Cisco Expert Network Consultants

Cisco offers a comprehensive catalog of wireless LAN products and technologies that provide continual access to data and resources and to promote teamwork among employees, partners, suppliers, and customers. Cisco's wireless product families include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points (APs), as well as Cisco's Wireless Network Controller modules and appliances. Progent's certified wireless consulting experts can help organizations of any size to deploy Cisco wireless technology to support the current paradigm of Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) computing by integrating their tethered and untethered networks to achieve simplified deployment, predictable throughput, single-point control, enterprise-wide policy enforcement, fault tolerance, and across-the-board protection.

Cisco's Unified Wireless architecture can expand to up to 18,000 access points with full Layer 3 mobility at local or remote venues like enterprise headquarters, university lecture halls, branch offices, and home offices. Cisco's 802.11x wireless access points and wireless controllers are part of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to support the same degree of protection, throughput, and ease of management for wireless LANs that businesses demand in their wired infrastructure. This architecture incorporates integrated mobility services like VoIP, high-definition IP video, and secure guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network technology allows companies to build wireless ecosystems that streamline the way they work and improve output through a mobile and collaborative employee base.

Progent's Cisco-certified network infrastructure consulting services offers online or on-premises expertise to assist you to design, configure, maintain, expand, and troubleshoot converged wired and wireless network infrastructure of all sizes and for any environment. In addition, Progent offers affordable online and onsite Wi-Fi site surveys to assist your company to plan and install a Wi-Fi network with customized AP clusters optimized for your specific office layout, building structure, and intended application.

Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points (APs)
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst lines of access points allow businesses to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to deliver the coverage, density, throughput, security compliance and manageability needed to support virtually any scenario. Cisco's APs start at bare bones, single-band 802.11b/g/n units with throughput of 300 Mbps designed for very small businesses or telecommuters to 802.11ax access points capable of handling hundreds of wireless clients on each AP and offering sustained throughput in excess of 5 Gigabits per second. Cisco's latest line of access points can be clustered to provide the capacity to handle wireless networks crowded with clients and with a high incidence of HD video apps.

Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of Access Points
Cisco's Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of access points are Linux-based units designed as value-priced wireless APs for light workloads. Most versions in the Cisco Small Business portfolio of APs support Cisco's Single Point Setup system, which allows you to set up, control and troubleshoot a cluster of wireless access points from one AP through an intuitive browser-based tool. All versions support Power over Ethernet (POE) and feature QoS, rogue access point detection, and bridging for wirelessly connecting to a second network.

Cisco's Small Business WAP121 Wireless-N AP is a wallmount, single-radio 2.4GHz unit that can handle 16 active 802.11n clients, includes a 10/100 Ethernet interface, permits up to four access pointss and 40 wireless clients in a cluster, and supports sustained throughput of up to 300 Mbps. Cisco's Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n access point that can handle 16 active clients per radio for up to 32 clients, features a GE port, and delivers throughput of up to 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not allow clustering. Cisco's WAP150 is a general-purpose dual-radio AC/n AP that features a one Gbit Power over Ethernet port and can support 16 clients per radio with 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. The Cisco WAP1501 allows 4 access points per cluster.

Cisco's Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N model is a wall-mountable single-band (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) 802.11n device with support for up to 80 active wireless clients in an 8-AP cluster. The Cisco WAP321 includes a Gigabit Ethernet interface and can deliver throughput of 300 Mbps for the selected radio. Cisco's WAP351 is a dual-radio 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n access point that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and can handle 32 active wireless clients per radio for a total of up to 64 active clients, and deliver a data rate of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 does not support clustering. Cisco's WAP361 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac wireless access point that includes a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, allows 32 active WLAN clients per radio, and delivers 867 Mbps performance for 802.11ac clients and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n devices. The Cisco Small Business WAP361 supports eight WAP361 access points per cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-radio AP that supports 802.11n as well as the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The WAP371 Wireless-AC/N has a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface, can support up to 32 wireless clients per radio, and 8 access points for each cluster.

The Cisco WAP561 Wireless-N Dual Radio Selectable Band wireless access point features a Gigabit Ethernet LAN interface and dual radios (2.4 and 5.0 GHz) that offer 450 Mbps throughput per radio, can handle 64 clients per radio, and allow up to 16 access points per cluster. Cisco's WAP551 is similar to Cisco's WAP 561 but features a single selectable band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz). Cisco's Small Business WAP571 and WAP571E (the ruggedized outdoor model) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wireless-AC/N APs incorporating 2 x GE ports with link aggregation (LAG), and as high as 1.9 Gigabit/sec throughput with 1300 Mbps over 11ac and 600 Mbps on 11n. Both devices can handle 32 active WAN clients on each radio and 16 wireless access points on each cluster.

Cisco's WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 Wireless Access Point complies with the 802.11ac specification and features 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO to provide 2.8 Gbps data rates on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 600 Mbps on the 2.4-GHz radio 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 port with 802.3at PoE. Cisco's WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point supports up to 200 connective users, up to 50 active client users per radio, 16 APs per cluster, and 960 active client users for each cluster.

To find out more about Progent's support for both current and legacy Cisco Small Business series of wireless APs, see Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi access points planning and support.

The Aironet Line of Access Points
The Aironet line of indoor and outdoor wireless APs has for years been the leading AP product. Aironet APs run the gamut from value priced devices to advanced APs. Cisco's Aironet family cover multiple generations of models compliant with the continually improving Wi-Fi specification. The current portfolio of Aironet APs work with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and incorporate 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, which delivers three times the performance plus superior coverage and density compared to the previous generation of APs. Cisco's latest dual-frequency Aironet access points can accommodate 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for clients that lack 802.11ac radios.

The earliest Aironet APs are legacy units that have reached end-of-sale status and are no longer supported by Cisco. Progent continues to support the entire Aironet family of wireless access points and can assist you to maintain your existing Aironet Wi-Fi system or upgrade efficiently to the latest Aironet technology. To find out more about Progent's support for both current and outdated Aironet wireless access points, refer to Cisco Aironet wireless access points consulting services.

Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's portfolio of Meraki dual-band indoor access points range from value-priced devices for small businesses to advanced units supporting as high as 5.9 Gbit/sec performance. Each Cisco Meraki indoor wireless access point provides high-end capabilities such as plug-and-play deployment, advanced security, Bring-Your-Own-Device support, built-in traffic analysis, automatic web-based firmware updates, and consolidated cloud-based management via an intuitive dashboard. Every Cisco Meraki indoor wireless access point also includes dual powerful client-serving radios with boosted receive sensitivity as well as a separate radio that provides (WIDS/WIPS) security for RF analysis and deep packet inspection.

Meraki outdoor APs are IP67 rated, built to operate in harsh outdoor environments, and tested to resist dust, vibration and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points include a Gigabit Ethernet port and deliver advanced capabilities that include cloud management with network-wide visibility and control, 802.1X and native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan (NAC), 1-click secure guest access and guest isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with beamforming. To find out more about Progent's support for Meraki APs and management tools, see Cisco's Meraki access points planning and support.

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of Wi-Fi 6 APs are intended for deployments ranging from home offices to crowded convention centers. Cisco Catalyst 9100 APs are compliant with the 802.11ax standard, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) specification. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is able to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz bands. Headline technologies supported by Catalyst 9100 Series access points include OFDMA scheduling for high density deployments, dual NAVs for better reliability, TWT for conserving power usage in battery-dependent endpoints, adaptive power thresholds for better spectrum use, and extended guard intervals for improved outdoor performance. All Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 APs support Cisco's EWC, accommodate as many as 200 clients per Wi-Fi radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software. To find out more about Progent's support for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wireless Access Points, refer to Wireless APs solution planning, deployment, and troubleshooting services.

Cisco 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6-compatible wireless controllers help you manage advanced Wi-Fi environments that support 802.11ax wireless APs. The 802.11ax standard, popularly known as Wi-Fi 6, builds on previous generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) devices by providing less latency and more reliable performance, allowing higher client density, offering enhanced security, conserving energy for battery-powered mobile devices, and allowing more flexibility for supporting new types of Internet-of-Things (IoT) endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi controllers feature always-on availability with transparent software upgrades, hot fixes, and the ability to add APs without downtime. Advanced security technologies include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), image signing, and Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to monitor and understand infrastructure and client health.

All controllers in the Catalyst 9800 family are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and work with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or with Prime Infrastructure management tools. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 wireless network controllers can manage Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 Wi-Fi access points concurrently with Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 APs. For more information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Cisco Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6 wireless LAN controllers system planning, deployment, and troubleshooting consulting.

Cisco Wi-Fi 5 Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers enable realtime communication, provisioning, administration, monitoring and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and services. Cisco offers both physical and software-based Wi-Fi controllers for unified management of WiFi environments, but WLANs with a large number of Wi-Fi APs typically require physical Wi-Fi controllers. New Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer major benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier products including greater throughput, concurrent support for 1G and 10G interfaces, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, integrated protection.

Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level device available in a desktop body and designed for smaller businesses. You can use the 3504 in a centralized WLAN architecture such as in small branch and remote offices administered over the wide-area network with Cisco FlexConnect, or in bridge installations where wiring is limited. The 3504 wireless controller supports up to 150 wireless APs and 3,000 clients, offers 4 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller features a multi-gigabit Ethernet port and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet connections. APs can be connected to the WiFi controller via two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers subsecond failover for APs and users, which allows nonstop availability for applications. As with 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 WiFi controllers.

The Cisco 5520 WiFi Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit (RU) package, is intended for larger enterprises and campus environments and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 1,500 APs and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 wireless controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and incorporates SSD storage, backup fans, optional redundant power supplies, and subsecond failover for uninterrupted availability.

Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2 rack unit form factor, is a top-of-the-line WiFi controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 Wireless controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and can handle as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 client users. The 8540 WiFi controller offers throughput 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, dual power supplies, backup fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco wireless controllers reduce the time and cost required to configure, manage, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of tasks like setting up wireless access points, enforcing single-point policies throughout converged wired and wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for IP voice and 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 clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for businesses of all sizes and can provide desktop or rackmount appliances, modular add-on controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with integrated wireless LAN controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless network controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to avoid RF interference and produce self-optimizing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and protection. Integrated Bonjour Gateways allow discovery and policy across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple-based applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers allow AP and client stateful switchover by enabling a standby HA controller to synch with a main wireless controller for AP license count, CAPWAP keys, and access point CAPWAP state. If the main controller stops working, thousands of APs and clients can switchover at subsecond speeds to the backup controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E offers basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by smaller organizations and branches. This affordable and expandable solution can handle up to 200 APs and up to 6000 wireless clients. (To find out about Progent's remote and on-premises consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting support.)

Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and branch offices and have an integrated wireless network controller with the ability to handle 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and 25 wireless access points and 1000 wireless clients on each switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches designed for midsize and large organizations and feature an integrated wireless controller supporting 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and the ability to handle 50 access points and up to 2000 clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include a built-in wireless LAN controller designed for mid-to-large size businesses and able to deliver 20 Gbps performance and able to handle 1000 wireless access points and 15,000 clients. (For information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco switches, refer to Cisco switches configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop units that simplify the provisioning and operation of wireless LANs for small and midsize businesses and satellite offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless controller can handle from five to 75 APs and up to 1000 clients and offers sustained performance of 1 Gbps.

The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU unit intended for mid-to-large sized businesses and campus environments and can manage up to 500 wireless access points and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large campus environments with the ability to manage up to 1000 APs and 12,000 wireless clients and delivering throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high amounts of video-intensive applications.

The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is intended to manage thousands of wireless branches from a single location, avoiding the need for a wireless controller at each remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 allows you to build a private cloud to deploy, monitor, manage, and repair as many as 6000 APs and up to 64,000 wireless clients while handling 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to manage Wi-Fi networks for very large campuses or for service providers and can scale to support up to 6000 wireless points and up to 64,000 clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

For more information about Cisco wireless controllers, visit Cisco wireless controllers consulting and integration.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Access Points, LAN Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The introduction of the 802.11ac specification for Wi-Fi effectively made obsolete the prior generations of Wi-Fi products for many environments that have high densities of wireless clients and high usage of HD video applications. Even for organizations who do not currently need the bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac, many of Cisco wireless products have arrived at end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can present significant service and compliance issues. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants offer remote and on-premises support for a wide array of earlier-generation Cisco wireless products. Progent can in addition assist companies to evaluate the financial justification for updating legacy wireless infrastructure and can help in planning and carrying out affordable, non-disruptive upgrades. Below are a sample of Cisco legacy Wi-Fi products that Progent's consultants continue to support.

Legacy Cisco Aironet APs
Cisco Aironet 1000/1130AG family wireless access points are designed for offices and other locations which have minimal environmental variability. These access points include integrated antennas that provide predictable radio range patterns. The Aironet 1130G Series access point is offered for controlled domains that do not allow 802.11a operation.

Aironet 1230AG/1240AG Series access points are intended for more problematic radio frequency environments such as factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which typically call for adjustable external antennas and durable enclosures. The Cisco 1240G Series device is designed for restricted domains that do not allow 5GHz operation.

Cisco Aironet 1500 lightweight outside mesh APs deliver an economical, expandable, secure outdoor Wi-Fi technology for enterprise campuses and for public venues that need access for portable phones or computers.

Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco wireless LAN bridges offer a high-speed and feature-rich solution for connecting multiple local area networks in a metro area or public access network. Cisco wireless LAN bridges provide a versatile, manageable solution that satisfies the security requirements of WAN professionals. They support both PTP and P2MP configurations with excellent range and support for traffic rates up to 54 Mbps.

Cisco wireless LAN bridges deliver throughput several times higher than E1/T1 lines for a fraction of the expense, eliminating the need for expensive leased lines when connecting separate offices. Since bridges require no periodic costs, the expenses saved on connection services rapidly cover the startup equipment costs. Self-installed private lines and even leased lines using copper or optical cable can require considerable startup costs when they are impeded by barriers such as highways, train tracks, or bodies of water. Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges can be installed quickly an offer a fast ROI.

Cisco 1300 Series outdoor access points/bridges can be implemented as independent access points, bridges, or wireless group bridges. These products have a ruggedized cover and provide fast, economical wireless connectivity between multiple stationary or mobile networks and clients.

Cisco 1400 Series wireless bridges offer high-speed, reliable outdoor wireless bridging for line-of-sight (LOS) environments. These devices are housed in a ruggedized enclosure that is optimized for harsh outside conditions and function within wide temperature ranges.

Legacy Cisco WLAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless Network Controllers centralize the management of wireless LANs by simplifying the handling of common functions such as intrusion prevention, fast RF control, zero touch configuration, and N+1 redundancy. WLAN controllers work with small access points to deliver superior throughput and advanced administration functions.

Cisco WLAN Controllers offer the control, expandability, protection, and resilience that network managers need to create secure, large-scale wireless solutions, from branch locations to small businesses to headquarter campuses. Cisco's legacy WLCs can be configured together to provide accommodation for as many as 2400 WAPs per roaming domain.

The Cisco WLCM or WLCM-E Module for IS Routers provides small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises an economical way to deploy and control protected WLANs at satellite locations. These wireless controllers supervise as many as 12 Aironet wireless access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Integrated Services Routers and 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (For information concerning Progent's remote and on-premises support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting consulting.)

How Progent's Consultants Can Assist Your Business with Cisco Wireless Devices
Progent can provide a Cisco-certified CCIE consultant to help you to plan, deploy, manage and repair a converged wired and wireless ecosystem incorporating a broad array of wireless technologies that offer the same security, extensibility, and manageability you demand from your wired network. Progent can assist you to manage legacy Wi-Fi products from Cisco or migrate seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology. Progent's CISM and CISSP security professionals can show you how to design protection into your wireless network and your business operations. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity consultants can assist you to deploy the high availability (HA) features incorporated into Cisco's wireless and wired products so your converged network provides significant return on investment.

Progent's Wireless Site Survey helps you to design and implement a robust wireless network optimized for your environment, providing a Wi-Fi solution that delivers comprehensive coverage, high performance and density, Quality of Service features to handle IP video, advanced security and compliance, and easy management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed remotely to cut time and costs, or on premises for more difficult environments.

For a more in-depth discussion of Progent's wireless consulting services, see Progent's Wireless LAN Expertise.

To see more information about Progent's engineering support for Cisco products, select a subject:

• Introduction to Cisco Expertise
• Fast and Affordable Online Help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower Services: Configuration and Management Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewall Upgrade. Migration Services
• PIX Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Support
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Aironet APs Deployment Support
• Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Deployment Support
• Catalyst Wi-Fi 6/6E Access Points Solution Design, Configuration and Troubleshooting Consulting
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
• Meraki Wireless APs Deployment Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco VoIP Phones and IP Video Desktop Phones Consulting and Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone Integration
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Consulting Support
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Infrastructure Optimization Services for Internet Service Providers
• Centralized Network Management Strategies for Cisco-based Infrastructure