Cisco has developed an extensive portfolio of wireless networking devices and software tools designed to provide anywhere, anytime access to data and other resources and to promote teamwork among employees, associates, vendors, and customers. Cisco's wireless offerings include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki series of access points, as well as Cisco's Wireless LAN Controller modules and appliances. Progent's certified wireless experts can help businesses of all sizes to deploy Cisco wireless products to support the new model of Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) computing by integrating their wired and wireless networks to benefit from easy configuration, consistently high performance, centralized management, uniform policy, fault tolerance, and advanced security.
The Cisco Unified Wireless Network architecture can expand to as many as 18,000 wireless access points with full Layer 3 mobility across central or remote locations such as business campuses, university lecture halls, 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 identical level of security, throughput, and ease of management for wireless LANs that companies expect in their wired infrastructure. Cisco's architecture incorporates integrated mobility services like IP voice, IP video, and secure guest access. Cisco's Unified Wireless solution enables organizations to create Wi-Fi environments that streamline the way they do business and enhance output via a mobile and collaborative employee base.
Progent's Cisco-certified network infrastructure consultants offers online or on-premises support to assist your organization to design, deploy, manage, expand, and repair converged wired and wireless network infrastructure of any size and for any environment. In addition, Progent offers economical online and onsite wireless site surveys to assist your company to plan and install a Wi-Fi LAN with custom-designed AP clusters optimized for your specific work area layout, building characteristics, and intended application.
Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Access Points
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst lines of APs allow businesses to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to provide the accessibility, capacity, performance, protection and ease of management needed to support virtually any environment. Cisco's access points range from bare bones, single-band 802.11b/g/n devices with data rates of 300 Mbps for very small businesses or home offices to Wi-Fi 6 access points suitable for handling hundreds of clients on each access point and offering data rates of more than 5 Gbps. Cisco's current line of APs can be combined or clustered to provide the capacity to handle environments with high client density and with a high incidence of HD video application software.
Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series of Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Small Business Family of wireless access points are Linux-powered devices designed as value-priced wireless solutions for light workloads. Most models in Cisco's Small Business family of access points support Cisco's Single Point Setup system, which makes it possible to configure, manage and repair a group of wireless access points from one device via an intuitive browser-based interface. All of the versions include Power over Ethernet and feature QoS, rogue AP awareness, and bridge mode for wirelessly connecting to another network.
Cisco's Small Business WAP121 Access Point is a wall-mountable, single-radio 2.4GHz unit able to support 16 active 802.11n clients, includes a 10/100 Ethernet port, allows up to four AP devices and 40 active clients in a cluster, and can handle throughput of 300 Mbps. The Cisco WAP131 is a desktop dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n wireless access point able to handle 16 active clients on each radio for up to 32 wireless clients, includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port, and delivers throughput of up to 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not allow AP clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP150 is a general-purpose dual-radio AC/n wireless access point that features a 1xGE Power over Ethernet (PoE) port and can handle up to 16 clients from each radio with 867 Mbps throughput for AC clients and 300 Mbps for 802.11n devices. Cisco's Small Business WAP150 supports 4 access points per cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point is a wallmount single-band (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n device with support for up to 80 active wireless clients sharing an 8-AP cluster. The Cisco WAP321 features a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface and can deliver sustained throughput of 300 Mbps for the selected radio. The Cisco Small Business WAP351 is a dual-radio 802.11n wireless access point with a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can handle 32 active wireless clients per radio for a total of up to 64 clients, and support a sustained data rate of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP351 AP does not allow clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 is a dual-radio 802.11ac AP that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN switch, can support 32 active WLAN clients on each radio, and delivers 867 Mbps throughput for wireless AC devices and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n devices. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 supports 8 WAP361 access points for each cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-band device that supports 802.11n and the new 802.11ac wireless networking specification. The WAP371 includes a Gigabit Ethernet interface, can handle up to 32 active clients per radio, and 8 APs for each cluster.
The Cisco WAP561 802.11n Selectable Band wireless access point includes a Gigabit Ethernet port and two concurrent radios (2.4 and 5.0 GHz) that offer 450 Mbps performance per radio, support 64 clients for each radio, and allow 16 access points per cluster. The Cisco WAP551 is like the WAP 561 but has a single radio selectable band. The Cisco Small Business WAP571 and WAP571E (the ruggedized outdoor model) are dual-band 802.11ac Wave 1 wireless access points that feature two Gb Ethernet ports with link aggregation, 3x3 MIMO, and as high as 1.9 Gigabit/sec performance with 1300 Mbps over 11ac and 600 Mbps on 802.11n. Both access points support 32 active WAN clients per radio and 16 wireless access points per cluster.
The Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC Dual Radio Wave 2 Wireless Access Point supports the Wi-Fi 5 standard and offers 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO technology to provide 2.8 Gbps throughput at 5 GHz and 600 Mbps on the 2.4-GHz radio for a total top throughput of 2.4 Gbps. The WAP581 has an integrated 2.5G Ethernet LAN interface and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface with 802.3at Power over Ethernet. The WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point supports up to 200 connective users, up to 50 active client users for each radio, 16 APs for each cluster, and 960 active users for each cluster.
To learn more about Progent's consulting services for current and legacy Cisco Small Business family of wireless access points, refer to Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi access points consulting services.
The Aironet Family of Access Points
The Aironet line of indoor and outdoor wireless access points has consistently been the top-selling AP solution. Aironet wireless access points range from value priced models to enterprise-class units. Cisco's Aironet line span multiple generations of devices compliant with the evolving 11x standard. Cisco's current line of Aironet APs work with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and include 802.11ac technology, which offers three times the performance as well as superior range and density in comparison to the previous generation of APs. Cisco's latest dual-frequency Aironet access points continue to handle 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for client devices without 802.11ac capability.
The earliest Aironet APs are now legacy devices that have come to end-of-life status and are no longer supported by Cisco. Progent continues to support the complete Aironet line of access points and can help you to manage and troubleshoot your existing Aironet Wi-Fi environment or upgrade cost effectively to the latest Aironet technology. For more information about Progent's consulting services for current and outdated Aironet access points, refer to Cisco Aironet access points consulting.
Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's portfolio of Meraki 2.4/5 GHz indoor APs range from budget-friendly devices for small businesses to advanced units supporting up to 5.9 Gigabit per second performance. Every Meraki indoor wireless access point offers next-generation features such as self-configuring plug-and-play deployment, advanced protection, BYOD support, extensive analytics, automatic over-the-web updates, and unified cloud-based management for multiple sites. Each Meraki indoor AP also includes two high-power radios with boosted receive sensitivity as well as a dedicated radio that provides (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection at line rate.
Meraki outdoor access points are IP67 rated, designed to operate in rugged outdoor conditions, and able to resist dust particles, vibration and humidity. Cisco's Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a Gigabit Ethernet port and offer advanced capabilities such as cloud-based management with network-wide control, 802.1X and native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan (NAC), 1-click guest access and isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with beamforming. For details about Progent's consulting services for Cisco's Meraki wireless access points and management tools, see Meraki wireless access points planning and support.
Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax access points are designed for environments ranging from home offices to high-density stadiums. Catalyst 9100 APs are compliant with the 802.11ax specification, known as Wi-Fi 6, which in turn builds on the previous 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz radio bands. Headline enhancements incorporated in Catalyst 9100 Series APs include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for better reliability, increased device sleep time for reduced power usage in battery-dependent endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum utilization, and extended guard intervals for improved outdoor performance. Catalyst 9100 wireless APs support Cisco's EWC, accommodate up to 400 client users per Wi-Fi radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 9160 Series Wi-Fi 6E APs are the first Cisco access points to feature the versatility of being managed either on-prem with Cisco DNA Center or via the cloud by using Meraki Dashboard management utilities. This permits organizations to move to cloud-based or hybrid management environments on their own schedule. All Catalyst 916x APs comply with the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E wireless specifications and fully support the new 6-GHz band. Each AP includes 5 radios and supports a maximum of 400 clients on each radio. Every model also comes with a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for reducing wireless interference, has a USB 2.0 port, and supports Bluetooth Low Energy. Cisco's entry-level Catalyst 9162 Series access point is meant for small organizations, incorporates three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet connectivity. The Catalyst 9164 Series access point is meant for small and middle-size organizations, includes one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet. The Catalyst 9166 Series access point is suited for large and medium-sized enterprises, incorporates three 4x4 radios, and offers 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet connectivity. The 9166 also comes with environmental sensors that track air quality, temperature, and humidity. To find out more about Progent's consulting services for Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6/6E APs, refer to Wireless access points solution design, deployment, and debugging consulting.
Cisco 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers allow you to automate and manage modern Wi-Fi networks that incorporate 802.11ax access points. The 802.11ax standard, also called Wi-Fi 6, builds on previous generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) devices by delivering less latency and more reliable performance, supporting higher client density, offering enhanced protection, saving energy for battery-dependent handheld devices, and allowing more versatility for handling new types of IoT endpoints. Catalyst 9800 line wireless controllers feature always-on availability with transparent software upgrades, live fixes, and the ability to connect additional APs with zero downtime. Advanced security technologies include Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), image signing, and Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). Streaming telemetry allows you to monitor and analyze network 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 Prime Infrastructure management tools. Catalyst 9800 wireless network controllers can manage Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 and Wave 2 access points as well as Cisco Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 access points. To learn more about Progent's support for Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Cisco Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6 wireless controller appliances solution planning, deployment, and management services.
Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers allow fast communication, deployment, control, monitoring and troubleshooting for Cisco Wi-Fi devices and services. Cisco offers both hardware and virtual wireless controllers for centralized management of wireless environments, but WLANs with a large number of wireless APs are better served by hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. New Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer significant advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier models such as greater throughput, simultaneous support for both 1G and 10G interfaces, enhanced application visibility and control, and advanced, built-in security.
Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is a value-priced device with a desktop form factor and designed for small and medium-sized businesses. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network environment such as in small branch and home-based offices managed over the wide-area network with FlexConnect, or in mesh installations where Ethernet cabling is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller can handle as many as 150 access points and 3,000 clients, delivers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 WiFi controller includes a Cisco Multigigabit port and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports. Access points can be attached directly to the WiFi controller through two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 wireless controller offers fast failover for APs and clients, which provides high availability for applications. As with other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated capability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.
The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, available in a 1RU enclosure, is designed for midsize to large organizations and campus environments and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller supports up to 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 client users, offers 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 redundant power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.
Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2RU form factor, is a high-end WiFi controller intended to support enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 Wireless controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 clients. The 8540 WiFi controller offers data rates as high as 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 Network Controllers
Cisco wireless network controllers reduce the time and cost required to deploy, manage, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of critical tasks such as setting up APs, enforcing consistent policies throughout converged wired and wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service for voice and video, monitoring and optimizing system health, activating wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS) tools to guard against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has designed wireless network controllers for businesses of any size and can provide standalone desktop appliances, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and Catalyst switches with integrated wireless LAN controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and create self-optimizing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Integrated Bonjour Gateways allow discovery across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple-based applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless LAN controllers support wireless access point and client stateful failover by enabling a standby high-availability wireless controller to synchronize with a main wireless controller for access point license count, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. If the primary controller stops working, thousands of APs and clients can failover at subsecond speeds to the backup wireless network controller.
Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 Series routers deployed by small to medium-sized organizations and satellite offices. This affordable and expandable solution can support up to 200 wireless access points and as many as 6000 wireless clients. (To learn about Progent's remote and on-premises consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting services.)
Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches designed for small to mid-size businesses and branches and have an integrated wireless LAN 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 or stack. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for midsize businesses and large enterprises and include an integrated wireless LAN controller supporting 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and support for 50 APs and up to 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include a built-in wireless LAN controller intended for mid-to-large size businesses and able to deliver 20 Gbps performance and able to handle up to 1000 access points and up to 15,000 clients. (For information concerning Progent's consulting services for Cisco Catalyst switches, refer to Cisco Catalyst switches deployment and management services.)
Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are economical desktop units that streamline the provisioning and operation of wireless LANs for SMBs and branches. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller supports 5 to 75 APs and 1000 clients and can deliver throughput of up to 1 Gbps.
Cisco's 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large sized organizations and campus environments and can manage up to 500 access points and 7,000 clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Wireless Controller is a 1RU device designed for mid-to-large campuses with support for 1000 APs and 12,000 clients and providing throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high usage of media-rich applications.
The Cisco Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is designed to manage massive collections of wireless branches from a single location, eliminating the requirement for a Wi-Fi controller at every remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance lets you build a private cloud to configure, monitor, manage, and troubleshoot as many as 6000 wireless access points and 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to manage wireless environments for large campuses or service providers and can be expanded to handle up to 6000 wireless points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.
To find out more about Cisco WiFi controllers, see Cisco Wi-Fi controllers consulting and integration.
Legacy Cisco Access Points, LAN Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The IEEE 802.11ac specification for wireless connectivity largely rendered obsolete all previous releases of Wi-Fi products for environments that have high numbers of wireless clients and high incidence of HD video software applications. Even for businesses who do not require the performance of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, many of Cisco wireless products have reached end-of-life status, which can represent significant maintenance and compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants offer online and onsite support for a broad array of older-generation Cisco wireless products. Progent can in addition help organizations to assess the financial justification for upgrading legacy wireless infrastructure and can help in designing and executing affordable, non-disruptive migrations. The following are a sample of Cisco legacy Wi-Fi devices that Progent's consulting experts continue to support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet APs
Cisco Aironet 1000/1130AG family APs are designed for offices and other locations which have minimal environmental variability. These access points have built-in antennas that provide predictable omnidirectional coverage profiles. The Aironet 1130G Series product is offered for regulated locations that do not allow 802.11a transmission.
Cisco Aironet 1230AG/1240AG Series access points are designed for more problematic RF environments like manufacturing plants and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which typically require adjustable protruding antennas and rugged metal enclosures. The Aironet 1240G family AP is available for controlled domains that do not allow 802.11a transmission.
Cisco Aironet 1500 family lightweight outdoor wireless mesh LAN access points deliver a cost-effective, scalable, secure outdoor wireless network mechanism for enterprise campuses and for public venues that need access for mobile phones or computers.
Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges offer a high-performance and multi-featured solution for connecting numerous local area networks in a metro situation or public access environment. Cisco wireless bridges provide a flexible, easy-to-use technology that meets the security needs of WAN professionals. These bridges support both P2P and PMP implementations with good coverage and the ability to handle data rates up to 54 Mbps.
Cisco wireless LAN bridges offer throughput dramatically higher than E1/T1 lines for a fraction of the cost, erasing the necessity of expensive leased lines when connecting different offices. Because wireless bridges have no periodic costs, the expenses saved on leased-line services rapidly pay for the initial hardware costs. Self-installed private lines and in some cases leased lines utilizing metal or fiber-optic cable often result in considerable up-front expenses if they are separated by barriers like highways, train tracks, or bodies of water. Cisco wireless LAN bridges can be installed quickly with a fast ROI.
Cisco 1300 Series outdoor wireless access points/bridges can be deployed as stand-alone wireless access points, wireless bridges, or wireless group bridges. These devices have a tough cover and provide fast, affordable wireless connectivity between multiple stationary or mobile networks and users.
Cisco Aironet 1400 bridges offer high-speed, reliable outdoor bridging for line-of-sight (LOS) environments. These devices are housed in a ruggedized cover that can hold up to harsh outdoor conditions and can operate in wide temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco WLAN Controllers centralize the management of wireless networks by streamlining the control of common functions including intrusion prevention, real-time RF management, zero touch deployment, and full N+1 redundancy. Cisco WLAN controllers work with small APs to deliver superior throughput and high-end management capabilities.
WLAN Controllers provide the manageability, scalability, protection, and dependability that system managers require to build safe, enterprise-scale wireless environments, from satellite offices to small businesses to main campuses. Cisco's first-generation WLCs can be clustered to offer accommodation for as many as 2400 wireless access points per roaming domain.
Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for IS Routers offers small-to mid-size businesses and large corporations a cost effective way to deploy and control protected WLANs at satellite offices. These controllers supervise up to twelve Cisco APs and are supported on Cisco 2800/3800 Series Integrated Services Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (For information concerning Progent's remote and on-premises support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and management support.)
How Progent's Consultants Can Assist Your Company with Cisco Wireless Solutions
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified expert to assist you to design, install, maintain and repair a converged wired/wireless infrastructure integrating a broad array of wireless devices that provide the same security, extensibility, and ease of management you demand from your wired environment. Progent can help you to support early-generation Wi-Fi products from Cisco or upgrade efficiently to the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology. Progent's CISM and CISSP security consultants can show you how to design protection into your WLAN and your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planning consultants can help you to deploy the high availability features incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless technologies so your converged network delivers continuing business value.
Progent's Wireless Site Survey helps you to design and implement a state-of-the-art wireless network customized for your environment, offering a wireless ecosystem that delivers comprehensive coverage, high speed and capacity, Quality of Service features to handle IP video, enterprise-class security and compliance, and easy management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed remotely to cut time and costs, or on premises to deal with more challenging situations.
For a further discussion of Progent's wireless integration services, see Progent's Wireless LAN Consulting Services.
To see more details about Progent's consulting expertise for Cisco networking products, pick a subject: