Cisco has developed an extensive catalog of wireless LAN products and software tools that provide anywhere, anytime access to information and other resources and to promote collaboration among employees, associates, vendors, and clients. Cisco's wireless product families include the Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points (APs), plus Cisco's Wireless Network Controller modules and appliances. Progent's certified wireless experts can help organizations of any size to utilize Cisco wireless technology to support the new model of BYOD computing by integrating their tethered and untethered environments to benefit from simplified deployment, consistent and fast performance, single-point management, enterprise-wide policy enforcement, high availability, and advanced protection.
The Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution can scale to up to 18,000 APs with Layer 3 mobility across local or offsite venues like business headquarters, university auditoriums, branches, and home offices. Cisco's 802.11x wireless access points and controllers are part of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are engineered to deliver the same level of protection, throughput, and manageability for wireless networks that businesses expect in their wired infrastructure. Cisco's architecture incorporates built-in mobility services such as VoIP, IP video, and secure guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture enables organizations to create wireless ecosystems that improve the way they do business and improve output via a dynamic and connected employee base.
Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can provide online or onsite support to help you to design, configure, maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot converged wired/wireless networks of any size and for any environment. In addition, Progent can provide affordable remote and on-premises wireless site surveys to help your company to plan and install a Wi-Fi network with customized wireless access point clusters optimized for your specific work area layout, building characteristics, and intended application.
Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points (APs)
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst lines of APs enable you to converge wired and wireless networks to deliver the accessibility, capacity, throughput, security and manageability needed for virtually any scenario. Cisco's APs range from entry-level, single-radio 802.11b/g/n units with data rates of 300 Mbps intended for very small businesses or home offices to 802.11ax access points capable of supporting hundreds of clients per AP and delivering data rates of more than 5 Gb. Cisco's latest line of APs can be clustered to deliver the capacity to support environments crowded with clients and with high usage rates of video-intense apps.
Small Business Family of APs
Cisco's Small Business Family of wireless access points are Linux-powered devices engineered as value-priced Wi-Fi solutions for small offices. Most models in Cisco's Small Business line of wireless access points work with Cisco's Single Point Setup system, which makes it possible to configure, manage and troubleshoot a group of access points from a single AP through a simple browser-based tool. All versions support POE and provide QoS, rogue access point awareness, and bridging for connecting to a second network.
The Cisco Small Business WAP121 AP is a wall-mountable, single-radio 2.4GHz device that can support 16 active 802.11b/g/n clients, includes a 10/100 Ethernet port, allows up to four AP devices and 40 active wireless clients in a cluster, and can handle data rates of up to 300 Mbps. Cisco's Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11a/b/g/n wireless access point able to handle 16 wireless clients per radio for up to 32 clients, includes a GE interface, and delivers sustained data rates of up to 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 does not support AP clustering. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 is an entry-level dual-radio 802.11ac/n wireless access point that features a 1xGE Power over Ethernet port and can support 16 clients per radio with 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac clients and 300 Mbps for 802.11n devices. The Cisco WAP1501 supports 4 APs per cluster.
The Cisco Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N model is a wall-mountable selectable-band (2.4 or 5 GHz) 802.11n unit with support for up to 80 active wireless clients sharing an 8-AP cluster. The Cisco WAP321 has a GE port and can deliver throughput of 300 Mbps for the activated radio. Cisco's Small Business WAP351 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n AP that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can handle 32 active wireless clients on each radio for a total of up to 64 clients, and support sustained throughput of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 access point does not support clustering. The Cisco WAP361 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wireless-AC/N wireless access point that features a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, can support 32 active WLAN clients per radio, and delivers 867 Mbps performance for wireless AC devices and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n clients. The Cisco Small Business WAP361 supports eight WAP361 access points for each cluster. Cisco's wallmount Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-radio AP that supports 802.11n and the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi specification. The WAP371 includes a GE port, can support 32 active wireless clients per radio, and eight access points per cluster.
The Cisco WAP561 802.11n Dual Radio Selectable Band wireless access point features one 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface and dual radios that deliver 450 Mbps performance for each radio, can handle 64 devices per radio, and allow up to 16 wireless access points for each cluster. The Cisco WAP551 is like the WAP 561 but has a single selectable band. Cisco's WAP571 and WAP571E (a weather-proof outside version) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac wireless access points that feature two Gb Ethernet ports with link aggregation, 3x3 MIMO, and up to 1.9 Gigabit/sec performance with 1300 Mbps over 11ac and 600 Mbps on 802.11n. Both units can handle 32 clients on each radio and 16 access points per cluster.
The Cisco Small Business WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 AP supports the 802.11ac specification and features 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO technology to provide 2.8 Gbps data rates on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 600 Mbps at 2.4 GHz for an aggregate top throughput of 2.4 Gbps. The Small Business WAP581 includes a fixed 2.5G Ethernet interface and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN interface with 802.3at PoE. The WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 AP supports as many as 200 connective users, a maximum of 50 active client users for each radio, 16 APs for each cluster, and 960 active client users per cluster.
For more information about Progent's consulting services for both current and legacy Cisco Small Business family of wireless APs, refer to Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi access points planning and support.
The Aironet Line of Access Points
Cisco's Aironet portfolio of wireless access points has for years been the leading AP solution. Aironet access points range from value priced devices to enterprise-class units. Cisco's Aironet series cover multiple generations of models supporting the continually improving 802 standard. Cisco's current line of Aironet access points work with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and incorporate 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, which delivers triple the speed plus superior range and density in comparison to the previous generation of devices. Cisco's current multi-band Aironet access points continue to support 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for client devices that do not have 802.11ac capability.
The earliest Aironet access points are legacy devices that have reached end-of-sale status and are not supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the entire Aironet family of access points and can assist your company to manage and troubleshoot your current Aironet Wi-Fi system or upgrade cost effectively to current Aironet technology. For more information about Progent's support for both current and outdated Aironet access points, see Cisco Aironet wireless access points system design and troubleshooting.
Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's portfolio of Meraki dual-band indoor access points range from budget-friendly models for general use to advanced products supporting as high as 5.9 Gbit/sec performance. Each Meraki indoor wireless access point offers next-generation capabilities like self-configuring installation, in-depth protection, Bring-Your-Own-Device support, extensive traffic analysis, zero-touch over-the-web updates, and centralized cloud management via an intuitive dashboard. Each Meraki indoor access point also includes dual high-power radios with boosted receive sensitivity as well as a dedicated radio that offers (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection at line rate.
Cisco's Meraki outdoor APs are IP67 certified, built to withstand rugged outdoor environments, and able to withstand dust, vibration and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points include a Gigabit Ethernet port and deliver advanced capabilities such as cloud-based management with multi-site visibility and control, native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan, 1-click guest access and guest isolation firewall, application-aware traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with MIMO. For more information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco's Meraki APs and management, see Cisco's Meraki wireless access points consulting.
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Line of Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E APs
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 APs are designed for environments ranging from telecommuter homes to crowded stadiums. Catalyst 9100 access points are compliant with the 802.11ax standard, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the previous 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. As an improvement to 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to utilize both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz bands. Important enhancements incorporated in Catalyst 9100 Series APs include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for improved reliability, increased device sleep time for conserving power consumption in battery-dependent endpoints, adaptive sensitivity thresholds for more efficient spectrum use, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. Cisco Catalyst 9100 wireless access points can run Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC), accommodate up to 400 clients per Wi-Fi radio, and are powered by Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 916x Series Wi-Fi 6E APs are the first Cisco access points with the versatility to be monitored and managed on-site via Cisco DNA Center platform or through the cloud using Meraki management tools. This allows organizations to transition to cloud-based or hybrid deployments on their own timetable. All Cisco's Catalyst 916x APs meet the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E wireless specifications and include support for the 6-GHz band. Each AP has 5 radios and allows as many as 400 clients on each radio. Every AP model also features a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for reducing wireless interference, comes with a USB 2.0 port, and offers Bluetooth Low Energy. Cisco's small-footprint Catalyst 9162 Series access point is suited for small businesses, has three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9164 Series AP is designed for small and mid-size enterprises, incorporates one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet. The Catalyst 9166 Series access point is designed for large and medium-sized organizations, incorporates three 4x4 radios, and provides 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet support. The 9166 also has environmental sensors that detect air quality, temperature, and moisture. For details about Progent's support for Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax APs, refer to Wireless access points solution design, deployment, and debugging services.
Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-compatible wireless controller appliances help you automate and manage modern wireless networks that incorporate 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. 802.11ax, also called Wi-Fi 6, improves on previous generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) devices by providing lower latency and more predictable performance, supporting higher client density, offering greater security, saving energy for battery-powered handheld devices, and allowing more versatility for supporting new kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 family Wi-Fi controllers feature high availability with transparent software updates, live patching, and the ability to add access points with zero service interruption. Enhanced cybersecurity features include Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), secure boot, and Cisco Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to track and understand infrastructure and endpoint health.
All devices in the Catalyst 9800 family are based on Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or with Cisco Prime Infrastructure management platforms. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless LAN controllers can support Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 and Wave 2 Wi-Fi access points concurrently with Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax wireless APs. For more information about Progent's support for Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, see Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 wireless LAN controller appliances solution design, configuration, and debugging services.
Cisco Wave 2 Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers allow fast data exchange, provisioning, administration, analysis and debugging for Cisco wireless appliances and services. Cisco has developed both hardware and software-based wireless controllers for centralized management of WiFi networks, but networks with many Wi-Fi access points are better served by physical wireless controllers. Wave 2 wireless controller appliances from Cisco offer significant advantages over Wave 1 and earlier models such as higher performance, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and advanced, built-in protection.
Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level appliance available in a desktop form factor and designed for small and medium-sized organizations. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network architecture such as in small branch and home-based offices managed across the WAN via FlexConnect, or in bridge installations where Ethernet cabling is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller supports up to 150 APs and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 WiFi controller features a Cisco Multigigabit port (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports. APs can be attached to the controller through two PoE ports. The 3504 wireless controller features fast failover for APs and users, which provides high availability for applications. Like other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated capability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 wireless controllers.
Cisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, available in a 1 rack unit package, is designed for midsize to large 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 clients, delivers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller includes two 10 GE ports and incorporates solid-state storage, redundant fans, optional dual power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.
The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit (RU) package, is a top-of-the-line WiFi controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 client users. The 8540 Wireless controller can deliver data rates up to 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller includes four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup power supplies, backup fans, and subsecond failover.
Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the time and expense required to deploy, monitor, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of functions such as provisioning wireless access points, applying consistent policies across converged wired and wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for voice and HD video, tracking and optimizing network performance, activating wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS) capabilities to defend against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and managing IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has designed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of any size and can provide standalone desktop controllers, modular plug-in controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and Catalyst switches with integrated wireless controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi LAN controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and create self-healing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and protection. Integrated Apple Bonjour Gateways allow discovery and policy throughout the enterprise for Apple applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers support wireless access point and client stateful switchover by enabling a backup HA controller to synch with a main wireless controller for AP license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller goes down, thousands of access points and clients can failover immediately to the backup wireless LAN controller.
Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by smaller organizations and branch offices. This value-priced and expandable module can support from five to 200 access points and up to 6000 clients. (For information about Progent's online and onsite consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting support.)
Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches intended for SMBs and branches and features a built-in wireless network controller with the capability to handle 40 Gb of wireless throughput for each switch and up to 25 APs and 1000 wireless clients on each switch. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for midsize businesses and large enterprises and include a built-in wireless controller with 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and the ability to handle up to 50 APs and 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is an add-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless network controller designed for mid-to-large size businesses and capable of 20 Gbps performance and able to handle up to 1000 APs and as many as 15,000 clients. (To find out about Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Catalyst switches, see Catalyst switches deployment and management consulting.)
Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop appliances that simplify the provisioning and operation of Wi-Fi LANs for small and midsize businesses and satellite offices. The Cisco 2500 wireless network controller supports from five to 75 access points and 1000 wireless clients and offers sustained data rates of 1 Gbps.
The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU unit intended for mid-to-large sized enterprises and campuses and can manage up to 500 wireless access points and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. The Cisco 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device intended for mid-to-large campus environments with support for up to 1000 APs and 12,000 wireless clients and providing performance of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high usage of video-intensive mobile applications.
Cisco's Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is designed to manage massive collections of wireless branches from one datacenter, eliminating the costs of a wireless controller at each remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 lets you create a private cloud to deploy, monitor, manage, and troubleshoot up to 6000 APs and 64,000 clients while handling 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount appliance engineered to monitor and manage Wi-Fi networks for very 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 performance.
To find out more about Cisco wireless controllers, visit Cisco wireless controllers consulting services.
Legacy Cisco Access Points, Bridges and Wireless Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac specification for Wi-Fi effectively rendered obsolete all previous generations of Wi-Fi products for many environments that have high densities of clients and high incidence of video-intensive applications. Even for organizations who do not need the performance of 802.11ac, many of Cisco wireless devices have arrived at end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can represent significant maintenance and compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts offer remote and on-premises support services for a wide range of older-generation Cisco wireless products. Progent can in addition help organizations to assess the business case for updating up-of-date wireless technology and can help in designing and carrying out cost-effective, non-disruptive migrations. The following are a few of Cisco older-generation Wi-Fi products that Progent's consultants continue to support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet Access Points
Cisco Aironet 1000 or 1130AG Series wireless access points are designed for conventional workplaces and other sites which have minimal environmental instability. These products have integrated antennas that provide predictable omnidirectional range patterns. The Cisco Aironet 1130G Series WAP is available for restricted domains that do not permit 802.11a transmission.
Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG family wireless access points are designed for more problematic radio frequency situations such as factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which typically call for adjustable protruding antennas and durable cases. The Aironet 1240G Series device is intended for controlled locations that do not permit 802.11a/5GHz transmission.
Aironet 1500 family lightweight outside mesh APs deliver an economical, scalable, protected outdoor wireless network solution for enterprise campuses and for public venues that require connectivity for portable phones or computers.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Bridges
Cisco wireless bridges provide a high-performance and feature-rich solution for connecting numerous LANs in a metro situation or public access environment. Cisco bridges provide a versatile, manageable technology that meets the protection demands of WAN professionals. These devices manage both PTP and PMP implementations with excellent coverage and the ability to handle traffic rates as high as 54 Mbps.
Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges offer data rates several times higher than E1/T1 links for much lower expense, avoiding the necessity of costly leased lines when connecting separate offices. Because bridges require no periodic costs, savings on connection bills quickly pay for the startup equipment costs. Private lines and even leased lines utilizing copper or fiber-optic cable often result in high up-front costs when they are separated by obstacles such as highways, train tracks, or lakes and rivers. Cisco wireless bridges can be installed quickly with a fast ROI.
Cisco 1300 Series outside wireless access points/bridges can be deployed as stand-alone access points, wireless bridges, or workgroup bridges. These appliances have a tough enclosure and provide high-speed, affordable wireless connectivity between numerous fixed or mobile networks and clients.
Cisco Aironet 1400 family wireless bridges provide high-speed, reliable outside wireless bridging for line-of-sight applications. They are housed in a ruggedized cover that is optimized for harsh outside environments and can operate within wide temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers provide single-point management of WLANs by streamlining the control of key functions including integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS), fast RF control, automatic configuration, and N+1 redundancy. Cisco Wireless controllers operate with lightweight wireless access points to deliver superior throughput and advanced control capabilities.
WLAN Controllers (WLCs) provide the control, scalability, protection, and resilience that network managers need to build safe, large-scale wireless environments, from branch locations to small companies to main campuses. Cisco's first-generation Wireless Controllers can be configured together to offer support for as many as 2400 wireless access points per roaming domain.
The Cisco WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for IS Routers offers small-to medium businesses and large corporations a cost effective solution to implement and control protected wireless networks at branch offices. These wireless controllers manage up to twelve Cisco Aironet access points and are supported on 2800/3800 Series Integrated Services Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Routers. (To find out concerning Progent's remote and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting support.)
How Progent Can Help Your Company with Cisco Wireless Technology
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consultant to assist your business to plan, install, manage and repair a converged wired/wireless ecosystem incorporating a wide array of wireless products that provide the identical protection, scalability, and manageability you expect from a wired environment. Progent can assist you to maintain legacy Wi-Fi products from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax-compatible products. Progent's CISM and CISSP security specialists can advise you about how to build security into your WLAN and your company's operations. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planning consultants can show you how to set up the HA features incorporated into Cisco's wireless and wired technologies so your converged infrastructure provides significant business value.
Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey helps you to plan and implement a state-of-the-art WLAN optimized for your environment, offering a Wi-Fi ecosystem that delivers seamless coverage, high performance and capacity, Quality of Service to accommodate IP voice and video, enterprise-class security and compliance, and simplified management. Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey can be delivered remotely to cut time and costs, or onsite for more complex situations.
For a more in-depth discussion of Progent's wireless consulting capabilities, visit Progent's Wireless Support.
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