Cisco offers an extensive line of wireless networking products and software tools intended to enable continual connections to information and resources and to promote teamwork among employees, associates, suppliers, and clients. Cisco's wireless product families include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki series of access points (APs), as well as Cisco's Wireless Network Controller plug-ins and standalone devices. Progent's Cisco-certified wireless consultants can enable organizations of any size to deploy Cisco wireless solutions to support the new paradigm of BYOD networks by converging their tethered and untethered networks to achieve simplified deployment, consistent and fast performance, single-point control, enterprise-wide policy, high availability, and across-the-board protection.
Cisco's Unified Wireless solution can scale to up to 18,000 APs with Layer 3 mobility across local or remote venues like business campuses, college auditoriums, branch offices, and telecommuter homes. Cisco's 802.11x access points and controllers are part of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are engineered to deliver the same degree of security, throughput, and manageability for wireless LANs that businesses expect in their wired networks. Cisco's technology incorporates built-in mobility services like IP voice, high-definition IP video, and secure guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network solution allows companies to create wireless ecosystems that improve the way they do business and improve output through a mobile and collaborative workforce.
Progent's Cisco CCIE network consulting services can provide remote or onsite expertise to help you to plan, configure, maintain, expand, and troubleshoot converged wired and wireless network infrastructure of all sizes and for any venue. Also, Progent offers affordable remote and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to help you to design and install a wireless network with customized access point clusters optimized for your specific office layout, building structure, and application workloads.
Cisco Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points (APs)
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of wireless access points allow you to converge wired and wireless networks to deliver the accessibility, capacity, throughput, security compliance and ease of management needed to support virtually any environment. These wireless access points range from bare bones, single-radio 802.11b/g/n devices with data rates of 300 Mb designed for very small companies or telecommuters to Wi-Fi 6 APs capable of handling hundreds of wireless clients per access point and delivering sustained throughput in excess of 5 Gigabits per second. Cisco's current selection of APs can be clustered to provide the scale to handle wireless networks with high client density and with high usage rates of HD video apps.
Cisco Small Business Series of Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Small Business Family of access points are Linux-based devices intended as value-priced wireless solutions for small offices. Most models in Cisco's Small Business line of wireless access points work with Cisco's Single Point Setup technology, which makes it possible to set up, manage and repair a cluster of wireless access points from a single device via a simple web browser tool. All models support Power over Ethernet and provide QoS, rogue AP detection, and bridge mode for wirelessly connecting to another network.
Cisco's Small Business WAP121 Access Point is a wallmount, single-band 2.4GHz unit that can handle 16 802.11n wireless clients, has a Fast Ethernet port, allows up to 4 access pointss and 40 active clients in a cluster, and can handle throughput of 300 Mbps. The Cisco Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n AP that can support 16 active wireless clients on each radio for a total of up to 32 wireless clients, features a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port, and delivers sustained data rates of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not support clustering. Cisco's WAP150 is a value-priced Wave 1 dual-radio AC/n wireless access point that features a 1xGE Poe port and can handle up to 16 clients from each radio with 867 Mbps performance for AC devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. The Cisco WAP1501 supports 4 APs for each cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point is a wall-mountable selectable-band (2.4 or 5 GHz) 802.11n device that can handle 80 active clients in an 8-device cluster. The WAP321 has a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface and can support a data rate of 300 Mbps for the activated radio. Cisco's WAP351 is a dual-radio 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n wireless access point with a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can support 32 wireless clients per radio for a total of up to 64 clients, and deliver throughput of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP351 does not support clustering. The Cisco WAP361 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac Wave 1 AP that features a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, can support 32 clients per radio, and offers 867 Mbps performance for wireless AC clients and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n devices. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 allows 8 WAP361 access points for each cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-band AP that works with 802.11n and the new 802.11ac wireless networking standard. The WAP371 includes a GE port, can handle up to 32 wireless clients per radio, and eight access points for each cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP561 Wireless-N Dual Radio Selectable Band wireless access point features a Gigabit Ethernet LAN interface and dual concurrent radios (2.4 and 5.0 GHz) that deliver 450 Mbps throughput for each radio, can handle 64 devices for each radio, and allow up to 16 wireless access points per cluster. The Cisco WAP551 is similar to the WAP 561 but has a single selectable band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz). The Cisco Small Business WAP571 and WAP571E (a weather-proof outdoor model) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac Wave 1 access points that feature 2 x GE ports with link aggregation, and as high as 1.9 Gbps performance with 1300 Mbps over 11ac and 600 Mbps over 11n. Both APs support 32 clients on each radio and 16 access points per cluster.
The Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC Dual Radio Wave 2 Access Point complies with the Wi-Fi 5 specification and features 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO to deliver 2.8 Gbps data rates on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 600 Mbps on the 2.4-GHz radio for an aggregate maximum throughput of 2.4 Gbps. The WAP581 includes an integrated 2.5G Ethernet port and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port with 802.3at Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cisco's WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point supports up to 200 connective client users, a maximum of 50 active client users for each radio, 16 APs for each cluster, and 960 active users per cluster.
For details about Progent's support for current and legacy Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 series of wireless APs, see Cisco Small Business WiFi APs planning and support.
The Aironet Line of Access Points
Cisco's Aironet line of wireless access points has for years been the leading AP product. Aironet APs run the gamut from value priced models to enterprise-class units. The Aironet family span multiple generations of models compliant with the evolving 802 specification. The current portfolio of Aironet access points support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture and include 802.11ac technology, which offers three times the throughput plus superior range and user density than the prior generation of devices. The current multi-frequency Aironet access points continue to support 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for client devices that lack 802.11ac capability.
The earliest Aironet access points are outdated devices that have reached end-of-life status and are no longer supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the entire Aironet line of access points and can help your company to manage and troubleshoot your existing Aironet Wi-Fi system or upgrade efficiently to current Aironet technology. For more information about Progent's support for both current and outdated Cisco Aironet wireless access points, see Cisco Aironet wireless access points consulting services.
Cisco's Meraki Access Points
Cisco's family of Meraki 2.4/5 GHz indoor APs include value-priced devices for general use to advanced units supporting as high as 5.9 Gbit/sec performance. Each Meraki indoor wireless access point provides high-end capabilities like plug-and-play installation, in-depth protection, BYOD support, built-in traffic analysis, zero-touch over-the-web firmware updates, and centralized cloud management for multiple sites. Each Cisco Meraki indoor AP also includes dual high-power radios with boosted reception plus a dedicated radio that provides (WIDS/WIPS) security for RF analysis and deep packet inspection.
Meraki outdoor wireless access points are IP67 certified, built to withstand harsh outdoor environments, and tested to resist dust particles, shock and humidity. Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a 1 x Gbit Ethernet port and offer advanced capabilities that include cloud-based management with network-wide control, native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan, 1-click secure guest access and isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with MIMO. For more information about Progent's support for Meraki access points and cloud management, refer to Meraki wireless access points consulting.
Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax wireless access points are intended for deployments ranging from home offices to high-density enterprise campuses. Cisco Catalyst 9100 access points are based on the 802.11ax standard, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. As an improvement to 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz bands. Headline enhancements supported by Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series APs include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for better reliability, increased device sleep time for conserving power consumption in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive power thresholds for better spectrum utilization, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 access points can run Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC), handle up to 400 clients per Wi-Fi radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 9160 Series Wi-Fi 6E access points are the first Cisco access points to offer the option of being monitored and managed on-premises with Cisco DNA Center or from the cloud by using Meraki Dashboard management tools. This enables organizations to transition to cloud-based or hybrid management environments on their own schedule. 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 supports up to 400 clients per radio. Every model also contains a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for mitigating interference, includes a USB 2.0 port, and offers Bluetooth Low Energy. The entry-level Catalyst 9162 Series access point is meant for small businesses, incorporates three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9164 Series access point is intended for small and middle-size enterprises, incorporates one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and provides 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet. The Catalyst 9166 Series Wi-Fi access point is meant for large and mid-sized organizations, incorporates three 4x4 radios, and offers 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet connectivity. The 9166 also has environmental sensors that detect air quality, temperature, and moisture. For details about Progent's support for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6/6E Access Points, see Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax access points system planning, deployment, and troubleshooting consulting.
Cisco 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-compatible wireless controller appliances allow you to automate and manage advanced wireless networks that support 802.11ax APs. 802.11ax, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, improves on previous generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) devices by delivering less latency and more reliable performance, supporting higher client density, offering greater protection, conserving energy for battery-powered handheld devices, and allowing more versatility for supporting the latest types of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi controllers feature always-on availability with seamless software updates, hot patching, and the ability to add APs with zero disruption of service. Enhanced security features include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), secure boot, and Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). Streaming telemetry allows you to monitor and understand infrastructure and endpoint health.
All devices in the Catalyst 9800 family are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and work with Cisco's DNA Center or Cisco Prime Infrastructure network management tools. Catalyst 9800 wireless network controllers can manage Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 access points as well as Catalyst 9100 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. For details about Progent's support for Cisco 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 wireless LAN controller appliances system design, deployment, and debugging services.
Cisco Wi-Fi 5 Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers enable fast communication, provisioning, management, analysis and debugging for Cisco Wi-Fi devices and software services. Cisco has developed both hardware and software-based Wi-Fi controllers for unified administration of wireless environments, but networks with a large number of wireless APs are better served by physical wireless controllers. Current generation wireless controller devices from Cisco offer major benefits over Wave 1 and earlier products such as higher performance, concurrent support for 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, built-in protection.
The Cisco 3504 WiFi Controller is an entry-level appliance available in a desktop body and designed for smaller organizations. You can use the 3504 in a centralized network environment such as in small branch and home-based offices managed over the wide-area network via Cisco FlexConnect, or in bridge deployments where Ethernet cabling is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller supports up to 150 APs and 3,000 client users, delivers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet interface and four 1-GB Ethernet interfaces. Access points can be connected to the WiFi controller through two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers fast failover for APs and users, which provides nonstop availability for applications. Like other current Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated ability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.
The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) form factor, is designed to support larger enterprises and campus networks and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller supports up to 1,500 APs and 20,000 clients, delivers 20 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller features two 10 GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup fans, optional dual power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.
The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2 rack unit (RU) form factor, is a high-end wireless controller intended to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 Wireless controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and can handle up to 6,000 wireless APs and 64,000 clients. The 8540 Wireless controller can deliver throughput as high as 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller comes with four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, backup power supplies, backup fans, and subsecond failover.
Wave 1 Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the time and cost needed to deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot wireless networks by centralizing control of critical functions such as provisioning wireless access points, applying consistent policies across converged LANs, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for IP voice and HD video, tracking and optimizing network performance, activating wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS) tools to defend against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and handling IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of all sizes and offers desktop or rackmount controllers, modular add-on controllers for Cisco ISR routers and switches, and switches with built-in wireless network controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi network controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir technology to minimize signal interference and create self-healing wireless networks for top 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and protection. Integrated Bonjour Gateways permit discovery and policy throughout WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless LAN controllers support AP and client stateful failover by enabling a standby high-availability wireless controller to synchronize with a primary wireless controller for access point license tabulation, CAPWAP keys, and access point CAPWAP state. If the main wireless controller goes down, thousands of APs and wireless clients can failover immediately to the backup wireless controller.
Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E offers entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers used by small to medium-sized businesses and branches. This affordable and scalable module can handle up to 200 APs and up to 6000 clients. (For information about Progent's online and on-premises consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and management services.)
Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and satellite offices and features a built-in wireless network controller with the capability to support 40 Gb of wireless capacity for each switch and up to 25 access points and 1000 wireless clients on each switch. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches intended for mid-size businesses and large enterprises and feature an integrated wireless network controller with 40 Gb of wireless capacity on each switch and support for up to 50 wireless access points and 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is a plug-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches with an integrated wireless LAN controller designed for mid-to-large size businesses and capable of 20 Gbps throughput and able to handle up to 1000 access points and as many as 15,000 wireless clients. (To learn about Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco Catalyst switches, see Cisco Catalyst switches deployment and management support.)
Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop appliances that streamline the deployment and operation of wireless networks for small and midsize businesses and satellite offices. The 2500 Series wireless network controller can handle from five to 75 access points and 1000 clients and can deliver throughput of 1 Gbps.
The Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large sized organizations and campus environments and can manage 500 APs and 7,000 clients while delivering 8 Gbps throughput. The Cisco 5760 Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large campuses with the ability to manage 1000 wireless access points and 12,000 clients and offering throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high client densities and high amounts of media-rich applications.
The Cisco Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is designed to enable centralized management of massive collections of wireless remote sites from a single location, eliminating the requirement for a Wi-Fi controller at every branch. The 1RU Flex 7500 lets you establish a private cloud to configure, monitor, manage, and troubleshoot as many as 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 8500 Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount device engineered to monitor and manage Wi-Fi networks for very large campuses or for service providers and can be expanded to handle 6000 APs and 64,000 wireless clients while offering 10 Gbps throughput.
For more information about Cisco WiFi controllers, see Cisco wireless controllers consulting and integration.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Access Points, LAN Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac standard for wireless connectivity effectively made obsolete the earlier generations of Wi-Fi products for venues that have high numbers of wireless clients and high incidence of video-intensive applications. Even for organizations who do not need the bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac, a large number of Cisco wireless products have arrived at end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can represent significant maintenance and regulatory compliance issues. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts offer remote and on-premises support for a broad array of earlier-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can in addition assist organizations to evaluate the financial justification for updating legacy wireless technology and can help in designing and carrying out affordable, non-disruptive upgrades. Below are a sample of Cisco legacy Wi-Fi devices that Progent's consultants still support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet APs
Cisco Aironet 1000/1130AG family APs are ideal for conventional workplaces and other sites which have minimal environmental instability. These access points have built-in antennas that provide dependable radio coverage patterns. The Cisco Aironet 1130G family access point is designed for regulated domains that do not allow 802.11a/5GHz transmission.
Cisco Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG family APs are designed for more challenging radio frequency situations such as factories and warehouses or above ceiling structures which commonly require adjustable external antennas and durable cases. The Aironet 1240G family wireless access point is intended for controlled locations that do not allow 802.11a transmission.
Aironet 1500 lightweight outside mesh LAN access points offer an affordable, scalable, protected outdoor wireless mechanism for campus areas and for public sites that need access for mobile devices.
Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges offer a high-performance and feature-rich technology for integrating numerous local area networks in a metropolitan area or public access environment. Cisco Aironet bridges provide a versatile, easy-to-use technology that satisfies the security needs of wide-area networking professionals. These bridges manage both PTP and point-to-multipoint configurations with good range and support for data rates as high as 54 Mbps.
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges offer data rates dramatically higher than E1/T1 lines for a fraction of the expense, doing away with the need for costly leased lines when connecting separate buildings. Because bridges require no recurring charges, savings on connection services rapidly cover the initial equipment costs. Self-installed private lines and in some cases leased lines made of copper or optical cable often result in very expensive up-front expenses when they are separated by obstacles like freeways, railroads, or lakes and rivers. Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges can be deployed quickly an offer a fast return on investment.
Cisco 1300 family outdoor wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as stand-alone access points, bridges, or workgroup bridges. These products have a tough cover and offer high-speed, affordable wireless connectivity between multiple fixed or mobile environments and users.
Aironet 1400 bridges offer high-speed, dependable outside bridging for LOS applications. These devices include a ruggedized enclosure that is optimized for severe outdoor environments and can function within wide temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wireless Network Controllers provide single-point management of WLANs by simplifying the control of key technologies including integrated IPS, real-time RF management, automatic deployment, and full N+1 redundancy. Wireless LAN controllers operate with small APs to deliver enhanced performance and high-end administration capabilities.
Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) provide the manageability, scalability, protection, and resilience that system managers require to create secure, large-scale wireless solutions, from satellite offices to small companies to headquarter campuses. Cisco's legacy WLCs can be configured together to offer support for as many as 2400 WAPs for each roaming domain.
Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for IS Routers offers small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and large corporations a cost effective way to implement and control secure wireless networks at satellite locations. These devices manage as many as twelve Cisco Aironet access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Integrated Services Routers and 3700 IS Routers. (To find out concerning Progent's remote and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and management services.)
How Progent Can Assist Your Company with Cisco Wireless Solutions
Progent can provide a Cisco-certified consultant to assist your business to design, deploy, maintain and repair a converged wired/wireless ecosystem incorporating a broad range of wireless technologies that provide the identical protection, scalability, and manageability you demand from a wired environment. Progent can help you to maintain early-generation Wi-Fi solutions from Cisco or migrate efficiently to current 802.11ax-compatible products. Progent's CISM and CISSP security specialists can advise you about how to design protection into your wireless network and your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planners can assist you to set up the high availability (HA) features incorporated into Cisco's wireless and wired technologies so your converged infrastructure provides continuing business value.
Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey helps you to design and deploy a state-of-the-art WLAN customized for your environment, offering a wireless solution that delivers seamless coverage, high speed and capacity, Quality of Service to handle IP video, enterprise-class security, and easy management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed remotely to reduce time and expense, or onsite to deal with more difficult environments.
For a more in-depth look at Progent's wireless integration services, see Progent's Wireless Support.
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