Cisco Wi-Fi Technology Experts

Cisco Wi-Fi controllers streamline the management of Wi-Fi networks by centralizing the configuration and administration of wireless APs, maximizing Wi-Fi performance by minimizing the impact of RF congestion, enhancing Wi-Fi uptime with rapid auto-failover, and tightening security by detecting threats and filtering traffic content based on client ID and location.

Cisco's wireless controllers work with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center (DNAC) management tools and are able to accommodate as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi APs and 64,000 users. Cisco's line of Wi-Fi controllers are offered at prices and with capabilities appropriate for networks ranging from small offices to service provider systems, multi-site enterprises, and large campus deployments. Cisco's Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 controllers and access points are designed to provide the same standard of protection, performance and reliability that companies are accustomed to in their wired environments. Cisco's technology includes integrated mobility support like Voice over IP, HD video, and safe guest access. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center platforms make it possible for businesses to implement systems that combine wired and Wi-Fi networks into a centrally managed ecosystem that provides a consistent and productive user experience.

Progent's certified wireless experts can assist you to determine the business value of installing Cisco Wi-Fi controllers to manage WiFi environments of any scale. Progent can help you to maintain and troubleshoot your current Cisco-based wireless solution or help you to design and carry out an efficient upgrade from earlier generation Wi-Fi controllers to current products to get enhanced functionality and security and to simplify management.

Progent's Cisco-certified integration consultants offer low-cost online consulting and support expertise across the U.S. to help you to create and refine Wi-Fi solutions. Progent can also provide on-premises consulting in larger metropolitan areas across the United States and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent can provide remote predictive and on-premises Wireless Site Surveys to help you to design a Wi-Fi network with access points located and configured efficiently for your particular office layout, traffic volume, 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 automate and manage modern Wi-Fi environments that incorporate 802.11ax access points. The 802.11ax standard, popularly known as Wi-Fi 6, improves on previous generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) appliances by delivering lower latency and more reliable performance, supporting higher client density, providing enhanced security, saving energy for battery-dependent mobile devices, and allowing more versatility for supporting new kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Catalyst 9800 line wireless controllers feature high availability with transparent software upgrades, hot fixes, and the ability to connect additional APs without disruption of service. Enhanced cybersecurity technologies include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), secure boot, and Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). Streaming telemetry permits you to track and understand network and endpoint health. All devices in the Catalyst 9800 family are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center or with Prime Infrastructure network management tools. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 wireless network controllers can manage Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 APs concurrently with Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax wireless APs.

The Cisco 9800-L Wi-Fi 6 Controller is a value-priced appliance with a half-width 1RU enclosure that allows dual mounting in a standard 19-in rack. Designed for smaller businesses, the 9800-L offers enhanced speed and scale if you purchase Cisco's Performance license option. The 9800-L can handle 250 Wi-Fi access points and 5,000 client users (500 APs and 10,00 clients with a Performance license). The controller delivers 5 Gbps data rates (10 Gbps with a Performance license), and supports 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, FlexConnect for remote office installations, 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 interfaces include an RJ-45 console interface and a Micro USB console interface for out-of-band management, a USB 3.0 port for adding external RAM, an RJ-45 service port, and an RJ-45 HA redundancy interface used for stateful switchover.

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit package, is designed to support midsize campus environments. The 9800-40 can handle 2,000 wireless APs and 32,000 users. The appliance delivers 40 Gbps throughput and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless. Fixed interfaces include four GE SFP/10 GE SFP+ or SFP ports and an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy interface. Other integrated ports include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console ports, an RJ-45 service interface, an RJ-45 redundancy interface for stateful switchover, and two USB 3.0 ports for plugging in external RAM memory.

Cisco's Catalyst 9800-80 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, offered in a 2RU package, is an expandable, high-end wireless controller designed to manage large campus and service provider deployments. The 9800-80 can handle 60,00 wireless APs and 64,000 client users. The appliance offers a maximum of 80 Gbps data rates and supports 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless. Fixed uplink interfaces include eight 10G SFP+ interfaces or six 10G ports plus two 1G interfaces. Optional uplink modules can add 18 1GE ports, 10 10GE ports, a 40GE port, two 40GE ports, or one 100GE port. Other fixed ports include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console ports, an RJ-45 management interface, an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy port used for SSO, an RJ-45 redundancy port for stateful switchover (SSO), and two USB 3.0 ports for plugging in external memory.

Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 controllers enable fast communication, configuration, management, monitoring and troubleshooting for Cisco wireless devices and services. Cisco has developed both physical and virtual wireless controllers for unified administration of WiFi networks, but networks with a large number of wireless access points are better served by hardware-based wireless controllers. Wave 2 Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer major benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and older models such as higher performance, concurrent support for 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, built-in protection.

Cisco's 3504 WiFi Controller is a value-priced device with a desktop form factor and designed for smaller organizations. You can use the 3504 in a centralized WLAN environment such as in small branch and remote offices administered over the WAN via FlexConnect, or in bridge deployments where wiring is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller can handle as many as 150 wireless APs and 3,000 clients, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 wireless controller features a Cisco Multigigabit port and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. Access points can be connected directly to the WiFi controller through two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 wireless controller features subsecond failover for access points and users, which provides high availability for apps. As with other 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.

Cisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit (RU) form factor, is intended for larger organizations and campus environments and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 1,500 access points and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller features two 10 GE ports and incorporates solid-state storage, backup fans, optional backup power supplies, and subsecond failover for uninterrupted availability.

Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2 rack unit form factor, is a high-end wireless controller intended to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 Wireless controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and supports up to 6,000 access points and 64,000 client users. The 8540 Wireless controller can deliver data rates as high as 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller includes four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, redundant power supplies, redundant fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless network controllers reduce the time and cost required to configure, monitor, and operate wireless networks by centralizing control of tasks such as setting up APs, applying consistent policies throughout converged networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service for voice and video, monitoring and optimizing network performance, activating security capabilities to guard against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service attacks, and handling IPv6 clients. Cisco has developed wireless network controllers for organizations of any size and offers standalone desktop controllers, modular add-on controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with integrated wireless controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi network controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and produce self-healing and self-optimizing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and security. Built-in Apple Bonjour Gateways enable discovery and policy throughout WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless LAN controllers support AP and client stateful failover by enabling a backup HA wireless controller to synch with a primary wireless controller for AP license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and access point CAPWAP state. In case the main wireless controller stops working, thousands of wireless access points and clients can failover immediately to the backup wireless controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by small to medium-sized businesses and satellite offices. This affordable and expandable module can handle up to 200 access points and as many as 6000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's remote and onsite consulting support services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and management support.)

Cisco Legacy Wi-Fi Network Controllers
Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and satellite offices and have a built-in wireless network controller with the capability to support 40 Gb of wireless capacity for each switch and up to 25 access points and 1000 clients on each switch or stack. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for mid-size and large organizations and include a built-in wireless controller with up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and support for 50 access points and 2000 clients. The Wireless Services Module2 (WiSM2) is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches with an integrated wireless LAN controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and capable of 20 Gbps throughput and able to handle up to 1000 wireless access points and as many as 15,000 clients. (To learn about Progent's support for Cisco switches, see Cisco switches configuration and troubleshooting services.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are economical desktop appliances that streamline the provisioning and operation of wireless networks for small and midsize businesses and satellite offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller can manage from five to 75 access points and up to 1000 clients and can deliver throughput of up to 1 Gbps.

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

The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is intended to manage massive collections of wireless remote sites from one datacenter, eliminating the need for a Wi-Fi controller at every branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you build a private cloud to deploy, monitor, maintain, and repair as many as 6000 wireless access points and 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to monitor and control wireless environments for very large campuses or service providers and can be expanded to handle 6000 APs and up to 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

To find out additional information concerning Progent's engineering support for Cisco products, select a subject:

• Introduction to Cisco Consulting Services
• Timely Remote Support from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Cisco Firepower Services: Consulting and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Consulting Assistance
• Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Engineering Assistance
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Expertise
• Aironet Wireless APs Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Deployment Support
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless APs Planning, Deployment and Troubleshooting Support
• Meraki APs Deployment Expertise
• 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 Expertise and Wireless IP Phone Solutions
• Cisco Jabber and Management Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco Meraki Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN Engineering Help
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication Services for Remote Workers
• Design and Support for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Data Center Optimization Services for ISPs
• Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Network Management Strategies for Cisco-powered Environments