisco Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is intended to manage thousands of wireless remote sites from one datacenter, avoiding the costs of a wireless controller at every branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance allows you to establish a private cloud to deploy, track, maintain, and repair as many as 6000 APs and 64,000 clients while handling 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to monitor and control wireless networks for very large campuses or service providers and can scale to support 6000 APs and 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

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Contact Progent for Consulting Support for Cisco Wi-Fi Controllers
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