Cisco offers an extensive line of wireless LAN products and software tools designed to provide continual connections to data and resources and to promote collaboration among employees, partners, suppliers, and clients. Cisco's wireless offerings include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of wireless access points, plus Cisco's Wireless LAN Controller plug-ins and standalone devices. Progent's certified wireless experts can help businesses of any size to utilize Cisco wireless technology to accommodate the current model of Bring-Your-Own-Device networks by converging their tethered and untethered networks to achieve simplified deployment, predictable throughput, single-point management, enterprise-wide policy enforcement, fault tolerance, and across-the-board security.
The Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution can scale to as many as 18,000 access points with Layer 3 connectivity across local or remote locations such as business campuses, college lecture halls, branches, 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 wireless LANs that companies demand in their wired infrastructure. This architecture incorporates integrated mobile services like Voice over IP, HD video, and safe guest access. Cisco's Unified Wireless solution enables companies to build wireless environments that improve the way they work and improve output through a dynamic and collaborative employee base.
Progent's Cisco-certified network infrastructure consulting services can provide remote or on-premises expertise to help your organization to design, deploy, maintain, upgrade, and repair converged wired/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 network with customized access point clusters optimized for your individual office layout, building characteristics, and application workloads.
Cisco Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of APs allow you to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to deliver the coverage, density, performance, security and manageability required for practically any environment. Cisco's APs range from entry-level, single-radio 802.11b/g/n units with data rates of 300 Mbps designed for small businesses or home offices to Wi-Fi 6 access points capable of supporting hundreds of wireless clients per access point and delivering sustained data rates of more than 5 Gb. Cisco's latest selection of access points can be combined or clustered to provide the scale to support environments crowded with clients and with high usage rates of video-intense apps.
Small Business Family of Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series of access points are Linux-powered units engineered as entry-level wireless solutions for light workloads. Many models in the Cisco Small Business line of APs support Cisco's Single Point Setup technology, which makes it possible to configure, manage and repair a cluster of wireless access points from one device through a simple browser-based tool. All of the versions include Power over Ethernet and provide Quality of Service (QoS), rogue access point detection, and bridging for connecting to another network.
The Cisco Small Business WAP121 Wireless-N Access Point is a wall-mountable, single-radio 2.4GHz device able to support 16 802.11b/g/n clients, includes a Fast Ethernet interface, permits up to 4 access pointss and 40 active wireless clients per cluster, and supports throughput of up to 300 Mbps. Cisco's Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11n AP able to handle 16 wireless clients per radio for up to 32 clients, features a GE interface, and delivers throughput of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP131 does not allow AP clustering. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 is a value-priced Wave 1 dual-radio 802.11ac/n AP that features a one Gbit Poe port and can handle 16 clients from each radio with 867 Mbps performance for AC devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n devices. Cisco's WAP1501 allows 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 device that can handle up to 80 active clients sharing an 8-AP cluster. The WAP321 includes a Gigabit Ethernet interface and can deliver throughput of 300 Mbps for the selected radio. The Cisco Small Business WAP351 is a dual-radio 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n wireless access point that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can support 32 active wireless clients on each radio for up to 64 active clients, and deliver a sustained data rate of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 does not allow clustering. Cisco's WAP361 is a dual-radio 802.11ac Wave 1 wireless access point that includes a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, allows 32 clients per radio, and offers 867 Mbps performance for 802.11ac clients and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n devices. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 allows 8 WAP361 access points for each cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-band AP that works with 802.11n and the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi specification. The WAP371 includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface, can support 32 active wireless clients on each radio, and eight access points for each cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP561 Wireless-N Selectable Band access point includes a Gigabit Ethernet port and dual concurrent radios (2.4 and 5.0 GHz) that deliver 450 Mbps performance per radio, support 64 devices for each radio, and allow 16 wireless access points for each cluster. The Cisco WAP551 is similar to Cisco's WAP 561 but features a single radio selectable band. Cisco's WAP571 and WAP571E (the weather-proof outdoor model) are dual-radio 802.11ac APs incorporating two Gb Ethernet LAN interfaces with link aggregation, and as high as 1.9 Gigabit/sec throughput with 1300 Mbps on 11ac and 600 Mbps over 802.11n. Both access points can handle 32 active WAN clients per radio and 16 wireless access points on each cluster.
The Cisco WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 Wireless Access Point complies with the 802.11ac specification and offers 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO to deliver 2.8 Gbps throughput at 5 GHz and 0.6 Gbps at 2.4 GHz for an aggregate 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 PoE. Cisco's WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 access point can handle up to 200 connective client users, up to 50 active users per radio, 16 APs per cluster, and 960 active users for each cluster.
To learn more about Progent's support for current and older Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 family of WiFi access points, see Cisco Small Business WiFi APs consulting.
Cisco's Aironet Line of Access Points
The Aironet portfolio of wireless access points has for years been the top-selling AP product. Aironet wireless access points range from entry-level devices to enterprise-class APs. The Aironet line cover several generations of models compliant with the continually improving 802 standard. Cisco's latest portfolio of Aironet APs support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture and include 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, which offers three times the throughput as well as superior range and density compared to the prior generation of APs. The latest multi-band Aironet APs continue to accommodate 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for clients that do not have 802.11ac capability.
The earliest Aironet access points are outdated units that have come to end-of-life status and are not fully supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the complete Aironet family of wireless access points and can assist you to manage and troubleshoot your current Aironet wireless environment or upgrade efficiently to current Aironet technology. For more information about Progent's support for both current and legacy Cisco Aironet access points, refer to Aironet APs system design and troubleshooting.
Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's family of Meraki dual-band indoor APs range from budget-friendly devices for small businesses to advanced products supporting up to 5.9 Gbit/sec throughput. Each Cisco Meraki indoor access point provides high-end features such as self-configuring deployment, advanced security, BYOD support, built-in analytics, automatic web-based firmware updates, and unified cloud-based management via an intuitive dashboard. Each Cisco Meraki indoor wireless access point also includes dual powerful client-serving radios with boosted reception plus a separate radio that offers intrusion detection and prevention system (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection.
Meraki outdoor access points are IP67 certified, built to operate in rugged outdoor conditions, and able to withstand dust particles, shock and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points include a Gigabit Ethernet port and offer advanced features such as cloud-based management with multi-site visibility and control, native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan (NAC), 1-click secure guest access and guest isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus self-configuring mesh with MIMO and beamforming. To find out more about Progent's support for Cisco's Meraki wireless access points and cloud management, refer to Meraki wireless access points system design and troubleshooting.
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E APs
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E 802.11ax APs are intended for environments ranging from telecommuter homes to high-density arenas. Catalyst 9100 access points are based on the 802.11ax standard, known as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the previous 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) specification. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz radio bands. Headline technologies incorporated in Catalyst 9100 Series APs include OFDMA scheduling for high density deployments, dual NAVs for better reliability, TWT for reduced power consumption in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum utilization, and extended guard intervals for improved outdoor performance. Cisco Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 APs can run Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller, accommodate as many as 400 client users per radio, and are powered by Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 916x Series Wi-Fi 6E access points are the first Cisco APs to feature the versatility of being monitored and managed on-prem via Cisco DNA Center platform or from the cloud using Meraki Dashboard management tools. This permits businesses to move to cloud-based or hybrid deployments on their own timetable. All Catalyst 916x APs comply with the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E Wi-Fi specifications and include support for the 6-GHz band. Each AP includes 5 radios and allows up to 400 clients on each radio. Each AP model also comes with a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for mitigating wireless interference, has a USB 2.0 port, and supports Bluetooth Low Energy. The small-footprint Catalyst 9162 Series AP is suited for small organizations, incorporates three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet connectivity.
The Catalyst 9163E Wi-Fi 6E AP is built to withstand harsh outside venues such as campuses or stadiums. The 9163E comes with three client serving 2x2 radios, an 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 a GPS/GNSS antenna connector. The AP works with Omnidirectional Dipole Self-Identifying Antennas. The Catalyst 9164 Series access point is designed for small and middle-size organizations, has one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and offers 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9166 Series AP is suited for large and mid-sized organizations, has three 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet connectivity. The 9166 also has environmental sensors that measure air quality, temperature, and moisture. For more information about Progent's support for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax APs, refer to 802.11ax APs system planning, configuration, and management services.
Cisco 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless LAN controller appliances allow you to automate and manage modern wireless environments that incorporate 802.11ax APs. 802.11ax, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, builds on previous generation 802.11ac (referred to as Wi-Fi 5) appliances by delivering lower latency and more reliable performance, allowing higher client user density, providing greater security, saving energy for battery-powered mobile devices, and allowing more versatility for supporting new kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi controllers feature always-on availability with transparent software upgrades, hot fixes, and the ability to connect additional wireless APs with zero service interruption. Enhanced security technologies include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), secure boot, and Cisco Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry permits you to track and analyze network and client health.
All devices in the Catalyst 9800 line are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and work with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or Prime Infrastructure network management platforms. Catalyst 9800 Series wireless network controllers can manage Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 and Wave 2 APs as well as Cisco Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi access points. To learn more about Progent's consulting services for Cisco 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, see Cisco Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6 wireless controller appliances solution design, deployment, and management consulting.
Cisco Wave 2 Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers allow fast communication, provisioning, administration, monitoring and debugging for Cisco wireless devices and software services. Cisco offers both physical and software-based wireless controllers for unified management of WiFi networks, but networks with many Wi-Fi APs typically require hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. New Wi-Fi controller devices from Cisco offer major advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and older products such as greater performance, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, improved application visibility and control, and hardened, built-in security.
Cisco's 3504 WiFi Controller is a value-priced device available in a desktop form factor and intended for smaller businesses. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network architecture such as in lean branch and remote offices administered over the wide-area network with FlexConnect, or in bridge deployments where wiring is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller can handle up to 150 wireless APs and 3,000 users, offers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 wireless controller features a Cisco Multigigabit interface and four 1-GB Ethernet ports. Access points can be connected to the WiFi controller through two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller features subsecond failover for APs and users, which provides high availability for apps. Like other current Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers from Cisco, the 3504 model has the built-in ability to work with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WiFi controllers.
The Cisco 5520 WiFi Controller, available in a 1 rack unit package, is designed to support larger organizations and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller can handle up to 1,500 Wi-Fi access points and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller features two 10 GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, backup fans, optional backup power supplies, and rapid failover for uninterrupted availability.
The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2 rack unit package, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 WiFi controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and can handle as many as 6,000 wireless APs and 64,000 clients. The 8540 Wireless controller offers data rates as high as 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller comes with four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup power supplies, redundant fans, and rapid failover.
Wave 1 Cisco WiFi LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless network controllers reduce the effort and cost required to configure, monitor, and operate wireless networks by offering single-point control of critical functions like setting up APs, applying consistent policies across wired/wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service for voice and video, monitoring and optimizing system performance, activating wireless intrusion prevention system (wIPS) capabilities to guard against unauthorized access and DDoS threats, and managing IPv6 clients. Cisco has designed wireless network controllers for organizations of all sizes and offers standalone desktop controllers, modular plug-in wireless controllers for Cisco ISR routers and switches, and Catalyst switches with integrated wireless controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi LAN controllers include Cisco CleanAir tools to avoid RF interference and produce self-healing and self-optimizing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and protection. Integrated Apple Bonjour Gateways permit discovery across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless LAN controllers support access point and client stateful switchover by permitting a backup high-availability controller to synchronize with a primary controller for AP license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and AP CAPWAP state. In case the primary wireless controller stops working, thousands of APs and clients can failover at subsecond speeds to the secondary controller.
Cisco's Wireless Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E offers basic 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for Cisco 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by smaller organizations and branch offices. This value-priced and scalable module can support from five to 200 wireless access points and as many as 6000 clients. (To learn concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and management support.)
Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches designed for small to mid-size businesses and branch offices and features a built-in wireless network controller with the capability to support 40 Gb of wireless throughput for each switch and up to 25 wireless access points and 1000 wireless clients per switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches designed for mid-size and large organizations and feature a built-in wireless controller supporting up to 40 Gb of wireless capacity per switch and support for up to 50 access points and up to 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 (WiSM2) is an add-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with an integrated wireless LAN controller intended for mid-to-large size businesses and capable of 20 Gbps performance and able to handle up to 1000 wireless access points and 15,000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's support for Catalyst switches, see Cisco switches deployment and management services.)
Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are value-priced desktop appliances that streamline the deployment and operation of Wi-Fi LANs for small and midsize businesses and branches. The 2500 Series wireless controller can handle from five to 75 wireless access points and 1000 clients and can deliver sustained data rates of 1 Gbps.
The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU unit intended for medium-sized to large organizations and campuses and can support 500 wireless access points and 7,000 clients while providing 8 Gbps performance. The Cisco 5760 Wireless Controller is a 1RU device intended 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 usage of media-rich applications.
The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed 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 allows you to build a private cloud to configure, track, manage, and troubleshoot up to 6000 APs and up to 64,000 clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to manage Wi-Fi networks for very large campuses or service providers and can scale to support up to 6000 access points and up to 64,000 clients while offering 10 Gbps performance.
To find out more about Cisco WiFi controllers, go to Cisco Wi-Fi controllers consulting and integration.
Legacy Cisco Access Points, LAN Bridges and Wireless Controllers Supported by Progent
The introduction of the IEEE 802.11ac standard for Wi-Fi effectively rendered obsolete the prior 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 bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, many of Cisco wireless devices have reached end-of-life status, which can represent serious service and regulatory compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts provide online and on-premises support for a wide array of older-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can also assist companies to assess the financial justification for updating legacy wireless infrastructure and can help in planning and carrying out affordable, non-disruptive migrations. Below are a few of Cisco older-generation wireless products that Progent's consultants still support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet APs
Aironet 1000/1130AG Series APs are designed for conventional workplaces and other locations which have minimal environmental instability. These devices include integrated antennas that provide predictable omnidirectional range patterns. The Aironet 1130G family access point is available for regulated locations that do not allow 802.11a transmission.
Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG Series APs are intended for more challenging radio frequency situations like manufacturing plants and warehouses or above ceiling structures which typically call for adjustable protruding antennas and rugged metal cases. The Cisco Aironet 1240G Series product is designed for regulatory locations that do not permit 802.11a operation.
Aironet 1500 family lightweight outdoor wireless mesh APs offer an affordable, expandable, secure outdoor wireless network mechanism for enterprise campuses and for public sites that require access for portable phones or computers.
Legacy Cisco Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco Aironet wireless bridges offer a high-performance and feature-rich technology for connecting multiple LANs in a metro situation or public wireless environment. Cisco Aironet bridges provide a flexible, easy-to-use technology that meets the security requirements of WAN professionals. They handle both P2P and point-to-multipoint configurations with good range and the ability to handle traffic throughput up to 54 Mbps.
Cisco wireless LAN bridges deliver data rates substantially higher than E1/T1 connections for far less expense, erasing the necessity of expensive leased lines when linking different buildings. Because wireless bridges have no ongoing costs, the expenses saved on connection bills rapidly pay for the initial equipment investment. Self-installed private lines and even leased lines utilizing metal or optical cable can require considerable initial costs when they are impeded by barriers like highways, train tracks, or lakes and rivers. Cisco Aironet wireless bridges can be deployed rapidly with a fast return on investment.
Cisco 1300 outside wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as independent wireless access points, bridges, or workgroup bridges. These products have a ruggedized cover and offer high-speed, cost-effective wireless connectivity between multiple stationary or mobile networks and clients.
Cisco Aironet 1400 family bridges offer high-speed, reliable outdoor wireless bridging for line-of-sight applications. These devices include a durable enclosure that can withstand severe outside conditions and can operate within wide temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Controllers
Cisco WLAN Controllers centralize the management of wireless LANs by simplifying the handling of common functions such as intrusion prevention, fast RF management, automatic configuration, and N+1 redundancy. Wireless LAN controllers operate with lightweight wireless access points to deliver superior performance and advanced management functions.
WLAN Controllers offer the manageability, scalability, protection, and resilience that system managers require to build safe, large-scale wireless solutions, from satellite offices to small companies to main campuses. Cisco's first-generation WLCs can be clustered to offer support for up to 2400 access points per roaming domain.
Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Controller Module for Integrated Services (IS) Routers offers small-to medium businesses (SMBs) and large corporations an economical solution to implement and manage protected wireless LANs at branch offices. These products supervise as many as twelve Cisco wireless access points and are supported on 2800/3800 Routers and 3700 Series IS Routers. (For information concerning Progent's online and on-premises consulting support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)
How Progent's Engineers Can Assist Your Business with Cisco Wireless Devices
Progent can provide a Cisco-certified expert to assist your business to plan, install, maintain and troubleshoot a converged wired/wireless environment incorporating a wide range of wireless technologies that provide the identical security, extensibility, and ease of management you expect from a wired network. Progent can assist you to manage legacy Wi-Fi solutions from Cisco or upgrade efficiently to current 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology. Progent's CISA and ISSAP security consultants can show you how to design protection into your wireless network and into your company's operations. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity consultants can help you to set up the high availability features built into Cisco's wired/wireless technologies so your converged network delivers significant return on investment.
Progent's Wireless Site Survey helps you to plan and implement a state-of-the-art WLAN customized for your facilities, offering a Wi-Fi solution that provides seamless coverage, high performance and capacity, QoS features to handle IP voice and video, advanced security and compliance, and streamlined management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be delivered remotely to cut time and expense, or onsite for more challenging facilities.
For a further discussion of Progent's wireless integration services, see Progent's Wireless Network Consulting.
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