Cisco offers an extensive catalog of wireless networking devices and technologies that enable anywhere, anytime connections to data and other resources and to promote collaboration among employees, partners, suppliers, and customers. Cisco's wireless offerings include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki series of wireless access points, as well as Cisco's Wireless LAN Controller plug-ins and appliances. Progent's Cisco-certified wireless consulting experts can help organizations of all sizes to deploy Cisco wireless solutions to accommodate the new paradigm of Bring-Your-Own-Device computing by converging their wired/wireless networks to achieve simplified configuration, consistently high throughput, centralized control, enterprise-wide policy, fault tolerance, and across-the-board protection.
The Cisco Unified Wireless solution can scale to as many as 18,000 APs with full Layer 3 connectivity across central or offsite locations such as enterprise campuses, university auditoriums, branch offices, and telecommuter homes. Cisco's Wi-Fi APs and controllers are components of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to support the same level of protection, throughput, and ease of management for wireless LANs that companies expect in their wired infrastructure. This technology includes integrated mobility services such as VoIP, IP video, and secure guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless solution enables companies to create Wi-Fi environments that streamline the way they work and enhance output through a mobile and connected workforce.
Progent's Cisco-certified network infrastructure consulting services can provide online or on-premises support to assist your organization to design, configure, manage, upgrade, and repair converged wired and wireless network infrastructure of any size and for any venue. Also, Progent offers affordable online and onsite Wi-Fi site surveys to assist you to plan and install a Wi-Fi LAN with customized wireless access point clusters optimized for your specific work area layout, building characteristics, and intended application.
Cisco Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Access Points
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of wireless access points enable organizations to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to provide the coverage, capacity, performance, security compliance and manageability required to support virtually any environment. These APs start at entry-level, single-band 802.11b/g/n units with throughput of 300 Mb intended for small companies or home offices to 802.11ax APs capable of supporting hundreds of wireless clients on each access point and delivering sustained throughput of more than 5 Gbps. Cisco's current selection of access points can be combined or clustered to provide the scale to support wireless networks crowded with clients and with high usage rates of HD video apps.
Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of Access Points
Cisco's Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series of access points are Linux-powered units designed as entry-level wireless APs for small offices. Most models in the Cisco Small Business family of wireless access points support Cisco's Single Point Setup technology, which makes it possible to set up, control and troubleshoot a group of access points from a single device via a simple browser-based interface. All models include Power over Ethernet and provide Quality of Service (QoS), rogue AP awareness, and bridge mode for connecting to a second Ethernet LAN.
The Cisco Small Business WAP121 Wireless-N Access Point is a wallmount, single-radio 2.4GHz device able to support 16 802.11n clients, has a 10/100 Ethernet interface, permits up to four access pointss and 40 active clients per cluster, and can handle sustained throughput of 300 Mbps. Cisco's Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11a/b/g/n AP that can handle 16 wireless clients on each radio for up to 32 clients, includes a Gigabit Ethernet port, and can support sustained data rates of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not allow clustering. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 is a value-priced dual-radio AC/n wireless access point that features a one Gbit Power over Ethernet (PoE) port and can handle 16 clients from each radio with 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac clients and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. The Cisco WAP1501 supports 4 access points for each cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point is a wall-mountable selectable-band (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n unit that can handle up to 80 active wireless clients sharing an 8-AP cluster. The Cisco WAP321 features a GE port and can support a sustained data rate of 300 Mbps for the activated radio. Cisco's Small Business WAP351 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n AP that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can support 32 wireless clients on each radio for a total of up to 64 clients, and deliver a data rate of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 access point does not allow clustering. Cisco's WAP361 is a dual-radio 802.11ac access point that features a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, can support 32 active WLAN clients on each radio, and offers 867 Mbps throughput for wireless AC clients and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n devices. The Cisco Small Business WAP361 allows eight 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 latest 802.11ac IEEE Wi-Fi standard. The WAP371 includes a Gigabit Ethernet interface, can support up to 32 active wireless clients on each radio, and 8 access points per cluster.
The Cisco WAP561 Wireless-N Selectable Band access point includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port and two concurrent radios that offer 450 Mbps performance for each radio, can handle 64 devices per radio, and allow 16 APs for each cluster. Cisco's WAP551 is similar to Cisco's WAP 561 but features a single radio selectable band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz). The Cisco WAP571 and WAP571E (the ruggedized outside version) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wireless-AC/N wireless access points incorporating 2 x GE ports with link aggregation, 3x3 MIMO, and as high as 1.9 Gigabit/sec performance with 1300 Mbps on 11ac and 600 Mbps over 11n. Both units support 32 clients on each radio and 16 wireless access points on each cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP581 Wireless-AC Dual Radio Wave 2 AP complies with the 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 standard and offers 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO technology to provide 2.8 Gbps throughput on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 0.6 Gbps at 2.4 GHz for an aggregate maximum data rate of 2.4 Gbps. The WAP581 has an integrated 2.5G Ethernet port and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port with 802.3at PoE. The WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point can handle up to 200 connective client users, up to 50 active users per radio, 16 access points for each cluster, and 960 active client users per cluster.
For more information about Progent's consulting services for both current and older Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 family of WiFi access points, see Cisco Small Business WiFi access points consulting.
The Aironet Line of Access Points
Cisco's Aironet line of wireless APs has consistently been the top-selling access point product. Aironet access points run the gamut from entry-level models to advanced APs. Cisco's Aironet family cover multiple generations of devices compliant with the continually improving 802 standard. Cisco's current portfolio of Aironet wireless access points support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and include 802.11ac technology, which delivers three times the throughput plus greater coverage and density in comparison to the previous generation of APs. Cisco's latest multi-band Aironet APs can accommodate 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for clients without 802.11ac radios.
The earliest Aironet access points are legacy devices that have come to end-of-life status and are no longer supported by Cisco. Progent still offers support for the complete Aironet line of access points and can help your company to maintain your existing Aironet Wi-Fi environment or move cost effectively to the latest Aironet products. To find out more about Progent's support for current and outdated Cisco Aironet access points, refer to Aironet APs consulting.
Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's family of Meraki dual-band indoor wireless access points range from budget-friendly models for general use to enterprise-class units that offer as high as 5.9 Gigabit per second throughput. Every Cisco Meraki indoor AP offers high-end features like plug-and-play installation, advanced security, BYOD support, extensive traffic analysis, automatic web-based updates, and consolidated cloud management via an intuitive dashboard. Each Meraki indoor access point also incorporates dual high-power radios with boosted reception plus a dedicated radio that provides (WIDS/WIPS) security for RF analysis and deep packet inspection at line rate.
Meraki outdoor wireless access points are IP67 rated, designed to operate in harsh outdoor conditions, and tested to resist dust particles, vibration and humidity. Cisco's Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a 1 x Gbit Ethernet port and offer advanced capabilities that include cloud management with multi-site control, native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan, 1-click guest access and guest isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus self-configuring mesh with MIMO. To find out more about Progent's support for Cisco's Meraki APs and management, refer to Cisco's Meraki access points consulting.
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Line of Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E 802.11ax access points are designed for environments ranging from home offices to high-density enterprise campuses. Catalyst 9100 APs are compliant with the 802.11ax standard, known as Wi-Fi 6, which in turn builds on the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is able to utilize both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz bands. Important technologies supported by Catalyst 9100 Series access points include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for better reliability, Target Wake Time for conserving power consumption in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum use, and extended guard intervals for improved outdoor performance. Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 access points support Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller, accommodate up to 400 client users per radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 916x Series Wi-Fi 6E APs are the first Cisco access points that have the capability of being managed either on-prem via Cisco DNA Center or from the cloud by deploying Meraki management utilities. This enables businesses to move to cloud-centric 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 fully support the new 6-GHz band. Each device includes 5 radios and supports up to 400 clients per radio. Each model also comes with a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for mitigating wireless interference, comes with a USB 2.0 port, and supports Bluetooth Low Energy. Cisco's small-footprint Catalyst 9162 Series access point is designed for small organizations, has three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support.
The Catalyst 9163E Wi-Fi 6E access point is built to withstand harsh outdoor deployments like campuses or municipal Wi-Fi. The 9163E comes with three client serving 2x2 radios, one IoT radio, and a tri-band scanning radio. Interfaces include 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet, a management console port (RJ-45), 4x N-Type Wi-Fi antenna connectors, and an RP-SMA active GPS/GNSS antenna connector. The AP works with Omnidirectional Dipole Self-Identifying Antennas. The Catalyst 9164 Series access point is designed for small and mid-size enterprises, has one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9166 Series access point is intended for large and mid-sized organizations, includes three 4x4 radios, and provides 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet support. The 9166 also comes with environmental sensors to measure air quality, temperature, and moisture. For more information about Progent's consulting services for Catalyst 9100 Line of 802.11ax APs, see Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax access points solution design, configuration, and management consulting.
Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers help you manage modern wireless environments that incorporate 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. 802.11ax, aka Wi-Fi 6, improves on previous generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) devices by providing less latency and more reliable performance, supporting higher client density, offering greater protection, conserving energy for battery-powered mobile devices, and offering more flexibility for handling new kinds of Internet-of-Things (IoT) endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controllers include high availability with transparent software upgrades, hot patching, and the ability to add Wi-Fi access points without service interruption. Enhanced security technologies include Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), image signing, and Cisco Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry allows you to track and analyze network and client health.
All devices in the Catalyst 9800 family are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and work with Cisco's DNA Center or with Prime Infrastructure management platforms. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless LAN controllers can support Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 wireless APs as well as Catalyst 9100 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 Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 wireless controller appliances system design, configuration, and troubleshooting consulting.
Cisco Wi-Fi 5 Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers allow realtime communication, deployment, management, monitoring and troubleshooting for Cisco wireless appliances and software services. Cisco has developed both hardware and software-based wireless controllers for unified management of wireless environments, but networks with many wireless APs are better served by hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. Wave 2 Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer significant benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier products including greater throughput, concurrent support for both 1G and 10G Ethernet, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, integrated protection.
Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is a value-priced appliance with a desktop body and intended for small and medium-sized organizations. You can install the 3504 in a centralized WLAN environment such as in lean branch and remote offices managed across the WAN via FlexConnect, or in bridge installations where wiring is limited. The 3504 wireless controller can handle as many as 150 wireless APs and 3,000 client users, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 controller features a multi-gigabit Ethernet port (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-GB Ethernet ports. Access points can be attached to the controller through two PoE ports. The 3504 wireless controller features subsecond failover for access points and clients, which allows high availability for applications. Like other current Wave 2 wireless controllers from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated ability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 wireless controllers.
The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) package, is designed for midsize to large enterprises and campus networks and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller supports up to 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 users, delivers 20 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller includes two 10 GE ports and features solid-state storage, redundant fans, optional backup power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.
The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2RU form factor, is a high-end wireless controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and supports as many as 6,000 APs and 64,000 users. The 8540 WiFi controller can deliver throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 includes four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features SSD storage, redundant power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.
Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless network controllers cut the effort and cost needed to deploy, monitor, and operate Wi-Fi networks by centralizing control of tasks such as provisioning access points, applying single-point policies across converged networks, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for voice and video, monitoring and troubleshooting system performance, implementing security tools to guard against cyber break-ins and DDoS attacks, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has designed wireless network controllers for organizations of all sizes and can provide desktop or rackmount appliances, modular plug-in controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with built-in wireless LAN controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 wireless controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and produce self-healing and self-optimizing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and protection. Built-in Bonjour Gateways permit discovery, advertisement and policy across the enterprise for Apple-based applications. For high availability (HA), Cisco wireless network controllers allow AP and client stateful failover by permitting a standby high-availability controller to synch with a main wireless controller for AP license count, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and access point CAPWAP state. In case the primary controller goes down, thousands of APs and wireless clients can switchover at subsecond speeds to the secondary wireless LAN controller.
Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac support for 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by small to medium-sized businesses and satellite offices. This affordable and expandable module can handle up to 200 wireless access points and up to 6000 wireless clients. (To find out concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting consulting.)
Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches designed for SMBs and branches and features a built-in wireless network controller with the ability to handle up to 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and up to 25 APs and 1000 wireless clients per switch. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches designed for midsize and large organizations and include a built-in wireless LAN controller with 40 Gb of wireless capacity on each switch and the ability to handle 50 access points and up to 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless network controller designed for mid-to-large size businesses and able to deliver 20 Gbps performance and with support for 1000 wireless access points and 15,000 clients. (To learn concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco Catalyst switches, see Cisco switches configuration and management consulting.)
Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are economical desktop appliances that simplify the deployment and operation of wireless LANs for small and midsize businesses and branch offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller supports from five to 75 wireless access points and up to 1000 wireless clients and can deliver sustained performance of 1 Gbps.
The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is an expandable 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large sized businesses and campuses and can manage 500 wireless access points and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. The Cisco 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device intended for mid-to-large campuses with support for up to 1000 APs and 12,000 wireless clients and providing performance of 60 Gbps to accommodate high client densities and high amounts of media-rich applications.
Cisco's Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed to manage thousands of wireless remote sites from a single location, eliminating the requirement for a Wi-Fi controller at every remote site. The 1RU Flex 7500 lets you establish a private cloud to deploy, monitor, manage, and troubleshoot up to 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU rackmount appliance engineered to monitor and control Wi-Fi environments for very large campuses or service providers and can scale to support 6000 access points and up to 64,000 clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.
To find out more about Cisco wireless controllers, go to Cisco wireless controllers consulting and integration.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Access Points, Bridges and Wireless Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac standard for wireless connectivity virtually made obsolete the previous releases of Wi-Fi products for venues that support high densities of clients and high usage of HD video applications. Even for organizations who do not need the bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac, a large number of Cisco wireless devices have arrived at end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can represent serious maintenance and regulatory compliance issues. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts provide remote and on-premises support services for a wide range of earlier-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can also help companies to assess the financial justification for updating up-of-date wireless technology and can help in planning and executing cost-effective, seamless migrations. The following are a sample of Cisco older-generation Wi-Fi devices that Progent's consultants continue to support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet APs
Aironet 1000/1130AG family APs are ideal for conventional workplaces and other locations which have minimal environmental variability. These devices include built-in antennas that provide dependable omnidirectional coverage patterns. The Aironet 1130G family WAP is available for regulated domains that do not permit 5GHz operation.
Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG family APs are designed for more problematic radio frequency environments such as manufacturing plants or above ceiling structures which commonly call for flexible protruding antennas and ruggedized cases. The 1240G Series product is available for controlled domains that do not allow 5GHz operation.
Aironet 1500 lightweight outdoor mesh access points deliver an economical, scalable, protected outdoor wireless mechanism for enterprise campuses and for public venues that need connectivity for portable phones or computers.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges offer a high-speed and feature-rich solution for connecting numerous local area networks in a metropolitan area or public wireless environment. Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges provide a flexible, manageable solution that satisfies the security needs of public networking specialists. These bridges support both point-to-point and PMP configurations with good coverage and support for traffic rates as high as 54 Mbps.
Cisco wireless LAN bridges offer throughput significantly higher than E1/T1 lines for a fraction of the cost, erasing the necessity of expensive leased lines when linking different offices. Since bridges carry no ongoing costs, the expenses saved on leased-line bills quickly cover the startup hardware investment. Private lines and even leased lines made of copper or fiber-optic cable often require considerable startup expenses if they are separated by barriers like highways, railroads, or bodies of water. Cisco Aironet wireless bridges can be deployed rapidly with a fast ROI.
Aironet 1300 Series outside wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as independent access points, bridges, or workgroup bridges. These products have a tough enclosure and provide fast, affordable wireless connectivity between multiple stationary or mobile environments and users.
Cisco 1400 family bridges offer high-performance, reliable outdoor connections for line-of-sight (LOS) environments. These devices include a durable enclosure that is optimized for harsh outside conditions and function within broad temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco WLAN Controllers
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers provide single-point management of wireless networks by simplifying the handling of common functions including integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS), real-time RF management, automatic deployment, and N+1 redundancy. Wireless LAN controllers work with lightweight wireless access points to offer enhanced performance and high-end administration functions.
Cisco WLAN Controllers offer the manageability, expandability, security, and dependability that IT managers require to build safe, enterprise-scale wireless environments, from branch locations to small companies to main campuses. Cisco's legacy Wireless Network Controllers can be clustered to offer accommodation for as many as 2400 wireless access points for each roaming domain.
Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Controller Module for Integrated Services Routers offers small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises an economical way to deploy and manage protected wireless networks at satellite locations. These wireless controllers supervise up to twelve Cisco APs and are supported on 2800/3800 IS Routers and 3700 Integrated Services Routers. (To learn concerning Progent's remote and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)
How Progent's Engineers Can Assist Your Business with Cisco Wireless Technology
Progent can provide a Cisco-certified consultant to assist your business to design, install, manage and repair a converged wired/wireless environment incorporating a wide range of wireless devices that offer the identical protection, extensibility, and manageability you demand from a wired network. Progent can help you to support early-generation Wi-Fi solutions from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology. Progent's CISM and CISSP security specialists can advise you about how to design security into your wireless network and your company's processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity consultants can show you how to configure the HA technology built into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged network delivers non-stop business value.
Progent's Wireless Site Survey helps you to design and deploy a state-of-the-art wireless network customized for your environment, offering a wireless solution that delivers comprehensive coverage, high speed and density, QoS to support IP video, advanced security and compliance, and easy management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed remotely to cut time and expense, or onsite to deal with more challenging environments.
For a further look at Progent's wireless integration capabilities, see Progent's Wireless Network Expertise.
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