Cisco Wi-Fi controllers simplify the management of Wi-Fi environments by centralizing the deployment and control of Wi-Fi APs, optimizing wireless throughput by minimizing the impact of radio interference, enhancing Wi-Fi availability with rapid auto-failover, and hardening security by detecting threats and filtering traffic content based on user ID and location.

Cisco's WiFi controllers integrate with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure platform, an architecture that can support up to 6,000 Wi-Fi APs and 64,000 users. Cisco's family of wireless controllers are offered at prices and with capabilities suitable for venues that run from branch offices to service provider networks, multi-site enterprises, and dense campus environments. Cisco's Wave 2 WiFi controllers and access points are designed to provide the high standard of security, performance and robustness that companies are accustomed to in their wired network. Cisco's technology includes integrated mobility services such as Voice over IP, HD video, and safe guest access. Cisco's Prime Infrastructure platform makes it possible for businesses to build systems that integrate wired and Wi-Fi networks into a centrally managed ecosystem that delivers a seamless and productive user experience.

Progent's seasoned wireless consultants can help you to assess the business benefits of installing Cisco wireless controllers to administer WiFi networks of any size. Progent can help your business to manage and debug your existing Cisco-based wireless ecosystem or help you to design and carry out an efficient upgrade from earlier generation Wi-Fi controllers to current models to get improved performance and security and to streamline administration.

Cisco WiFi Controller Consulting

Cisco's new model wireless controllers deliver the performance to handle 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi

Progent's Cisco-certified integration consultants can provide affordable online consulting expertise across the U.S. and Canada to help businesses to build and refine Wi-Fi networks. Progent also offers onsite support in larger metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. and in Toronto, Canada. In addition, Progent offers economical remote and onsite Wi-Fi Site surveys to help you to design a Wi-Fi network with wireless access points located and set up efficiently for your specific office layout, application workloads, and client density.

Cisco Wave 2 Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers allow realtime communication, deployment, management, analysis and troubleshooting for Cisco wireless appliances and software services. Cisco offers both hardware and software-based Wi-Fi controllers for unified management of WiFi networks, but systems with many Wi-Fi access points are better served by physical wireless controllers. New Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer major advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier models such as higher throughput, concurrent support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and advanced, integrated security.

Cisco 3504 Wi-Fi Controller Configuration ConsultingCisco's 3504 WiFi Controller is a value-priced appliance with a desktop form factor and designed for smaller businesses. You can install the 3504 in a centralized WLAN environment such as in lean branch and remote offices administered across the WAN via Cisco FlexConnect, or in mesh installations where wiring is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller can handle up to 150 wireless APs and 3,000 clients, delivers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet port (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-GB Ethernet interfaces. APs can be connected to the controller through two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers fast failover for APs and users, which allows high availability for apps. Like other current Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 model has the built-in ability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WiFi controllers.

Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller Configuration ConsultantsThe Cisco 5520 WiFi Controller, available in a 1 rack unit enclosure, is intended to support larger enterprises 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 client users, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and incorporates solid-state storage, backup fans, optional redundant power supplies, and rapid failover for high availability.

Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller Integration ConsultantsCisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit package, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and can handle as many as 6,000 access points and 64,000 client users. The 8540 WiFi controller can deliver data rates as high as 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller comes with four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features SSD storage, backup power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Wireless LAN Controllers Consulting ServicesCisco wireless controllers reduce the time and expense needed to configure, manage, and troubleshoot wireless networks by centralizing control of functions such as provisioning APs, applying consistent policies across converged wired and wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for voice and HD video, tracking and optimizing system health, activating security capabilities to defend against unauthorized access and DDoS threats, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has developed wireless network controllers for organizations of any size and offers desktop or rackmount controllers, modular add-on wireless controllers for Cisco routers and switches, and switches with built-in wireless network controllers.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Module ConsultantsCisco's Wave 1 wireless controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to avoid signal 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 allow discovery and policy throughout the enterprise for Apple applications. For high availability (HA), Cisco wireless LAN controllers allow AP and client stateful switchover by enabling a standby high-availability wireless controller to synchronize with a primary controller for access point license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller fails, thousands of access points and wireless clients can switchover immediately to the secondary wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E offers basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers deployed by smaller organizations and branches. This value-priced and scalable solution can handle from five to 200 access points and up to 6000 clients. (To find out about Progent's remote and onsite consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and management support.)

Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches designed for SMBs and branch offices and come with a built-in wireless controller with the capability to support up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput for each switch and up to 25 access points and 1000 clients on each switch. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches designed for midsize businesses and large enterprises and feature an integrated wireless network controller with up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput on each switch and support for up to 50 access points and 2000 clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is a plug-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches with an integrated wireless network controller designed 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 clients. (To learn about Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Catalyst switches, see Catalyst switches configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop appliances that streamline the deployment and operation of Wi-Fi LANs for SMBs and branches. The 2500 Series wireless network controller can handle from five to 75 access points and up to 1000 clients and offers sustained data rates of up to 1 Gbps.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Consulting ServicesThe Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance designed for medium-sized to large businesses and campus environments and can manage up to 500 access points and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device intended for mid-to-large campuses with the ability to manage 1000 access points and 12,000 wireless clients and offering throughput 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 branches from a single location, eliminating the costs of a wireless controller at each remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you establish a private cloud to deploy, monitor, maintain, and repair up to 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Wireless Controller is a 1RU device designed to manage wireless networks for large campuses or service providers and can be expanded to support up to 6000 APs and up to 64,000 clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

Contact Progent for Consulting Support for Cisco Wireless Controllers
To contact Progent about consulting services for Cisco wireless controllers, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.

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