Enterprise Wireless: Cisco Products Overview

Type: Grandmetric GuidePaper
Author: Karol Piatek

Abstract:

Wireless LAN Controllers and Access Points continue to evolve, as Wi-Fi and Internet standards evolve. They must meet the growing expectations of users and businesses. The following article deals with APs and hardware controllers. It compares controllers and access points of the old and new generation and lists the functionality of both.

Currently, cloud-based solutions are gaining popularity, but in this article, they will be omitted since the cloud is a broad topic and deserves a separate Guidepaper. From this guidebook, you will find out why it is worthwhile to follow the trends and modernize your network infrastructure.

It addresses the modern IEEE 802.11ax standard and the advantages of using it. The paper has the following structure: at the beginning, access points are described, starting from three older, selected representatives of the 802.11ac Wave 2 standard (Cisco Aironet 2800, 3800, and 4800), through one of the newest access points of the new generation (Cisco Catalyst 9100). Each of these devices is described in different sections. Next, we go through Wireless LAN Controllers in the same way.

We have chosen the old generation’s most popular devices for small, medium, and large enterprises and their successors from the new generation. The next part presents two comparison tables: one for controllers and one for access points.

Contents:

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Cisco Aironet 2800 Series Access Points
• Cisco Aironet 3800 Series Access Points
• Cisco Aironet 4800 Access Points
• Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
• Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller
• Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller
• Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
• Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers
• Features and performance comparison table
• Summary
• Glossary
• References

Keywords: Enterprise Wireless Networks, Enterprise Networks, Wireless, CISCO, Access Points, Wi-Fi, WLC