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Cisco Wi-Fi controllers work with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center (DNAC) management solutions and can accommodate 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 feature sets suitable for venues ranging from small offices to service provider networks, multi-site enterprises, and large campus environments. Cisco's 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 controllers and APs are engineered to provide the same level of protection, performance and reliability that users expect in their wired network. Cisco's technology includes integrated mobility support like IP voice, HD video, and protected guest access. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNAC architecture allow businesses to build environments that combine wired and Wi-Fi networks into a centrally managed ecosystem that delivers a consistent and productive work environment.

Progent's seasoned Wi-Fi consultants can assist your organization to determine the business benefits of deploying Cisco Wi-Fi controllers to administer WiFi networks of any scale. Progent can help you to maintain and debug your existing Cisco wireless ecosystem or help you to plan and carry out a smooth upgrade from earlier generation Wi-Fi controllers to modern models to deliver enhanced functionality and security and to streamline administration.

Progent's Cisco-certified network consultants offer low-cost remote consulting and support services throughout the U.S. to help businesses to create and refine Wi-Fi solutions. Progent can also provide onsite support in larger metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent can provide online predictive and onsite Wireless Site Surveys to assist you to plan a Wi-Fi network with access points placed and configured efficiently for your specific site environment, traffic volume, and client density.

Cisco 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers allow you to automate and manage advanced Wi-Fi networks that incorporate 802.11ax access points. 802.11ax, aka Wi-Fi 6, builds on previous generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) devices by delivering less latency and more predictable performance, allowing higher client density, providing enhanced protection, conserving energy for battery-powered handheld devices, and offering more flexibility for handling the latest types of IoT endpoints. Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi controllers feature always-on availability with seamless software updates, live patching, and the ability to connect additional Wi-Fi access points without downtime. Advanced cybersecurity technologies include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), image signing, and Cisco Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to track and analyze network and endpoint health. All appliances in the Catalyst 9800 line are based on Cisco's IOS XE Software and work with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or Prime Infrastructure management platforms. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 wireless network controllers can manage Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 wireless APs as well as Cisco Catalyst 9100 802.11ax APs.

Cisco's 9800-L Wi-Fi 6 Controller is a value-priced device available in a half-width 1RU enclosure that permits side-by-side installation in a standard 19-in rack. Designed for small and medium-sized wireless networks, the controller provides extra speed and scale for customers with Cisco's Performance license option. The 9800-L supports 250 access points and 5,000 clients (500 wireless APs and 10,00 users if you have a Performance license). The 9800-L controller offers 5 Gbps data rates (10 Gbps with a Performance license), and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Deployment modes include Centralized, FlexConnect for remote office installations, and fabric. Integrated uplinks include four 2.5G/1G ports and either two 10G/Multigigabit copper (Catalyst 9800-L-C) or two 10G/Multigigabit fiber ports (Catalyst 9800-L-F). Other interfaces include an RJ-45 console port and a Micro USB console interface for out-of-band management, a USB 3.0 interface for plugging in external RAM memory, an RJ-45 management port, and an RJ-45 HA redundancy interface for stateful switchover.

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) package, is designed to support midsize campus deployments. The 9800-40 supports 2,000 access points and 32,000 users. The 9800-40 offers 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 interface. Other fixed interfaces include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console ports, an RJ-45 service interface, an RJ-45 redundancy port used for stateful switchover (SSO), and two USB 3.0 ports for plugging in external memory.

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-80 Wi-Fi 6 Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit (RU) package, is a modular, top-of-the-line Wi-Fi controller designed to support large campus and service provider deployments. The 9800-80 supports 60,00 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 clients. The controller delivers up to 80 Gbps throughput and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Deployment options include Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, and Fabric Wireless (SD-Access). Fixed uplink ports include eight 10G SFP+ ports or six 10G ports plus two 1G ports. Supported hot swappable uplink add-in modules can add 18 1GE ports, 10 10GE ports, a 40GE interface, two 40GE interfaces, or one 100GE port. Other fixed interfaces include RJ-45 and USB 3.0 console interfaces, an RJ-45 management interface, an SFP Gigabit Ethernet redundancy port used for stateful switchover (SSO), an RJ-45 redundancy port used for SSO, and two USB 3.0 interfaces for plugging in external RAM.

Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 controllers enable fast communication, configuration, management, analysis and troubleshooting for Cisco wireless devices and software services. Cisco offers both physical and virtual Wi-Fi controllers for unified administration of wireless networks, but WLANs with a large number of wireless APs are better served by hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Wave 2 wireless controller appliances from Cisco offer major benefits over Wave 1 and earlier products such as higher throughput, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, integrated security.

Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is a value-priced appliance available in a desktop enclosure and intended for small and medium-sized businesses. You can use the 3504 in a centralized WLAN environment such as in small branch and home-based offices managed over the WAN with FlexConnect, or in mesh deployments where wiring is limited. The 3504 wireless controller can handle up to 150 APs and 3,000 clients, offers 4 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet port (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-GB Ethernet ports. Access points can be connected to the controller via two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 wireless controller offers subsecond failover for APs and users, which provides high availability for applications. Like other Wave 2 wireless controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 model has the built-in capability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 wireless controllers.

Cisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1RU form factor, is intended to support midsize to large organizations and campus networks and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 1,500 Wi-Fi access points and 20,000 users, offers 20 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller features two 10 GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, redundant fans, optional backup power supplies, and subsecond failover for high availability.

The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2 rack unit (RU) enclosure, is a top-of-the-line wireless controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and supports as many as 6,000 APs and 64,000 client users. The 8540 Wireless controller offers throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 includes four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup power supplies, backup fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco wireless network controllers cut the time and expense needed to deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot wireless networks by offering single-point control of tasks like setting up access points, applying consistent policies across converged wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for IP voice and video, tracking and troubleshooting system health, activating security capabilities to guard against unauthorized access and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and handling IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of any size and offers standalone desktop controllers, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with built-in wireless network controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize signal interference and create self-healing wireless LANs for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and protection. Built-in Bonjour Gateways permit discovery, advertisement and policy throughout the enterprise for Apple applications. For high availability (HA), Cisco wireless network controllers allow AP and client stateful switchover by permitting a standby HA controller to synch with a primary wireless controller for access point license tabulation, CAPWAP keys, and access point CAPWAP state. In case the primary wireless controller fails, thousands of APs and clients can failover immediately to the secondary wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac support for 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by smaller businesses and satellite offices. This value-priced and scalable solution can handle from five to 200 APs and as many as 6000 clients. (For information concerning Progent's remote and onsite consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router deployment and management services.)

Cisco Legacy Wi-Fi LAN Controllers
Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches intended for SMBs and satellite offices and have an integrated wireless network controller with the capability to handle up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput for each switch and 25 wireless access points and 1000 clients on each switch. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for mid-size and large organizations and feature a built-in wireless controller with 40 Gb of wireless capacity on each switch and support for up to 50 APs and up to 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless LAN 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 15,000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco switches, see Catalyst switches deployment and troubleshooting services.)

Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop appliances that streamline the provisioning and management of Wi-Fi LANs for small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices. The Cisco 2500 wireless network controller can manage from five to 75 wireless access points and 1000 clients and offers throughput of up to 1 Gbps.

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

The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is intended to enable centralized management of massive collections of wireless remote sites from a single location, eliminating the costs of a wireless controller at each branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you build a private cloud to configure, monitor, manage, and repair up to 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device designed to manage wireless environments for large campuses or for service providers and can be expanded to handle 6000 APs and 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps performance.

Contact Progent for Consulting Support for Cisco Wi-Fi Controllers
To learn more about Progent's consulting services for Cisco wireless controllers, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.

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