Cisco Certified Network Consultants

Cisco offers a comprehensive catalog of wireless networking devices and technologies designed to provide anywhere, anytime connections to information and other resources and to promote teamwork among workers, associates, suppliers, and clients. Cisco's wireless offerings include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points (APs), as well as Cisco's Wireless Network Controller modules and standalone devices. Progent's Cisco-certified wireless consultants can enable businesses of any size to utilize Cisco wireless technology to support the new paradigm of BYOD computing by converging their wired and wireless environments to achieve easy configuration, consistently high throughput, centralized management, uniform policy, high availability, and advanced security.

The Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution can expand to up to 18,000 wireless access points with Layer 3 connectivity at central or offsite venues such as enterprise headquarters, university auditoriums, branch offices, and home offices. Cisco's 802.11x APs and controllers are part of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to support the same level of security, performance, and manageability for wireless networks that businesses expect in their wired networks. Cisco's technology incorporates integrated mobility services like VoIP, HD video, and safe guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless solution enables companies to build Wi-Fi environments that improve the way they do business and enhance productivity through a dynamic and connected workforce.

Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants offers online or onsite support to help your organization to plan, configure, manage, expand, and repair converged wired/wireless network infrastructure of any size and for any environment. In addition, Progent offers value-priced remote and on-premises Wi-Fi site surveys to assist your company to design and install a wireless network with custom-designed wireless access point clustering optimized for your individual office layout, building structure, and intended application.

Cisco Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Access Points (APs)
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of APs enable you to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to provide the accessibility, density, throughput, security and manageability needed to support practically any scenario. These APs start at entry-level, single-radio 802.11b/g/n devices with data rates of 300 Mbps for small companies or telecommuters to 802.11ax wireless access points suitable for handling hundreds of wireless clients per access point and delivering sustained throughput of more than 5 Gbps. Cisco's latest selection of wireless access points can be clustered to provide the capacity to handle environments crowded with clients and with a high incidence of video-intense apps.

Small Business Family of Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of wireless access points are Linux-powered devices engineered as entry-level wireless APs for small offices. Many models in the Cisco Small Business family of access points support Cisco's Single Point Setup technology, which allows you to configure, control and troubleshoot a cluster of wireless access points from one AP via an intuitive web browser interface. All versions include Power over Ethernet (POE) and provide QoS, rogue access point detection, and bridging for connecting to a second network.

The Cisco Small Business WAP121 Wireless-N AP is a wallmount, single-band 2.4GHz device that can support 16 802.11b/g/n wireless clients, has a 10/100 Ethernet port, allows up to four access pointss and 40 wireless clients per cluster, and can handle data rates of 300 Mbps. Cisco's WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11a/b/g/n AP that can support 16 active wireless clients per radio for a total of up to 32 clients, features a GE interface, and delivers throughput of up to 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not support clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP150 is an entry-level dual-radio 802.11ac/n wireless access point that includes a 1xGE Poe port and can handle 16 clients per radio with 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 supports four APs for each cluster.

The Cisco Small Business WAP321 AP is a wallmount selectable-band (2.4 or 5 GHz) 802.11n unit with support for up to 80 active wireless clients in an 8-device cluster. The WAP321 includes a GE port and can deliver throughput of 300 Mbps for the selected radio. Cisco's WAP351 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n AP with a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can handle 32 active wireless clients on each radio for a total of up to 64 active clients, and deliver throughput of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 AP does not allow clustering. The Cisco WAP361 is a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wireless-AC/N wireless access point that includes a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, can support 32 active WLAN clients per radio, and offers 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 allows eight WAP361 access points per cluster. Cisco's wallmount Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-radio AP that supports 802.11n and the new 802.11ac wireless networking standard. The WAP371 Wireless-AC/N has a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface, can support 32 active clients on each radio, and 8 APs per cluster.

The Cisco Small Business WAP561 802.11n Dual Radio AP includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port and two concurrent radios that offer 450 Mbps performance for each radio, support 64 clients per radio, and allow up to 16 wireless access points per cluster. The Cisco WAP551 is similar to the WAP 561 but features a single radio selectable band. The Cisco WAP571 and WAP571E (the ruggedized outside version) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac APs incorporating 2 x GE LAN interfaces with link aggregation (LAG), 3x3 MIMO, and up to 1.9 Gbps performance with 1300 Mbps on 802.11ac and 600 Mbps on 11n. Both devices support 32 active WAN clients on each radio and 16 access points on each cluster.

The Cisco Small Business WAP581 Wireless-AC Dual Radio Wave 2 Wireless Access Point supports the Wi-Fi 5 standard and features 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO technology to deliver 2.8 Gbps data rates on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 0.6 Gbps at 2.4 GHz for a total max data rate of 2.4 Gbps. The WAP581 has an integrated 2.5G Ethernet interface and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN interface with 802.3at PoE. Cisco's WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point can handle as many as 200 connective client users, a maximum of 50 active client users for each radio, 16 access points per cluster, and 960 active client users for each cluster.

For more information about Progent's support for current and legacy Cisco Small Business series of WiFi access points, refer to Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 wireless APs system design and troubleshooting.

The Aironet Line of Wireless Access Points
The Aironet family of wireless access points has for years been the top-selling access point product. Aironet access points run the gamut from value priced devices to advanced units. Cisco's Aironet family cover multiple generations of models compliant with the evolving Wi-Fi standard. Cisco's latest portfolio of Aironet wireless access points work with Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and include 802.11ac technology, which delivers three times the throughput plus superior range and density than the previous generation of devices. Cisco's latest multi-frequency Aironet access points continue to accommodate 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for clients that do not have 802.11ac capability.

The oldest Aironet access points are now legacy units that have come to end-of-life status and are no longer supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the complete Aironet line of wireless access points and can help your company to manage and troubleshoot your existing Aironet wireless environment or upgrade efficiently to current Aironet technology. To find out more about Progent's support for current and outdated Aironet wireless access points, refer to Cisco Aironet access points consulting.

Meraki Access Points
Cisco's portfolio of Meraki 2.4/5 GHz indoor wireless access points include value-priced models for small businesses to enterprise-class products that offer up to 5.9 Gbit/sec performance. Every Cisco Meraki indoor access point offers next-generation features like self-configuring deployment, in-depth security, BYOD support, extensive traffic analysis, zero-touch over-the-web firmware updates, and centralized cloud-based management for multiple sites. Each Cisco Meraki indoor AP also incorporates two powerful radios with boosted reception plus a separate radio that offers intrusion detection and prevention system (WIDS/WIPS) security for RF analysis and deep packet inspection at line rate.

Cisco's Meraki outdoor APs are IP67 rated, built to operate in rugged outdoor environments, and tested to withstand dust, shock and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points include a Gigabit Ethernet port and deliver advanced capabilities that include cloud-based management with network-wide visibility, 802.1X and native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan (NAC), 1-click secure guest access and guest isolation firewall, application-aware traffic shaping, plus self-configuring mesh with MIMO. For details about Progent's support for Meraki wireless access points and cloud management, refer to Meraki access points consulting services.

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wi-Fi 6 Access Points
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 line of 802.11ax wireless APs are designed for deployments ranging from telecommuter homes to crowded stadiums. Cisco Catalyst 9100 access points are based on 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 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 improved dependability, increased device sleep time for conserving power usage in battery-dependent endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum use, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. All Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series wireless 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 consulting services for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Family of Wireless APs, refer to 802.11ax APs system planning, configuration, and debugging consulting.

Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless LAN controllers help you manage advanced Wi-Fi environments that support 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. 802.11ax, aka Wi-Fi 6, builds on prior generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) devices by providing lower latency and more predictable performance, allowing higher client user density, offering enhanced protection, conserving energy for battery-dependent mobile devices, and offering more versatility for supporting the latest kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controllers include always-on availability with transparent software upgrades, hot fixes, and the ability to connect additional APs with zero downtime. Enhanced cybersecurity features include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), image signing, and Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). Streaming telemetry allows you to monitor and analyze infrastructure and endpoint health.

All devices in the Catalyst 9800 family are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or with Cisco Prime Infrastructure management platforms. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 wireless LAN controllers can support Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 wireless APs as well as Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. To find out more about Progent's consulting services for Cisco 9800 line of 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Cisco Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 wireless controllers solution design, configuration, and troubleshooting services.

Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers enable realtime data exchange, provisioning, control, analysis and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and services. Cisco offers both physical and software-based wireless controllers for centralized management of wireless environments, but systems with a large number of wireless APs typically require hardware-based wireless controllers. New wireless controller appliances from Cisco offer significant benefits over Wave 1 and earlier products such as greater throughput, concurrent support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, improved application visibility and control, and hardened, integrated protection.

Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is a value-priced appliance available in a desktop form factor and intended for small and medium-sized organizations. You can use the 3504 in a centralized network architecture such as in small branch and remote offices administered across the WAN with FlexConnect, or in bridge deployments where wiring is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 150 access points and 3,000 users, delivers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller features a multi-gigabit Ethernet interface and four 1-GB Ethernet connections. Access points can be attached to the WiFi controller via two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller features fast failover for access points and users, which allows high availability for applications. As with other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 device has the built-in ability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

The Cisco 5520 WiFi Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) enclosure, is designed to support midsize to large enterprises and campus environments and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller supports up to 1,500 wireless APs and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup fans, optional backup power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.

Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2RU form factor, is a top-of-the-line 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 can handle as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 client users. The 8540 WiFi controller offers data rates up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 comes with four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, dual power supplies, redundant fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi Network Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the effort and cost needed to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot wireless networks by centralizing control of functions such as setting up APs, enforcing consistent policies throughout converged wired/wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service (QoS) for IP voice and HD video, monitoring and troubleshooting system performance, implementing security tools to defend against unauthorized access and DDoS threats, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has developed wireless network controllers for businesses of any size and offers desktop or rackmount controllers, modular add-on controllers for Cisco ISR routers and Catalyst switches, and switches with integrated wireless network controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to avoid RF interference and produce self-optimizing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Integrated Bonjour Gateways permit discovery and policy throughout WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless controllers allow AP and client stateful failover by enabling a standby high-availability wireless controller to synchronize with a main controller for AP license count, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. If the main controller stops working, thousands of wireless access points and clients can failover immediately to the secondary wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides basic 802.11n and 802.11ac support for 2900 and 3900 Series routers used by small to medium-sized businesses and branch offices. This value-priced and expandable solution can handle up to 200 access points and up to 6000 wireless clients. (To find out concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting consulting.)

Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches intended for SMBs and branch offices and have a built-in wireless controller with the capability to support 40 Gb of wireless capacity for each switch and up to 25 wireless access points and 1000 wireless clients per switch. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for midsize and large organizations and feature a built-in wireless network controller supporting 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and support for 50 APs and 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 (WiSM2) is an add-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches that include an integrated wireless LAN controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps throughput and able to handle 1000 access points and as many as 15,000 wireless clients. (To learn about Progent's consulting services for Cisco Catalyst switches, refer to Catalyst switches deployment and troubleshooting support.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop units that streamline the deployment and operation of Wi-Fi networks for small and midsize businesses and branch offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless LAN controller can manage from five to 75 APs and up to 1000 wireless clients and can deliver sustained data rates of up to 1 Gbps.

The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU unit designed for mid-to-large sized enterprises and campuses and can manage up to 500 APs and 7,000 wireless clients while providing 8 Gbps performance. The Cisco 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large campuses with the ability to manage up to 1000 APs and 12,000 wireless clients and providing throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high client densities and high amounts of video-intensive mobile applications.

Cisco's Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is intended to enable centralized management of thousands of wireless branches from a single datacenter, eliminating the costs of a Wi-Fi controller at every remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance allows you to build a private cloud to configure, monitor, maintain, and repair as many as 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while handling 1 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to monitor and manage wireless networks for very large campuses or for service providers and can scale to support 6000 access points and up to 64,000 clients while offering 10 Gbps performance.

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

Legacy Cisco APs, Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The introduction of the IEEE 802.11ac standard for wireless connectivity largely rendered obsolete all previous releases of Wi-Fi products for many environments that have high densities of clients and high incidence of HD video software applications. Even for businesses who do not currently need the bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, a large number of Cisco wireless devices have reached end-of-life status, which can pose significant service and regulatory compliance issues. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts provide remote and on-premises support services for a broad array of older-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can in addition help organizations to evaluate the potential ROI for upgrading up-of-date wireless technology and can assist in planning and carrying out affordable, non-disruptive migrations. The following are a few of Cisco older-generation Wi-Fi products that Progent's consultants still support.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Access Points
Aironet 1000 or 1130AG family APs are designed for conventional workplaces and other sites which have minimal environmental variability. These access points include built-in antennas that offer predictable radio range profiles. The 1130G family access point is available for restricted locations that do not allow 802.11a operation.

Aironet 1230AG/1240AG Series wireless access points are ideal for more problematic radio frequency situations like manufacturing plants and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which often call for flexible protruding antennas and ruggedized cases. The Cisco 1240G Series product is intended for regulatory locations that do not allow 802.11a/5GHz operation.

Cisco Aironet 1500 family lightweight outdoor wireless mesh LAN access points offer a cost-effective, scalable, secure outdoor wireless solution for enterprise campuses and for public venues that need access for mobile devices.

Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges provide a high-speed and feature-rich technology for connecting multiple LANs in a metro situation or public access environment. Cisco Aironet wireless bridges offer a versatile, manageable solution that meets the protection demands of public networking professionals. These bridges support both point-to-point and PTMP implementations with excellent range and the ability to handle data throughput up to 54 Mbps.

Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges deliver throughput dramatically faster than E1/T1 lines for far less cost, erasing the requirement for expensive leased lines when linking different offices. Because bridges carry no recurring costs, the expenses saved on connection bills quickly pay for the initial hardware costs. Self-installed private lines and in some cases leased lines utilizing copper or fiber-optic cable often result in high startup expenses if they are separated by barriers like freeways, railroads, or lakes and rivers. Cisco wireless bridges can be deployed rapidly with a fast return on investment.

Cisco 1300 Series outside wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as stand-alone access points, bridges, or wireless group bridges. These products have a tough enclosure and provide fast, affordable wireless interfaces between multiple stationary or mobile networks and users.

Cisco 1400 Series wireless bridges offer high-performance, dependable outdoor wireless bridging for line-of-sight environments. They include a ruggedized cover that can hold up to harsh outdoor conditions and function in wide temperature ranges.

Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco WLAN Controllers provide single-point management of WLANs by streamlining the handling of common functions including integrated IPS, fast RF management, automatic configuration, and full N+1 redundancy. These controllers operate with small wireless access points to offer enhanced performance and high-end management capabilities.

Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) provide the control, expandability, security, and fault tolerance that system managers need to create secure, large-scale wireless environments, from branch offices to small businesses to main campuses. Cisco's legacy Wireless Network Controllers can be clustered to offer support for as many as 2400 access points for each roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for IS Routers provides small-to medium businesses and large corporations an economical way to implement and control protected wireless LANs at branch offices. These devices supervise as many as 12 Aironet wireless access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Series Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (To learn concerning Progent's remote and onsite consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting consulting.)

How Progent's Consultants Can Help Your Business with Cisco Wireless Solutions
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consulting professional to assist your business to plan, deploy, manage and repair a converged wired/wireless infrastructure incorporating a wide array of wireless products that provide the same security, extensibility, and manageability you expect from a wired network. Progent can help you to support early-generation wireless solutions from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax-compatible products. Progent's CISM and CISSP security specialists can advise you about how to design security into your wireless network and your company's operations. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity planners can help you to configure the HA features incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged network delivers continuing return on investment.

Progent’s Wi-Fi Site Survey assists you to plan and deploy a robust WLAN customized for your facilities, offering a Wi-Fi ecosystem that provides seamless coverage, high speed and capacity, QoS features to accommodate IP video, advanced security, and simplified management. Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey can be delivered online to reduce time and costs, or on premises to deal with more difficult facilities.

For a more in-depth discussion of Progent's wireless consulting capabilities, visit Progent's Wireless Support Services.

For more information about Progent's professional expertise for Cisco technology, select a subject:

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Consulting Services
• Fast Online Support from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower: Configuration and Management Support
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Integration Assistance
• PIX 500 Series Firewall Maintenance Services
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Aironet Wireless APs Design Help
• Cisco Small Business WiFi APs System Design Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6 APs Planning, Deployment and Debugging Consulting
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Experts
• Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points Engineering Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones and IP Video Phones Expertise and Wireless IP Phone Integration
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Services
• Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Security and VPN Engineering Support
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP PSTN Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design Expertise for Cisco-powered Datacenters
• Data Center Optimization Services for Internet Service Providers
• Centralized Network Management Techniques for Cisco-based Infrastructure