Cisco Wi-Fi Solutions Consultants

Cisco wireless controllers streamline the management of Wi-Fi environments by unifying the deployment and control of Wi-Fi access points, maximizing wireless performance by reducing the impact of RF interference, improving Wi-Fi uptime with fast auto-failover, and tightening security by detecting cyber threats and filtering traffic content based on user type and location.

Cisco Wi-Fi controllers work with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center (DNAC) network management tools and can support up to 6,000 wireless APs and 64,000 clients. Cisco's family of Wi-Fi controllers are available at prices and with capabilities suitable for networks that run from small or home offices to service provider networks, enterprises, and dense campus environments. Cisco's Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 controllers and APs are designed to provide the same standard of protection, speed and robustness that companies are accustomed to in their wired network. Cisco's technology includes integrated mobility support like IP voice, HD video, and safe guest access. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center platforms allow businesses to build systems that combine wired and wireless networks into a unified ecosystem that ensures a seamless and productive user experience.

Progent's certified Wi-Fi consultants can help you to assess the business benefits of installing Cisco Wi-Fi controllers to administer WiFi networks of any size. Progent can assist your business to manage and debug your existing Cisco wireless solution or help you to plan and carry out a smooth transition from older Wi-Fi controllers to current products to get improved performance and security and to streamline administration.

Progent's Cisco-certified integration consultants can provide low-cost online consulting and support services across the U.S. to assist you to create and refine Wi-Fi networks. Progent also offers on-premises support in larger metropolitan areas across the United States and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent offers online predictive and on-premises Wireless Site Surveys to help you to plan a Wi-Fi network with wireless access points placed and set up optimally for your specific office layout, application workloads, and client density.

Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless LAN controllers allow you to automate and manage advanced Wi-Fi environments that incorporate 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. The 802.11ax standard, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, improves on previous generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) devices by delivering lower latency and more reliable performance, supporting higher client density, providing greater protection, conserving energy for battery-powered mobile devices, and allowing more flexibility for supporting new types of IoT endpoints. Catalyst 9800 family Wi-Fi controllers include high availability with transparent software updates, live patching, and the ability to add access points without disruption of service. Advanced security features include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), image signing, and Cisco Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to monitor and analyze infrastructure and client health. All controllers in the Catalyst 9800 family are based on Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center or with Prime Infrastructure network management platforms. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless LAN controllers can support Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 and Wave 2 access points as well as Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 wireless APs.

The Cisco 9800-L 802.11ax Controller is an entry-level appliance with a half-width 1RU body that allows side-by-side installation in a standard 19-in rack. Intended for small and medium-sized organizations, the 9800-L provides enhanced throughput and capacity if you purchase Cisco's Performance license. The 9800-L supports 250 wireless APs and 5,000 client users (500 wireless APs and 10,00 clients if you have a Performance license). The appliance offers 5 Gbps data rates (10 Gbps with a Performance license), and supports 4,096 VLANs. Deployment scenarios include Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect for remote office installations, and fabric. Fixed uplinks include four 2.5G/1G ports and 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 port for management, a USB 3.0 port for plugging in external RAM, an RJ-45 management interface, and an RJ-45 high-availability redundancy port for SSO.

Cisco's Catalyst 9800-40 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, available in a 1 rack unit enclosure, is intended for midsize campus environments. The 9800-40 can handle 2,000 wireless APs and 32,000 users. The 9800-40 offers 40 Gbps data rates and supports 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless. Fixed interfaces include four GE SFP/10 GE SFP+ or SFP ports and an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy interface. Additional fixed ports include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console ports, an RJ-45 management port, an RJ-45 redundancy interface used for stateful switchover, and two USB 3.0 interfaces for plugging in external RAM memory.

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-80 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, offered in a 2RU form factor, is a modular, top-of-the-line Wi-Fi controller designed to manage large campus and service provider environments. The 9800-80 can handle 60,00 wireless APs and 64,000 clients. The controller offers a maximum of 80 Gbps throughput and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless. Integrated uplink interfaces include eight 10G SFP+ ports or six 10G ports plus two 1G ports. Supported uplink add-in modules can add 18 1GE interfaces, 10 10GE interfaces, a 40GE port, two 40GE interfaces, or one 100GE interface. Additional integrated interfaces include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console interfaces, an RJ-45 management port, an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy port used for SSO, an RJ-45 redundancy port used for SSO, and two USB 3.0 interfaces for plugging in external memory.

Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 controllers allow fast data exchange, configuration, management, analysis and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and services. Cisco has developed both hardware and virtual Wi-Fi controllers for centralized management of wireless networks, but networks with many wireless APs are better served by hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Wave 2 Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco deliver significant advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier models such as higher throughput, simultaneous support for both 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control (AVC), and advanced, built-in security.

The Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level appliance with a desktop form factor and intended for smaller organizations. You can use the 3504 in a centralized network architecture such as in lean branch and remote offices managed across the wide-area network via Cisco FlexConnect, or in mesh deployments where Ethernet cabling is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller supports as many as 150 wireless APs and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 wireless controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet interface and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet connections. Access points can be connected to the WiFi controller via two PoE ports. The 3504 wireless controller offers fast failover for APs and clients, which provides uninterrupted availability for apps. As with other current Wave 2 wireless controllers from Cisco, the 3504 model has the integrated capability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

Cisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) form factor, is designed to support midsize to large organizations and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller can handle as many as 1,500 Wi-Fi access points and 20,000 clients, delivers 20 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller features two 10 GE ports and incorporates solid-state storage, redundant fans, optional redundant power supplies, and subsecond failover for high availability.

The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2RU form factor, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 Wireless controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and can handle up to 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 users. The 8540 Wireless controller offers throughput as high as 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 includes four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features SSD storage, dual power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers cut the effort and expense required to deploy, monitor, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of critical functions like provisioning APs, enforcing single-point policies across converged wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for voice and video, monitoring and troubleshooting system health, implementing security tools to guard against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and handling IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has developed wireless network controllers for organizations of any size and can provide standalone desktop controllers, modular add-on controllers for Cisco routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with built-in wireless LAN controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless network controllers include Cisco CleanAir technology to avoid signal interference and produce self-healing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Built-in Apple Bonjour Gateways enable discovery across the enterprise for Apple applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless controllers support access point and client stateful switchover by permitting a standby HA controller to synchronize with a primary wireless controller for AP license tabulation, CAPWAP keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller fails, thousands of APs and wireless clients can failover at subsecond speeds to the backup wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers deployed by smaller organizations and satellite offices. This affordable and scalable solution can handle up to 200 wireless access points and as many as 6000 clients. (To learn about Progent's remote and on-premises consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router deployment and management support.)

Cisco Legacy Wireless Network Controllers
Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches designed for small to mid-size businesses and satellite offices and features an integrated wireless network controller with the ability to handle 40 Gb of wireless capacity for each switch and up to 25 access points and 1000 clients on each switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for midsize businesses and large enterprises and feature an integrated wireless network controller supporting up to 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and support for up to 50 APs and up to 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include an integrated wireless LAN controller designed for mid-to-large size businesses and capable of 20 Gbps throughput and with support for 1000 access points and up to 15,000 clients. (To learn concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco Catalyst switches, refer to Catalyst switches deployment and troubleshooting support.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop devices that simplify the provisioning and management of Wi-Fi LANs for small to medium-sized enterprises and branches. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller supports 5 to 75 wireless access points and up to 1000 wireless clients and offers sustained data rates of up to 1 Gbps.

Cisco's 5500 Series Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large sized businesses and campus environments and can manage 500 wireless access points and 7,000 wireless clients while providing 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large campus environments with support for up to 1000 APs and 12,000 clients and providing throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high usage of video-intensive applications.

Cisco's Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is intended to manage thousands of wireless remote sites from a single location, eliminating the costs of a Wi-Fi controller at every branch. The 1RU Flex 7500 lets you build a private cloud to configure, monitor, maintain, and repair up to 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 manage Wi-Fi networks for large campuses or for service providers and can be expanded to handle 6000 wireless points and up to 64,000 clients while offering 10 Gbps performance.

To find out more details concerning Progent's consulting help for Cisco technology, pick a subject:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast and Affordable Remote Support from a CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower: Setup and Management Expertise
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Integration Support
• Cisco PIX Firewall Upgrade. Migration Services
• Cisco Routers Consulting Services
• Cisco Wireless Network Design Expertise
• Cisco Aironet APs Engineering Help
• Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Engineering Support
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless Access Points Solution Design, Configuration and Debugging Consulting
• Meraki Access Points Deployment Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones and IP Video Desktop Phones Consulting Services and Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone Integration
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN and Security Integration Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for an At-Home Workforce
• Design Expertise for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Network Optimization Services for Service Providers
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Technologies for Cisco-powered Environments