Cisco offers a comprehensive catalog of wireless LAN products and technologies that provide anywhere, anytime access to information and resources and to facilitate collaboration among workers, partners, vendors, and customers. Cisco's wireless product families include the Small Business, Aironet and Meraki series of access points (APs), plus Cisco's Wireless LAN Controller plug-ins and standalone devices. Progent's certified wireless consulting experts can enable businesses of any size to utilize Cisco wireless solutions to accommodate the new model of BYOD computing by integrating their wired and wireless ecosystems to achieve simplified configuration, consistently high throughput, centralized management, enterprise-wide policy, high availability (HA), and advanced security.
Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture can scale to as many as 18,000 APs with full Layer 3 connectivity across central or offsite locations such as enterprise headquarters, college lecture halls, branch offices, and home offices. Cisco's Wi-Fi wireless access points and wireless controllers are components of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to support the identical level of protection, performance, and manageability for wireless networks that businesses demand in their wired infrastructure. Cisco's technology includes integrated mobility services like VoIP, high-definition IP video, and secure guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless solution enables companies to build wireless ecosystems that improve the way they do business and improve output through a mobile and collaborative workforce.
Progent's Cisco-certified network consulting services offers online or on-premises expertise to help your organization to design, deploy, maintain, upgrade, and repair converged wired and wireless networks of all sizes and for any environment. Also, Progent offers value-priced remote and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to help your company to plan and install a Wi-Fi LAN with customized wireless access point clustering optimized for your individual office layout, building characteristics, and intended application.
Cisco Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of APs allow organizations to converge wired/wireless networks to provide the accessibility, density, performance, security compliance and ease of management required for virtually any scenario. These access points range from entry-level, single-band 802.11b/g/n units with data rates of 300 Mbps for small businesses or telecommuters to 802.11ax access points suitable for supporting hundreds of clients per access point and delivering sustained throughput in excess of 5 Gb. Cisco's latest line of APs can be combined or clustered to deliver the capacity to support wireless networks with high client density and with high usage rates of video-intense applications.
Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of Access Points
Cisco's Small Business Family of access points are Linux-powered units designed as value-priced wireless APs for light workloads. Many models in Cisco's Small Business family of APs support Cisco's Single Point Setup system, which allows you to configure, manage and repair a cluster of wireless access points from a single AP via a simple browser-based tool. All of the versions include POE and provide Quality of Service (QoS), rogue access point detection, and bridge mode for connecting to a second network.
Cisco's Small Business WAP121 AP is a wallmount, single-band 2.4GHz device able to handle 16 802.11b/g/n clients, includes a 10/100 Ethernet interface, allows up to four AP devices and 40 wireless clients in a cluster, and supports data rates of 300 Mbps. Cisco's Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11a/b/g/n wireless access point that can handle 16 wireless clients on each radio for up to 32 clients, includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN interface, and delivers throughput of up to 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 does not support AP clustering. Cisco's WAP150 is a value-priced dual-radio 802.11ac/n wireless access point that includes a one Gbit Power over Ethernet (PoE) port and can support up to 16 clients from each radio with 867 Mbps throughput for AC clients and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. Cisco's WAP1501 supports 4 access points for each cluster.
The Cisco Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point is a wall-mountable selectable-band (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n device with support for 80 active wireless clients sharing an 8-AP cluster. The Cisco WAP321 features a GE port and can support a data rate of 300 Mbps for the activated radio. Cisco's WAP351 is a dual-radio 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n access point that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can handle 32 wireless clients per radio for a total of up to 64 active clients, and support throughput of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 AP does not allow clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac Wave 1 wireless access point that features a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, allows 32 active WLAN clients on each radio, and offers 867 Mbps throughput for wireless AC devices and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n clients. The Cisco Small Business WAP361 supports 8 WAP361 access points per cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-band AP that supports 802.11a/b/g/n and the new 802.11ac wireless networking standard. The WAP371 Wireless-AC/N has a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port, can handle as many as 32 active wireless clients on each radio, and 8 access points for each cluster.
Cisco's WAP561 802.11n Dual Radio access point includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port and two radios that deliver 450 Mbps performance for each radio, support 64 devices for each radio, and allow up to 16 wireless access points for each cluster. Cisco's WAP551 is similar to the WAP 561 but features a single selectable band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz). The Cisco Small Business WAP571 and WAP571E (the ruggedized outside version) are dual-band Wireless-AC/N access points incorporating 2 x GE interfaces with link aggregation (LAG), 3x3 MIMO, and up to 1.9 Gigabit/sec performance with 1300 Mbps on 11ac and 600 Mbps on 11n. Both APs can handle 32 active WAN clients per radio and 16 wireless access points per cluster.
The Cisco Small Business WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 Access Point supports the Wi-Fi 5 specification and features 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO to deliver 2.8 Gbps throughput on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 0.6 Gbps on the 2.4-GHz radio for a total max throughput of 2.4 Gbps. The WAP581 has an integrated 2.5G Ethernet interface and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port with 802.3at Power over Ethernet (PoE). The WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 AP supports as many as 200 connective client users, a maximum of 50 active users for each radio, 16 APs for each cluster, and 960 active client users for each cluster.
For more information about Progent's consulting services for current and older Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 family of wireless APs, see Cisco Small Business wireless access points configuration and troubleshooting.
Cisco's Aironet Family of Access Points
The Aironet family of wireless APs has for years been the leading AP product. Aironet wireless access points range from value priced devices to enterprise-class units. Cisco's Aironet family cover several generations of models supporting the evolving Wi-Fi standard. The current portfolio of Aironet access points support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and come with 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, which delivers triple the throughput plus greater range and user density in comparison to the prior generation of devices. Cisco's latest multi-frequency Aironet APs continue to accommodate 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for client devices without 802.11ac capability.
The oldest Aironet access points are now outdated units that have come to end-of-life status and are not fully supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the complete Aironet family of access points and can assist you to manage and troubleshoot your current Aironet Wi-Fi system or upgrade efficiently to the latest Aironet technology. To find out more about Progent's support for both current and legacy Aironet wireless access points, refer to Cisco Aironet APs consulting.
Meraki Access Points
Cisco's family of Meraki 2.4/5 GHz indoor APs range from value-priced models for small businesses to advanced products supporting up to 5.9 Gigabit per second throughput. Each Meraki indoor AP offers next-generation capabilities like plug-and-play installation, advanced security, BYOD support, built-in analytics, automatic over-the-web updates, and unified cloud-based management for multiple sites. Every Cisco Meraki indoor AP also includes dual powerful radios with enhanced receive sensitivity plus a separate radio that offers intrusion detection and prevention system (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection.
Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points are IP67 certified, designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, and tested to resist dust, shock and humidity. Meraki outdoor APs include a 1 x Gbit Ethernet port and offer advanced capabilities such as cloud-based management with multi-site visibility and control, native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan, single-click guest access and guest isolation firewall, application-aware traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with beamforming. For details about Progent's consulting services for Meraki wireless access points and management tools, refer to Cisco's Meraki wireless access points system design and troubleshooting.
Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax wireless APs are designed for environments ranging from telecommuter homes to high-density enterprise campuses. Cisco Catalyst 9100 APs are based on the 802.11ax specification, known as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the previous 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) specification. As an improvement to 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to utilize both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz radio bands. Headline enhancements supported by Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series access points include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for improved dependability, Target Wake Time for conserving power usage in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum utilization, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. Cisco Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 access points support Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller, accommodate as many as 400 clients per radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 916x Series Wi-Fi 6E APs are the first Cisco APs that have the flexibility to be monitored and managed on-prem with Cisco DNA Center or through the cloud using Meraki management tools. This allows businesses to transition to cloud-centric or hybrid deployments on their own schedule. All Cisco's Catalyst 916x APs meet the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E wireless specifications and support the 6-GHz band. Each AP includes 5 radios and allows up to 400 clients on each radio. Each AP also contains a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for reducing interference, includes a USB 2.0 port, and offers Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The entry-level Catalyst 9162 Series access point is designed for small businesses, has three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet connectivity.
The Catalyst 9163E Wi-Fi 6E access point is intended for tough outdoor deployments like campus environments or municipal Wi-Fi. The 9163E includes three client serving 2x2 radios, an IoT radio, and a tri-band scanning radio. Interfaces include 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G Multigigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), a management console port (RJ-45), 4x N-Type Wi-Fi antenna connectors, and a GPS/GNSS antenna connector. The 9163E supports Omnidirectional Dipole Self-Identifying Antennas. The Catalyst 9164 Series access point is designed for small and middle-size organizations, incorporates one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet. The Catalyst 9166 Series Wi-Fi access point is meant for large and medium-sized organizations, has three 4x4 radios, and offers 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet connectivity. The 9166 also comes with environmental sensors to track air quality, temperature, and humidity. For details about Progent's support for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6/6E APs, refer to Wi-Fi 6/6E access points system planning, deployment, and management services.
Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers allow you to automate and manage advanced Wi-Fi networks that incorporate 802.11ax wireless APs. 802.11ax, also called Wi-Fi 6, builds on prior generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) appliances by providing lower latency and more reliable performance, supporting higher client density, providing greater protection, saving energy for battery-dependent handheld devices, and offering more flexibility for supporting new kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Catalyst 9800 line wireless controllers feature high availability with transparent software updates, live fixes, and the ability to add Wi-Fi access points with zero disruption of service. Advanced cybersecurity technologies include Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), secure boot, and Cisco Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to track and analyze infrastructure and endpoint health.
All controllers in the Catalyst 9800 line are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or Prime Infrastructure network management platforms. Catalyst 9800 wireless LAN controllers can manage Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 Wi-Fi access points as well as Cisco Catalyst 9100 802.11ax access points. For more information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 wireless LAN controller appliances solution planning, configuration, and debugging services.
Cisco Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers enable realtime data exchange, configuration, management, analysis and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and software services. Cisco has developed both hardware and software-based wireless controllers for centralized administration of WiFi environments, but WLANs with many Wi-Fi APs are better served by physical Wi-Fi controllers. New wireless controller appliances from Cisco offer significant benefits over Wave 1 and older models such as higher performance, concurrent support for both 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control, and advanced, built-in protection.
The Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level device available in a desktop body and designed for small and medium-sized organizations. You can use the 3504 model in a centralized network environment such as in lean branch and home-based offices administered over the WAN with Cisco FlexConnect, or in mesh installations where Ethernet cabling is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller can handle up to 150 access points and 3,000 users, delivers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 WiFi controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet port and four 1-GB Ethernet interfaces. Access points can be attached to the WiFi controller via two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 wireless controller offers fast failover for access points and clients, which provides nonstop availability for apps. Like other current Wave 2 wireless controllers from Cisco, the 3504 device has the built-in capability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 wireless controllers.
The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) package, is intended to support larger enterprises and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 wireless controller supports as many as 1,500 access points and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, backup fans, optional dual power supplies, and rapid failover for nonstop availability.
The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2RU package, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and supports as many as 6,000 APs and 64,000 clients. The 8540 Wireless controller can deliver throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller includes four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features SSD storage, dual power supplies, backup fans, and subsecond failover.
Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the time and cost needed to deploy, monitor, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of functions like setting up APs, applying consistent policies across wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for IP voice and HD video, tracking and optimizing system health, activating security capabilities to guard against unauthorized access and Distributed Denial of Service attacks, and managing IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has designed wireless network controllers for organizations of all sizes and can provide desktop or rackmount appliances, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and Catalyst switches with built-in wireless network controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 wireless controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and produce self-healing and self-optimizing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and protection. Built-in Bonjour Gateways enable discovery across the enterprise for Apple applications. For high availability (HA), Cisco wireless LAN controllers support wireless access point and client stateful failover by permitting a standby high-availability wireless controller to synchronize with a main wireless controller for AP license count, CAPWAP keys, and access point CAPWAP state. In case the primary wireless controller fails, thousands of APs and clients can failover at subsecond speeds to the backup wireless network controller.
Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E offers entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac support for 2900 and 3900 Series routers used by small to medium-sized organizations and branches. This affordable and expandable module can support from five to 200 wireless access points and as many as 6000 clients. (To find out about Progent's remote and on-premises consulting services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and management support.)
Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches designed for SMBs and branch offices and have a built-in wireless network controller with the ability to handle 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and up to 25 wireless access points and 1000 clients on each switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches designed for midsize businesses and large enterprises and include a built-in wireless controller with up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and support for up to 50 access points and up to 2000 clients. The Wireless Services Module2 (WiSM2) is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include a built-in wireless LAN controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and capable of 20 Gbps throughput and with support for up to 1000 APs and 15,000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's support for Cisco Catalyst switches, see Cisco Catalyst switches deployment and management consulting.)
Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop devices that streamline the provisioning and operation of Wi-Fi networks for SMBs and branches. The Cisco 2500 wireless controller can manage 5 to 75 access points and up to 1000 wireless clients and offers throughput of up to 1 Gbps.
The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is an expandable 1RU appliance designed for medium-sized to large enterprises and campuses and can support up to 500 access points and 7,000 wireless clients while providing 8 Gbps performance. The Cisco 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device intended for mid-to-large campuses with the ability to manage up to 1000 wireless access points and 12,000 wireless clients and delivering performance of 60 Gbps to handle high client densities and high usage of video-intensive mobile applications.
The Cisco Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is designed to enable centralized management of massive collections of wireless remote sites from a single datacenter, avoiding the costs of a wireless controller at each branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you establish a private cloud to deploy, track, maintain, and repair up to 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount device engineered to manage wireless environments for very large campuses or service providers and can scale to handle up to 6000 wireless points and up to 64,000 clients while delivering 10 Gbps performance.
For more information about Cisco wireless controllers, see Cisco Wi-Fi controllers consulting services.
Legacy Cisco Access Points, LAN Bridges and Wireless Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac specification for Wi-Fi virtually rendered obsolete the previous generations of Wi-Fi devices for venues that have high numbers of wireless clients and high usage of video-intensive applications. Even for businesses who do not need the bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, a large number of Cisco wireless devices have reached end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can present significant maintenance and regulatory compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts offer online and onsite support services for a wide range of earlier-generation Cisco wireless products. Progent can also help organizations to evaluate the potential ROI for updating legacy wireless infrastructure and can help in planning and executing affordable, seamless upgrades. Below are a few of Cisco legacy Wi-Fi products that Progent's consulting experts still support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet Access Points
Aironet 1000 or 1130AG Series access points are designed for conventional workplaces and similar locations which have little environmental variability. These devices include integrated antennas that provide dependable radio coverage patterns. The Cisco 1130G family WAP is available for controlled domains that do not permit 802.11a transmission.
Cisco Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG Series access points are designed for more difficult radio frequency situations like factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which typically call for adjustable protruding antennas and durable cases. The Aironet 1240G Series device is available for restricted locations that do not permit 5GHz transmission.
Aironet 1500 Series lightweight outside wireless mesh LAN access points deliver an affordable, expandable, secure outdoor Wi-Fi mechanism for campus areas and for public sites that require connectivity for mobile devices.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Bridges
Cisco wireless bridges provide a high-speed and multi-featured technology for integrating numerous local area networks in a metro situation or public wireless network. Cisco bridges provide a flexible, manageable solution that satisfies the security needs of wide-area networking specialists. They handle both point-to-point and PTMP configurations with excellent range and the ability to handle traffic throughput as high as 54 Mbps.
Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges deliver data rates significantly higher than E1/T1 links for much lower expense, avoiding the need for expensive leased lines when linking separate offices. Since bridges carry no ongoing charges, the expenses saved on connection services quickly cover the startup hardware costs. Private lines and in some cases leased lines made of metal or optical cable can require high up-front costs when they are separated by barriers like freeways, railroads, or lakes and rivers. Cisco wireless bridges can be installed rapidly with a fast return on investment.
Aironet 1300 Series outside wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as stand-alone access points, wireless bridges, or wireless group bridges. These products have a durable enclosure and offer high-speed, cost-effective wireless connectivity between multiple fixed or mobile environments and clients.
Cisco 1400 family wireless bridges provide high-speed, dependable outdoor connections for line-of-sight (LOS) applications. They are housed in an all-weather enclosure that can withstand harsh outdoor environments and operate in broad temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers centralize the management of wireless LANs by streamlining the control of key technologies including integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS), fast RF control, zero touch configuration, and full N+1 redundancy. These controllers operate with small access points to deliver enhanced throughput and advanced management functions.
Wireless LAN Controllers offer the manageability, expandability, security, and dependability that IT managers need to create secure, enterprise-scale wireless networks, from branch offices to small businesses to main campuses. Cisco's first-generation Wireless Controllers can be clustered to offer support for as many as 2400 WAPs per roaming domain.
Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Module for Integrated Services (IS) Routers offers small-to mid-size businesses and large corporations a cost effective solution to deploy and manage protected wireless networks at branch offices. These wireless controllers manage up to 12 Aironet access points and are installable in Cisco 2800/3800 Series IS Routers and 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (To find out concerning Progent's remote and on-premises support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting support.)
How Progent Can Help Your Business with Cisco Wireless Technology
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified expert to help your business to design, install, maintain and troubleshoot a converged wired/wireless infrastructure integrating a wide range of wireless devices that provide the identical security, expandability, and ease of management you expect from a wired network. Progent can assist you to maintain legacy wireless products from Cisco or migrate efficiently to current 802.11ax-compatible products. Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security professionals can show you how to design protection into your WLAN and into your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity planners can assist you to deploy the HA technology incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged network provides non-stop business value.
Progent's Wireless Site Survey helps you to plan and deploy a state-of-the-art wireless network optimized for your facilities, providing a Wi-Fi solution that provides seamless coverage, high performance and capacity, Quality of Service features to handle IP video, advanced security, and streamlined management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed online to cut time and expense, or on premises to deal with more complex facilities.
For a more in-depth look at Progent's wireless integration capabilities, see Progent's Wireless Network Expertise.
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