Cisco has developed a comprehensive line of wireless networking devices and technologies designed to enable anywhere, anytime access to information and resources and to promote collaboration among workers, partners, vendors, and clients. Cisco's wireless offerings include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points, as well as Cisco's Wireless LAN Controller plug-ins and standalone devices. Progent's Cisco-certified wireless consultants can help organizations of all sizes to utilize Cisco wireless products to support the current model of Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) computing by converging their wired/wireless environments to benefit from easy configuration, predictable performance, single-point management, uniform policy, high availability, and across-the-board protection.

The Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution can scale to up to 18,000 APs with Layer 3 mobility across local or remote locations such as enterprise campuses, college auditoriums, branch offices, and home offices. Cisco's 802.11x access points and controllers are part of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are engineered to support the same level of protection, throughput, and ease of management for WLANs that companies expect in their wired networks. This architecture includes integrated mobile services like Voice over IP, HD video, and secure guest access. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network solution enables companies to create wireless ecosystems that improve the way they do business and improve output via a mobile and collaborative workforce.
Progent's Cisco-certified network consultants can provide remote or onsite support to help your organization to plan, configure, manage, expand, and repair converged wired and wireless network infrastructure of all sizes and for any environment. Also, Progent can provide economical online and onsite Wi-Fi site surveys to assist you to design and deploy a Wi-Fi network with customized access point clusters optimized for your individual work area layout, building structure, and intended application.
Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Access Points
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst lines of APs allow you to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to provide the coverage, density, throughput, protection and ease of management required to support practically any environment. These APs start at entry-level, single-band 802.11b/g/n devices with data rates of 300 Mbps for very small companies or telecommuters to Wi-Fi 6 APs capable of handling hundreds of clients per access point and delivering throughput in excess of 5 Gb. Cisco's latest selection of APs can be combined or clustered to provide the scale to support wireless networks with high client density and with high usage rates of video-intense apps.
Small Business Series of Access Points
Cisco's Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series of wireless access points are Linux-based devices intended as entry-level Wi-Fi solutions for light workloads. Many versions in the Cisco Small Business line of access points support Cisco's Single Point Setup system, which makes it possible to configure, control and repair a group of wireless access points from a single AP through a simple web browser tool. All models support Power over Ethernet and provide QoS, rogue AP awareness, and bridge mode for connecting to a second network.
Cisco's Small Business WAP121 Access Point is a wall-mountable, single-radio 2.4GHz device able to support 16 active 802.11n clients, has a Fast Ethernet port, permits up to four access pointss and 40 wireless clients per cluster, and supports sustained data rates of up to 300 Mbps. Cisco's WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11n access point able to support 16 active wireless clients per radio for up to 32 clients, includes a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface, and delivers throughput of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not allow clustering. Cisco's 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 up to 16 clients per radio with 867 Mbps performance for AC devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n devices. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 allows 4 access points per cluster.
The Cisco Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point is a wall-mountable single-band (2.4 or 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n device that can handle 80 active clients sharing an 8-device cluster. The WAP321 includes a GE port and can support throughput of 300 Mbps for the activated radio. Cisco's WAP351 is a dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n AP that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and can support 32 active clients per radio for a total of up to 64 active clients, and deliver a data rate of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP351 access point does not allow clustering. Cisco's WAP361 is a dual-radio Wireless-AC/N wireless access point that features a 5 x Gb Ethernet LAN switch, allows 32 clients on each radio, and offers 867 Mbps performance for wireless AC clients and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. The Cisco Small Business WAP361 supports 8 WAP361 access points per cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-radio AP that supports 802.11n and the latest 802.11ac IEEE standard. The WAP371 includes a Gigabit Ethernet port, can support as many as 32 active clients per radio, and 8 access points for each cluster.
Cisco's Small Business WAP561 Wireless-N Dual Radio wireless access point includes one Gigabit Ethernet port and dual concurrent radios (2.4 and 5.0 GHz) that offer 450 Mbps throughput for each radio, can handle 64 devices per radio, and allow up to 16 wireless access points for each cluster. Cisco's WAP551 is similar to the WAP 561 but features a single selectable band. Cisco's WAP571 and WAP571E (the weather-proof outside model) are dual-band 802.11ac Wave 1 APs that feature two Gb Ethernet ports with link aggregation, and as high as 1.9 Gbps performance with 1300 Mbps on 11ac and 600 Mbps on 802.11n. Both devices can handle 32 clients per radio and 16 APs per cluster.

Cisco's Small Business WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 Access Point complies with the 802.11ac standard and features 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO technology to provide 2.8 Gbps data rates on the 5.0-Ghz radio and 0.6 Gbps at 2.4 GHz for a total max throughput of 2.4 Gbps. The Small Business WAP581 includes an integrated 2.5G Ethernet interface and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet 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 users for each cluster.
To find out more about Progent's support for current and legacy Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 family of WiFi access points, see Cisco Small Business WiFi access points consulting services.
The Aironet Line of Wireless Access Points

The Aironet portfolio of indoor and outdoor wireless APs has for years been the top-selling AP solution. Aironet APs range from entry-level models to advanced APs. Cisco's Aironet series span multiple generations of models compliant with the continually improving 11x specification. The latest line of Aironet wireless access points support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture and come with 802.11ac technology, which delivers three times the speed plus greater coverage and user density in comparison to the prior generation of APs. The latest multi-band Aironet access points can support 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for client devices that lack 802.11ac capability.
The oldest Aironet APs are now legacy devices that have come to end-of-sale status and are not supported by Cisco. Progent continues to support the complete Aironet line of wireless access points and can help you to manage and troubleshoot your current Aironet Wi-Fi environment or upgrade smoothly to current Aironet products. For details about Progent's consulting services for current and outdated Cisco Aironet access points, refer to Aironet APs planning and support.
Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
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Cisco's portfolio of Meraki dual-band indoor APs include budget-friendly models for small businesses to enterprise-class products supporting as high as 5.9 Gigabit per second throughput. Each Cisco Meraki indoor wireless access point offers high-end capabilities like self-configuring plug-and-play installation, in-depth security, BYOD support, extensive analytics, zero-touch over-the-web firmware updates, and consolidated cloud-based management via an intuitive dashboard. Every Cisco Meraki indoor AP also incorporates two high-power client-serving radios with enhanced receive sensitivity as well as a dedicated radio that provides intrusion detection and prevention system (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection.
Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points are IP67 rated, designed to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, and able to withstand dust, vibration and humidity. Cisco's Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a 1 x Gbit Ethernet port and deliver advanced capabilities that include cloud management with multi-site control, native Active Directory integration, built-in antivirus scan, 1-click guest access and isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus auto-configuring mesh with beamforming. To find out more about Progent's support for Meraki wireless access points and management tools, refer to Meraki APs consulting services.
Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 and W-Fi 6E APs

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E 802.11ax access points are designed for environments ranging from home offices to crowded arenas. Cisco Catalyst 9100 APs are compliant with the 802.11ax standard, known as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) specification. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz bands. Headline enhancements incorporated in Catalyst 9100 Series access points include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for improved reliability, increased device sleep time for reduced power consumption in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum utilization, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series wireless access points can run Cisco's EWC, handle up to 400 clients per Wi-Fi radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software.
Cisco's Catalyst 9160 Series Wi-Fi 6E access points are the first Cisco access points with the flexibility to be monitored and managed on-site via Cisco DNA Center or via the cloud by deploying Meraki Dashboard management utilities. This enables organizations to transition to cloud-centric or hybrid management environments on their own timetable. All Cisco's Catalyst 916x access points comply with the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E Wi-Fi standards and support the new 6-GHz band. Each AP includes 5 radios and supports as many as 400 clients per radio. Every model also contains a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for mitigating wireless interference, includes a USB 2.0 port, and offers Bluetooth BLE. Cisco's small-footprint Catalyst 9162 Series AP is meant for small businesses, incorporates three 2x2 radios, and provides 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet connectivity.
The Catalyst 9163E Wi-Fi 6E AP is built for harsh outdoor deployments like campus environments 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 (RJ-45), a management console port (RJ-45), 4x N-Type Wi-Fi antenna connectors, and a GPS/GNSS antenna connector. The 9163E works with Omnidirectional Dipole Self-Identifying Antennas. The Catalyst 9164 Series access point is intended for small and mid-size organizations, includes one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and provides 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9166 Series Wi-Fi access point is designed for large and mid-sized enterprises, includes three 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet support. The 9166 also includes environmental sensors to track air quality, temperature, and humidity. For details about Progent's support for Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Line of 802.11ax Access Points, see Wi-Fi 6/6E access points solution planning, deployment, and debugging consulting.
Cisco 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-compatible wireless controllers help you manage advanced wireless networks that incorporate 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. 802.11ax, popularly known as Wi-Fi 6, builds on prior generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) devices by delivering less latency and more predictable performance, allowing higher client user density, providing enhanced protection, saving energy for battery-dependent mobile devices, and offering more flexibility for supporting the latest types of IoT endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controllers include always-on availability with seamless software upgrades, hot patching, and the ability to add access points without downtime. Enhanced security features include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), secure boot, and Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). Streaming telemetry permits you to monitor and understand infrastructure and endpoint health.
All appliances in the Catalyst 9800 family are based on Cisco's IOS XE Software and work with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or with Cisco Prime Infrastructure network management tools. Catalyst 9800 wireless LAN controllers can support Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 Wi-Fi access points as well as Catalyst 9100 802.11ax Wi-Fi access points. For more information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Catalyst 9800 Series Wi-Fi 6 wireless LAN controller appliances system design, configuration, and management consulting.
Cisco Wave 2 802.11ac Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers allow realtime data exchange, configuration, control, analysis and troubleshooting for Cisco Wi-Fi appliances and services. Cisco offers both hardware and software-based wireless controllers for centralized management of WiFi networks, but systems with a large number of wireless access points are better served by hardware-based Wi-Fi controllers. New wireless controller devices from Cisco offer significant advantages in comparison to Wave 1 and earlier products such as higher performance, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G interfaces, enhanced application visibility and control (AVC), and advanced, integrated security.
Cisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level appliance with a desktop body and designed for smaller businesses. You can use the 3504 model in a centralized network environment such as in small branch and home-based offices administered across the WAN with Cisco FlexConnect, or in mesh deployments where Ethernet cabling is limited. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller can handle as many as 150 wireless APs and 3,000 users, delivers 4 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 3504 WiFi controller includes a multi-gigabit Ethernet port and four 1-GB Ethernet interfaces. APs can be attached to the WiFi controller through two Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers subsecond failover for access points and users, which allows nonstop availability for apps. Like other current Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers from Cisco, the 3504 model has the integrated ability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.
The Cisco 5520 WiFi Controller, available in a 1 rack unit (RU) package, is designed to support larger organizations and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle as many as 1,500 Wi-Fi access points and 20,000 users, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, redundant fans, optional dual power supplies, and subsecond failover for uninterrupted availability.
The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller, available in a 2 rack unit (RU) enclosure, is a high-end WiFi controller designed to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 Wireless controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and supports up to 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 users. The 8540 Wireless 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 solid-state storage, backup power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.
Wave 1 Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers reduce the time and expense needed to configure, manage, and operate Wi-Fi networks by offering single-point control of tasks like setting up access points, applying single-point policies throughout wired/wireless LANs, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for IP voice and HD video, tracking and optimizing network performance, implementing intrusion prevention tools to guard against cyber break-ins and Distributed Denial of Service threats, and managing IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has designed wireless LAN controllers for organizations of any size and can provide standalone desktop appliances, modular add-on controllers for Cisco routers and switches, and Catalyst switches with built-in wireless controllers.
Cisco's Wave 1 WiFi network controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize signal interference and create self-healing wireless networks for maximum 802.11n and 802.11ac throughput and security. Integrated Bonjour Gateways permit discovery and policy across WLAN, LAN and WAN for Apple-based applications. For high availability, Cisco wireless LAN controllers allow AP and client stateful failover by permitting a backup HA controller to synch with a primary wireless controller for AP license tabulation, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and access point CAPWAP state. In case the primary wireless controller fails, thousands of access points and wireless clients can switchover immediately to the backup wireless controller.
Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E offers entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by small to medium-sized organizations and branches. This affordable and scalable module can support from five to 200 APs and up to 6000 clients. (To find out concerning Progent's online and on-premises consulting support services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and management consulting.)
Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches designed for small to mid-size businesses and branch offices and come with a built-in wireless LAN controller with the capability to handle 40 Gb of wireless capacity for each switch and 25 wireless access points and 1000 wireless clients on each switch. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches intended for mid-size and large organizations and feature a built-in wireless controller with up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and the ability to handle 50 APs and 2000 wireless clients. The Wireless Services Module2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless network controller intended for mid-to-large size businesses and able to deliver 20 Gbps throughput and able to handle up to 1000 access points and 15,000 clients. (To find out about Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco switches, refer to Cisco Catalyst switches configuration and troubleshooting services.)
Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop devices that simplify the provisioning and management of wireless networks for small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices. The Cisco 2500 Series wireless controller can handle 5 to 75 access points and 1000 clients and offers sustained performance of up to 1 Gbps.
The Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large sized organizations and campuses and can support up to 500 APs and 7,000 clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large campuses with the ability to manage up to 1000 APs and 12,000 clients and delivering throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high usage of media-rich mobile applications.
The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed to manage thousands of wireless branches from a single datacenter, eliminating the costs of a wireless controller at every remote site. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 lets you establish a private cloud to configure, monitor, manage, and repair as many as 6000 wireless access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while handling 1 Gbps throughput. The Cisco 8500 Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to monitor and manage Wi-Fi networks for very large campuses or for service providers and can be expanded to support 6000 access points and up to 64,000 clients while offering 10 Gbps throughput.
To learn more about Cisco WiFi controllers, visit Cisco wireless controllers consulting and integration.Legacy Cisco APs, Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac specification for Wi-Fi effectively made obsolete all prior releases of Wi-Fi products for many venues that support high numbers of wireless clients and high usage of video-intensive software applications. Even for businesses who do not need the performance of 802.11ac, many of Cisco wireless products have arrived at end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can pose significant maintenance and compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts offer remote and on-premises support services for a wide array of older-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can in addition assist companies to evaluate the potential ROI for updating legacy wireless technology and can help in designing and carrying out cost-effective, seamless upgrades. Below are a sample of Cisco legacy wireless devices that Progent's consulting experts still support.
Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points
Aironet 1000/1130AG Series access points are intended for conventional workplaces and similar venues which have little environmental instability. These devices include built-in antennas that provide predictable radio range profiles. The Aironet 1130G Series wireless access point is designed for restricted locations that do not allow 5GHz operation.
Cisco Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG family APs are intended for more problematic radio frequency situations like factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which commonly require flexible external antennas and durable enclosures. The Aironet 1240G Series wireless access point is intended for regulatory locations that do not permit 802.11a operation.
Cisco Aironet 1500 Series lightweight outdoor wireless mesh LAN access points provide an economical, scalable, protected outdoor Wi-Fi technology for enterprise campuses and for public sites that need connectivity for portable phones or computers.
Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless Bridges
Cisco wireless bridges offer a high-performance and feature-rich technology for connecting numerous local area networks in a metro situation or public access environment. Cisco bridges provide a flexible, manageable technology that meets the security needs of WAN specialists. They handle both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments with good range and the ability to handle traffic throughput as high as 54 Mbps.
Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges deliver throughput dramatically faster than E1/T1 connections for a fraction of the expense, eliminating the need for costly leased lines when connecting separate buildings. Because wireless bridges carry no ongoing costs, savings on leased-line bills quickly cover the startup hardware costs. Private lines and in some cases leased lines using copper or fiber-optic cable often result in high up-front expenses if they are separated by obstacles such as highways, railroads, or bodies of water. Cisco wireless LAN bridges can be deployed rapidly an offer a fast ROI.
Cisco Aironet 1300 family outside wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as stand-alone wireless access points, wireless bridges, or wireless group bridges. These devices have a ruggedized cover and offer fast, affordable wireless connectivity between numerous fixed or mobile environments and users.
Aironet 1400 bridges offer high-speed, dependable outdoor bridging for LOS applications. They include an all-weather enclosure that is optimized for severe outside environments and function within wide temperature ranges.
Legacy Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco WLAN Controllers centralize the management of wireless LANs by simplifying the handling of key functions including integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS), real-time RF management, zero touch deployment, and N+1 redundancy. Cisco WLAN controllers operate with lightweight wireless access points to deliver superior throughput and high-end control functions.
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) offer the control, expandability, security, and fault tolerance that network managers need to build secure, large-scale wireless environments, from satellite offices to small companies to headquarter campuses. Cisco's legacy Wireless Network Controllers can be clustered to offer support for as many as 2400 wireless access points for each roaming domain.
Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for IS Routers offers small-to medium businesses and large corporations a cost effective solution to deploy and manage secure wireless networks at branch locations. These controllers supervise up to twelve Cisco Aironet wireless access points and are supported on 2800/3800 IS Routers and 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (To find out about Progent's remote and onsite consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting support.)
How Progent Can Assist Your Business with Cisco Wireless Solutions
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consulting professional to help you to plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot a converged wired/wireless ecosystem incorporating a broad range of wireless devices that offer the identical protection, scalability, and manageability you demand from a wired environment. Progent can assist you to support legacy Wi-Fi products from Cisco or migrate seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology. Progent's CISA and ISSAP security consultants can advise you about how to design protection into your WLAN and your company's operations. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planners can show you how to set up the high availability (HA) features incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless technologies so your converged infrastructure delivers continuing business value.
Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey assists you to plan and deploy a robust WLAN optimized for your environment, providing a wireless ecosystem that delivers comprehensive coverage, high speed and density, 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 look at Progent's wireless consulting services, visit Progent's Wireless Network Expertise. To learn more details concerning Progent's professional expertise for Cisco products, select a subject:
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