Introduction to of Cisco's Catalyst Family of 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E APs
Cisco's Catalyst family of 802.11ax (referred to as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E) wireless access points build on prior version 802.11ac (aka Wi-Fi 5) access points by offering lower latency and more predictable performance, supporting higher client density, having tighter cybersecurity, saving power for battery-based handheld devices, and providing more flexibility for handling different types of IoT endpoints. Cisco's Wi-Fi 6E devices include compatibility with the 6-GHz spectrum, opening up an additional 1200 MHz of bandwidth to provide over twice as much Wi-Fi bandwidth compared to the 5-GHz spectrum.

Progent's Cisco CCIE-certified wireless network experts can provide remote or onsite configuration and debugging services to assist you to design, configure, update, tune, manage and debug Catalyst Wi-Fi access point deployments of any scale or architecture. Progent's Cisco Wi-Fi controller experts can also assist you to combine your wireless ecosystem with your wired network and cloud-based resources to create a seamless enterprise-wide connectivity solution that is easy to administer and scale. Progent also can provide affordable wireless site surveys to help you to decide the most efficient selection, placement and configuration of Aironet Wi-Fi APs to accommodate your specific office layout, building structure, and anticipated workloads.

Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Access Points Experts

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Line of 802.11ax APs deliver the throughput and capacity of the 802.11ax standard

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax APs are intended for environments ranging from telecommuter homes to high-density arenas. Catalyst 9100 access points are based on the 802.11ax standard, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, which in turn builds on the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. Unlike 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to use both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz radio bands. Headline enhancements supported by Catalyst 9100 Series access points include MU-MIMO support for uplink traffic, dual NAVs for improved reliability, TWT for conserving power consumption in battery-dependent endpoints, adaptive power thresholds for more efficient spectrum use, and extended guard intervals for improved outdoor performance. All Catalyst 9100 802.11ax access points support Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller, handle as many as 200 clients per radio, and are powered by Cisco IOS XE Software.

Catalyst 9105i Wireless AP Planning and Deployment ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9105AXi Series wireless access point is a low-profile Wi-Fi 6 AP intended for use in home offices or in small to midsize networks. The Catalyst 9105AXi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/acW2/ax and features dual 2.4/5 GH radios plus an Internet-of-Things radio supporting Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 and Zigbee. Cisco's Catalyst 9105AXi device supports 2x2:2 MU/SU-MIMO spatial streams and delivers an aggregate max speed of 1.2 Gbps. The 9105AXi AP includes one 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet uplink interface with Power over Ethernet 802.3at, an RJ-45 management port, and two internal antennas. Channel width for the 2.4 GHz radio is 20 MHz and 20/40/80 MHz for the 5 GHz radio. With Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) installed, the 9105AXi AP can manage up to 50 access points and 1,000 clients.

Cisco Catalyst 9105AXw Wi-Fi 6 APs Solution Design ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9105AXw Series Wi-Fi AP is a wall-mount device and is targeted at hospitality, dormitories, and other multi-unit dwellings. The 9105AXw's capability is like the 9105AXi access point but has different antenna profiles and features a set of interfaces not offered on the 9105AXi device. These include a 100/1000/2500 Base-T (Ethernet) uplink interface, three 10/100/1000 Ethernet downlink ports, a USB 2.0 interface, and one passthru interface. One Ethernet downlink interface has 10.5W PSE Power Budget.

Catalyst 9115 Wireless Access Points Solution Design ConsultantsThe Cisco Catalyst 9115AX Series Wi-Fi 6-compliant LAN access point is designed for small to midsize organizations. Cisco's 9115AX Series AP supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and includes three Wi-Fi radios plus an Internet-of-Things radio covering Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0. Cisco's 9115AX Series AP features 4x4:4 + 4x4:4 spatial streams and supports an aggregate maximum data rate of 5 Gbps. The Catalyst 9115AX includes a fixed 100/1000/2500 Ethernet (RJ-45) uplink interface with Power-over-Ethernet 802.3at, an RJ-45 management console port, a USB 2.0 port, integrated antennas, and extra-cost external antennas. Memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash. With Embedded Wireless Controller installed, the Cisco 9115AX Series AP can manage up to 50 APs and 1,000 clients.

Cisco Catalyst 9117 Wireless Access Points Solution Design ConsultantsThe Cisco Catalyst 9117AX Series LAN access point is intended for small to medium size businesses. The Wi-Fi 6 device works with the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax specifications and incorporates three Wi-Fi radios as well as an Internet-of-Things (IoT) radio covering Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0. Cisco's Catalyst 9117AX Series AP features 8x8 MIMO with eight spatial streams for the 5-GHz band and 4x4 MIMO with four spatial streams for the 2.4-GHz {radio. Top combined throughput is 5 Gbps. Cisco's Catalyst 9117AX Series AP includes a 100/1000/2500/5000 Multigigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) uplink port with Power-over-Ethernet 802.3at, an RJ-45 console interface, a USB 2.0 port, and integrated internal antennas. RAM includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash. With Embedded Wireless Controller activated, the Catalyst 9117AX Series AP can manage up to 50 APs and 1,000 clients.

Catalyst 9120 Wireless Access Points Planning and Deployment ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9120AX Series Wi-Fi 6 AP is intended for for mid-size to large enterprises. The Catalyst 9120AX complies with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and includes four radios. Flexible Radio Assignment technology allows radios to run in 2.4-GHz/5-GHz mode or in Dual 5-GHz mode. An Internet-of-Things (IoT) radio supports (BLE) 5.0. Cisco's 9120AX Series AP features 4x4:4 MU-MIMO spatial streams and delivers a combined top data rate of 5.2 Gbps when both radios operate in 5-GHz client serving mode. Cisco's Catalyst 9120AX Series AP includes 100/1000/2500 Ethernet (RJ-45). The device also supports PoE 802.3at and comes with an RJ-45 management port, a USB 2.0 port, and built-in internal antennas. External antennas are optional. System memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash. With Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) installed, the 9120AX can manage up to 100 access points and 2,000 client users.

Catalyst 9130AX Wi-Fi 6 Access Points Planning and Deployment ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9130AX Series Wi-Fi 6-certified access point is intended for mid-size to large enterprises and dense public venues like auditoriums and stadiums. The Catalyst 9130AX complies with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and features 8x8:8 MU-MIMO. External antennas on the Catalyst 9130AX device may be divided into two 4x4 Wi-Fi radios. An IoT radio supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0. Cisco's Catalyst 9130AX features a 100/1000/2500/5000 Multigigabit Ethernet uplink interface and delivers an aggregate max throughput of 5.38 Gbps. The access point also supports PoE 802.3at and includes an RJ-45 management console interface, a USB 2.0 interface, and integrated internal antennas. The Catalyst 9130AX access point includes a smart antenna connector that offers you the versatility to configure an external antenna to handle challenging deployments. System memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash memory. With Embedded Wireless Controller activated, the 9130AX can manage 100 APs and 2,000 client users.

Catalyst 9136 Wi-Fi 6E APs Planning and Deployment ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9136 Series is an innovative line of access points designed for enterprises who need the increased performance, capacity, and security brought about by the 6-GHz spectrum expansion defined by the Wi-Fi 6E standard. By opening up 1.2 GHz of contiguous and interference-free spectrum in the 6 GHz band, the Wi-Fi 6E standard supported by Cisco Catalyst 9136 Series APs more than doubles the spectrum that can be used by earlier model Wi-Fi clients. Catalyst 9136 access points work with older generation 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi devices operating in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands in addition to the modern generation of 6 GHz Wi-Fi devices. Concurrent MU-MIMO spatial streams support up to 8x8:8 at 5 GHz and 4x4:4 at 2.4 GHz and 6 GHz. Combined top throughput rate is 10.2 Gbps. Also included are a Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 radio for IoT and a scan radio. Built-in antennas antennas support 2.4 GHz, 5-GHz, and 6 GHz operation. Catalyst 9136 access points have two integrated 5 Gbps mGig (RJ-45) Ethernet interfaces with redundant powering. Channel width is 20 MHz at 2.4 GHz and 20/40/80/160 MHz for the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. System memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash memory. Power options include PoE, PoE+, and UPoE.

Cisco Catalyst 9166 Wi-Fi 6E Access Point ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 916x Series Wi-Fi 6E access points are the first Cisco APs to feature the option to be monitored and managed on-prem via Cisco DNA Center or via the cloud by deploying Meraki management tools. This allows organizations to move to cloud-based or hybrid deployments on their own timetable. All Cisco's Catalyst 916x APs support the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E Wi-Fi specifications and fully support the new 6-GHz band. Each device includes 5 radios and allows up to 400 clients on each radio. Every AP also comes with a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for reducing interference, has a USB 2.0 port, and offers Bluetooth Low Energy. Cisco's value-priced Catalyst 9162 Series access point is designed for small organizations, incorporates three 2x2 radios, and includes 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support.

Cisco Catalyst APs Solutions Planning and ConfigurationThe Catalyst 9163E Wi-Fi 6E AP is designed to withstand harsh outside venues such as campus environments or stadiums. 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 a GPS/GNSS antenna connector. The 9163E supports Omnidirectional Dipole Self-Identifying Antennas. Cisco's Catalyst 9164 Series access point is designed for small and mid-size organizations, has one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9166 Series Wi-Fi access point is meant for large and mid-sized enterprises, has three 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet connectivity. The 9166 also comes with environmental sensors that detect air quality, temperature, and moisture.

Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) on Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 Access Points
Cisco's EWC is a software image powered by Cisco IOS XE and offered on most Catalyst 9100 Series wireless access points. EWC includes most functions, but not the scale, of Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controller devices. Access points running EWC can concurrently service Wi-Fi clients. (Catalyst 9105AXW access points can be members of an EWC network and service client users but cannot run EWC functions.) The Embedded Wireless Controller can be managed using Cisco DNA Center for multi-site networks, or by means of a web browser or mobile app for single-site environments. All Cisco DNA Center Automation and Assurance use cases are available. Embedded Wireless Controller features include high availability by deploying active and standby controllers, software maintenance updates (SMUs) for hot patching, auto setup, Application Visibility and Control, and Flexible Radio Assignment.

How Progent's Consultants Can Help You with Catalyst 802.11ax APs
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consultant to help your business to plan, deploy, manage and repair a wireless solution that incorporates Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 access points. Progent can assist you to support legacy wireless APs from Cisco or migrate seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6. Progent's Cisco Wi-Fi controller solutions experts can assist you to evaluate whether your Wi-Fi network should include Cisco Wi-Fi controller appliances or can be managed with Cisco's virtual appliances and utilities such as Cisco's EWC.

Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security consultants can show you how to design protection into your wireless network and into your business operations. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity planning consultants can show you how to set up the high availability technology incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless products so your converged infrastructure delivers significant business value.

Progent's Wireless Site Survey assists you to plan and implement a state-of-the-art WLAN optimized for your environment, offering a Wi-Fi solution that provides seamless coverage, high speed and capacity, Quality of Service to support IP video, enterprise-class security, and simplified management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be delivered online to reduce time and expense, or on premises for more challenging environments.

To learn more details about Progent's professional assistance for Cisco products, select a topic: Contact Progent for Help with Catalyst WiFi 5 and WiFi 6/6E Wireless Access Points
To learn more about Progent's consulting services for designing, configuring, maintaining and debugging a wireless solution incorporating Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series WiFi 5 and WiFi 6/6E APs, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.