Cisco Certified Network Consulting

Cisco offers an extensive line of wireless LAN devices and software tools intended to enable continual connections to data and resources and to facilitate teamwork among employees, partners, suppliers, and customers. Cisco's wireless products include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points, as well as Cisco's Wireless Network Controller modules and appliances. Progent's Cisco-certified wireless consulting experts can enable businesses of all sizes to deploy Cisco wireless solutions to accommodate the new paradigm of Bring-Your-Own-Device computing by integrating their wired and wireless ecosystems to achieve simplified configuration, consistently high throughput, centralized control, uniform policy enforcement, high availability, and across-the-board security.

Cisco's Unified Wireless solution can expand to as many as 18,000 APs with Layer 3 connectivity across central or remote locations like business campuses, college lecture halls, branch offices, and telecommuter homes. Cisco's 802.11x access points and wireless controllers are components of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to support the identical degree of protection, throughput, and ease of management for WLANs that companies expect in their wired infrastructure. Cisco's technology incorporates built-in mobile services like VoIP, IP video, and safe guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless solution allows organizations to create wireless environments that improve the way they do business and enhance output through a mobile and collaborative workforce.

Progent's Cisco CCIE network infrastructure consulting services can provide remote or onsite support to help you to plan, deploy, maintain, expand, and repair converged wired and wireless networks of any size and for any venue. Also, Progent offers affordable remote and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to help your company to design and install a wireless network with custom-designed AP clusters optimized for your specific work area layout, building characteristics, and intended application.

Cisco Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points (APs)
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of access points enable you to converge wired/wireless networks to provide the coverage, capacity, performance, protection and ease of management required for practically any environment. These wireless access points range from bare bones, single-radio 802.11b/g/n devices with data rates of 300 Mbps designed for very small businesses or telecommuters to Wi-Fi 6 wireless access points capable of supporting hundreds of clients per access point and offering sustained data rates in excess of 5 Gbps. Cisco's latest line of wireless access points can be combined or clustered to deliver the capacity to support environments crowded with clients and with a high incidence of HD video applications.

Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of Access Points
Cisco's Small Business Family of wireless access points are Linux-powered units designed as value-priced wireless APs for small offices. Most versions in the Cisco Small Business line of wireless access points support Cisco's Single Point Setup system, which makes it possible to set up, manage and troubleshoot a cluster of access points from a single device through a simple browser-based tool. All of the models support Power over Ethernet and feature QoS, rogue AP awareness, and bridge mode for wirelessly connecting to a second Ethernet LAN.

Cisco's Small Business WAP121 Access Point is a wallmount, single-band 2.4GHz unit able to support 16 802.11b/g/n clients, includes a 10/100 Ethernet port, permits up to 4 AP devices and 40 active clients in a cluster, and supports sustained data rates of 300 Mbps. Cisco's WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11n wireless access point able to support 16 wireless clients per radio for up to 32 clients, includes a GE interface, and can support throughput of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 does not allow clustering. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 is a value-priced Wave 1 dual-radio AC/n AP that includes a one Gbit Power over Ethernet (PoE) port and can handle 16 clients from each radio with 867 Mbps performance for 802.11ac devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n devices. Cisco's WAP1501 supports 4 access points for each cluster.

Cisco's Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N model is a wall-mountable selectable-band (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) 802.11n unit with support for up to 80 wireless clients in an 8-AP cluster. The Cisco WAP321 has a GE port and can support throughput of 300 Mbps for the selected radio. The Cisco Small Business WAP351 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n wireless access point that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can support 32 active clients on each radio for a total of up to 64 active clients, and support throughput of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP351 access point does not support clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wireless-AC/N AP that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, can support 32 clients on each radio, and offers 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac clients and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n clients. The Cisco WAP361 allows eight WAP361 access points per cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-radio AP that works with 802.11n as well as the latest 802.11ac IEEE Wi-Fi specification. The WAP371 includes a GE port, can handle 32 active clients on each radio, and eight access points per cluster.

Cisco's WAP561 Wireless-N Dual Radio wireless access point includes a GE interface and two radios that offer 450 Mbps performance per radio, can handle 64 devices for each radio, and allow 16 APs for each cluster. Cisco's WAP551 is similar to the WAP 561 but has a single radio selectable band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz). The Cisco Small Business WAP571 and WAP571E (a ruggedized outside version) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac wireless access points incorporating 2 x GE LAN interfaces with link aggregation (LAG), and up to 1.9 Gigabit/sec throughput with 1300 Mbps over 11ac and 600 Mbps on 802.11n. Both devices can handle 32 active WAN clients on each radio and 16 wireless access points per cluster.

Cisco's WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 Wireless Access Point complies with the Wi-Fi 5 specification and offers 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO technology to deliver 2.8 Gbps throughput on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 600 Mbps on the 2.4-GHz radio for a total maximum data rate of 2.4 Gbps. The Small Business WAP581 has an integrated 2.5G Ethernet port and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN interface with 802.3at Power over Ethernet. Cisco's WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point supports as many as 200 connective client users, up to 50 active client users for each radio, 16 access points for each cluster, and 960 active users for each cluster.

To find out more about Progent's consulting services for current and older Cisco Small Business series of wireless APs, refer to Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi APs configuration and troubleshooting.

The Aironet Line of Access Points
Cisco's Aironet family of wireless APs has for years been the leading AP solution. Aironet access points run the gamut from entry-level models to enterprise-class APs. Cisco's Aironet series cover several generations of models compliant with the continually improving 802 standard. Cisco's latest line of Aironet APs work with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture and include 802.11ac support, which delivers triple the throughput plus superior range and user density in comparison to the previous generation of devices. The latest dual-band Aironet access points continue to handle 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for clients that do not have 802.11ac radios.

The earliest Aironet access points are now legacy devices that have reached end-of-life status and are no longer fully supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the complete Aironet line of APs and can help you to manage and troubleshoot your existing Aironet Wi-Fi system or move efficiently to the latest Aironet products. To find out more about Progent's support for both current and legacy Aironet wireless access points, see Aironet access points consulting.

Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's portfolio of Meraki dual-band 2.4/5 GHz indoor APs range from budget-friendly devices for general use to advanced units supporting up to 5.9 Gigabit per second throughput. Every Meraki indoor access point provides high-end features like plug-and-play deployment, advanced protection, Bring-Your-Own-Device support, built-in traffic analysis, automatic web-based updates, and consolidated cloud management via an intuitive dashboard. Every Meraki indoor AP also includes two high-power client-serving radios with boosted receive sensitivity plus a separate radio that provides intrusion detection and prevention system (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection at line rate.

Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points are IP67 certified, built to operate in harsh outdoor conditions, and tested to withstand dust, shock and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a 1 x Gbit Ethernet port and offer advanced capabilities such as cloud management with network-wide visibility and control, 802.1X integration, built-in antivirus scan, single-click secure guest access and guest isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with MIMO and beamforming. To find out more about Progent's support for Meraki access points and cloud management, refer to Cisco's Meraki wireless access points consulting services.

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of 802.11ax wireless APs are intended for deployments ranging from telecommuter homes to crowded stadiums. Cisco Catalyst 9100 access points are based on the 802.11ax specification, known as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is able to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz bands. Important technologies supported by Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series access points include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for improved reliability, Target Wake Time for conserving power usage in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum use, and extended guard intervals for improved outdoor performance. All Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax access points can run Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller, accommodate up to 200 client users per radio, and are powered by Cisco IOS XE Software. For details about Progent's support for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wireless APs, refer to Wi-Fi 6 access points system design, deployment, and troubleshooting services.

Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers allow you to automate and manage advanced Wi-Fi networks that incorporate 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. 802.11ax, also called Wi-Fi 6, builds on prior generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) devices by providing less latency and more predictable performance, supporting higher client user density, providing greater protection, conserving energy for battery-dependent handheld devices, and allowing more versatility for handling the latest types of IoT endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 line Wi-Fi controllers feature always-on availability with seamless software updates, live patching, and the ability to add Wi-Fi access points without disruption of service. Enhanced cybersecurity technologies include Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), secure boot, and Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). Streaming telemetry permits you to monitor and analyze infrastructure and endpoint health.

All controllers in the Catalyst 9800 line are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center or with Cisco Prime Infrastructure management tools. Catalyst 9800 wireless LAN controllers can manage Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 and Wave 2 access points concurrently with Cisco Catalyst 9100 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. To learn more about Progent's support for Cisco 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 wireless controllers system planning, configuration, and management services.

Cisco Wi-Fi 5 Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers enable realtime communication, configuration, management, monitoring and troubleshooting for Cisco Wi-Fi devices and software services. Cisco offers both physical and software-based wireless controllers for centralized management of WiFi environments, but networks with many Wi-Fi access points typically require hardware-based wireless controllers. Current generation Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer significant benefits over Wave 1 and older models including greater performance, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G interfaces, enhanced application visibility and control, and advanced, integrated protection.

Cisco's 3504 WiFi Controller is a value-priced device available in a desktop body and designed for small and medium-sized organizations. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network architecture such as in lean branch and home-based offices administered over the WAN via FlexConnect, or in mesh deployments where wiring is limited. The 3504 wireless controller supports up to 150 APs and 3,000 client users, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller includes a Cisco Multigigabit interface and four 1-GB Ethernet connections. Access points can be connected to the WiFi controller via two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 wireless controller offers fast failover for APs and clients, which provides high availability for applications. Like other Wave 2 wireless controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 model has the integrated capability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WiFi controllers.

Cisco's 5520 WiFi Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit (RU) enclosure, is designed to support larger organizations and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 1,500 access points 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 dual power supplies, and subsecond failover for nonstop availability.

The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2RU package, is a top-of-the-line wireless controller intended to support enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports up to 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 clients. The 8540 WiFi controller offers throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 comes with four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, redundant power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers cut the effort and expense needed to deploy, manage, and operate wireless networks by offering single-point control of critical functions such as provisioning wireless access points, applying consistent policies across converged wired/wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for IP voice and HD video, monitoring and troubleshooting system performance, implementing security tools to guard against unauthorized access and DDoS attacks, and handling IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for organizations of all sizes and offers standalone desktop appliances, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with integrated wireless controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and create self-optimizing wireless LANs for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and protection. Integrated Bonjour Gateways enable discovery and policy across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers support AP and client stateful failover by permitting a standby high-availability wireless controller to synch with a main controller for access point license count, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller stops working, thousands of wireless access points and wireless clients can failover in less than a second to the secondary wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E provides basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 Series routers deployed by small to medium-sized organizations and satellite offices. This value-priced and expandable solution can handle up to 200 APs and as many as 6000 clients. (To learn about Progent's remote and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches designed for small to mid-size businesses and branches and come with a built-in wireless controller with the capability to handle up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and up to 25 wireless access points and 1000 wireless clients per switch. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches designed for midsize and large organizations and feature a built-in wireless LAN controller with up to 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and the ability to handle 50 access points and up to 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is an add-in blade for Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include an integrated wireless network controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps throughput and with support for up to 1000 wireless access points and up to 15,000 wireless clients. (To learn concerning Progent's support for Catalyst switches, refer to Catalyst switches configuration and troubleshooting services.)

Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop devices that streamline the deployment and operation of Wi-Fi LANs for small and midsize businesses and branches. The 2500 Series wireless LAN controller can handle from five to 75 APs and up to 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 500 access points and 7,000 wireless clients while providing 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device designed for mid-to-large campus environments with the ability to manage 1000 APs and 12,000 wireless clients and delivering throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high client densities and high amounts of video-intensive applications.

Cisco's Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller is intended to manage thousands of wireless branches from a single location, avoiding the need for a Wi-Fi controller at each remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 lets you establish a private cloud to configure, track, maintain, and troubleshoot up to 6000 access points and up to 64,000 clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to monitor and control Wi-Fi networks for large campuses or for service providers and can scale to handle 6000 access points and up to 64,000 clients while offering 10 Gbps throughput.

For more information about Cisco WiFi controllers, visit Cisco wireless controllers consulting services.

Legacy Cisco APs, Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac specification for Wi-Fi virtually made obsolete the prior releases of Wi-Fi products for venues that support high densities of wireless clients and high incidence of video-intensive software applications. Even for organizations who do not currently require the performance of 802.11ac, a large number of Cisco wireless devices have reached end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can represent significant service and compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts provide remote and on-premises support for a wide array of older-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can in addition help organizations to assess the financial justification for updating legacy wireless infrastructure and can assist in designing and carrying out affordable, non-disruptive migrations. The following are a sample of Cisco older-generation Wi-Fi devices that Progent's consulting experts still support.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Access Points
Cisco Aironet 1000/1130AG family access points are intended for offices and similar sites which have little environmental instability. These devices have built-in antennas that offer dependable omnidirectional range profiles. The Cisco Aironet 1130G Series device is designed for regulated locations that do not allow 802.11a/5GHz transmission.

Cisco Aironet 1230AG/1240AG family wireless access points are ideal for more problematic radio frequency situations such as manufacturing plants or above suspended ceilings which often require adjustable external antennas and ruggedized enclosures. The 1240G Series wireless access point is intended for controlled domains that do not allow 5GHz transmission.

Cisco Aironet 1500 family lightweight outside mesh APs provide an economical, expandable, secure outdoor Wi-Fi technology 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-throughput and feature-rich solution for integrating multiple LANs in a metro situation or public wireless environment. Cisco Aironet bridges offer a versatile, easy-to-use solution that satisfies the security demands of wide-area networking specialists. They handle both PTP and P2MP configurations with good range and the ability to handle traffic rates as high as 54 Mbps.

Cisco wireless bridges deliver throughput dramatically higher than E1/T1 lines for much lower expense, eliminating the necessity of expensive leased lines when connecting different offices. Since bridges require no periodic costs, savings on leased-line services rapidly cover the initial hardware investment. Self-installed private lines and in some cases leased lines utilizing metal or fiber-optic cable can require considerable up-front expenses in cases where they are impeded by obstacles like freeways, railroads, or bodies of water. Cisco Aironet wireless bridges can be installed rapidly with a fast return on investment.

Cisco 1300 Series outdoor wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as independent access points, bridges, or wireless group bridges. These devices have a ruggedized enclosure and offer fast, economical wireless connectivity between multiple fixed or mobile environments and users.

Aironet 1400 bridges offer high-speed, reliable outside wireless bridging for line-of-sight (LOS) applications. These devices include an all-weather enclosure that can hold up to harsh outside conditions and function in broad temperature ranges.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Controllers
Cisco Wireless Network Controllers centralize the management of wireless LANs by simplifying the handling of common functions including integrated IPS, fast RF management, automatic deployment, and full N+1 redundancy. WLAN controllers work with small APs to deliver enhanced performance and advanced administration functions.

Wireless LAN Controllers provide the control, expandability, security, and reliability that system managers need to build secure, enterprise-scale wireless solutions, from satellite locations to small businesses to headquarter campuses. Cisco's first-generation WLCs can be clustered to provide accommodation for up to 2400 access points for each roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for Integrated Services (IS) Routers offers small-to medium businesses and enterprises an affordable way to deploy and control secure wireless LANs at branch locations. These wireless controllers manage up to a dozen Aironet wireless access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Series IS Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Routers. (For information concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

How Progent Can Assist Your Company with Cisco Wireless Products
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified CCIE consultant to help you to plan, deploy, maintain and troubleshoot a converged wired and wireless infrastructure incorporating a wide range of wireless devices that provide the same security, expandability, and ease of management you expect from your wired network. Progent can help you to manage legacy 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 build protection into your wireless network and your company's processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planners can assist you to configure the high availability features built into Cisco's wireless and wired products so your converged infrastructure provides non-stop return on investment.

Progent’s Wi-Fi Site Survey helps you to design and deploy a robust wireless network optimized for your environment, offering a wireless ecosystem that provides comprehensive coverage, high speed and density, QoS features to support IP voice and video, enterprise-class security and compliance, and streamlined management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed online to reduce time and costs, or on premises to deal with more complex environments.

For a more in-depth look at Progent's wireless integration capabilities, see Progent's Wireless LAN Consulting Services.

For more details concerning Progent's professional expertise for Cisco networking products, pick a subject:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast and Affordable Remote Help from a Cisco CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower: Consulting and Management Support
• ASA 5500 Firewall Upgrade. Migration Expertise
• PIX 500 Series Firewall Consulting Assistance
• Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
• Aironet Access Points Deployment Help
• Cisco Small Business Wireless APs System Design Services
• Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax APs Solution Design, Deployment and Debugging Services
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki APs Deployment Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones and IP Video Phones Consulting and Wireless IP Phone Configuration
• Cisco Jabber Deployment Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Engineering Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Data Center Design Consulting for ISPs
• Centralized Management Techniques for Cisco-powered Infrastructure