Cisco Aironet APs

APs are the devices that connect to the LAN, providing wireless access to the network. Wireless clients communicate with APs to access LANs or WLANs, as shown in Figure 1-1.

Figure 1-1. Wireless Clients Connect to the LAN via an AP

APs serve either as the core of an all-wireless network or as a point of connection between the wired and wireless networks. In addition, APs can be located throughout an organization to ensure access at remote locations in a facility.

Cisco features several models of APs. The model that fits best for your organization depends on a number of factors, which include:

• The number of wireless devices accessing the WLAN.

• The desired range.

• The desired speed.

• Your budget.

The following sections examine the Cisco Aironet APs, with specific details of each model.

Cisco Aironet 1100 Series

The Aironet 1100 AP (shown in Figure 1-2) includes a single radio and supports the 802.11g protocol. 802.11g is backward compatible to support the earlier 802.11b protocol. The most important distinction between 802.11b and 802.11g is the data rate802.11b provides 11 Mbps, whereas 802.11g allows up to 54 Mbps.

Figure 1-2. Cisco Aironet 1100 AP

The 802.11b device can be upgraded to 802.11g capability. The 802.11g version allows wireless networks to leverage their investment on existing 802.11b equipment. It is also capable of 54-Mbps speeds with any new equipment. The Aironet 1100 AP allows the use of up to 16 virtual LANs (VLANs) and quality of service (QoS) functions. The AP also features hot standby and load balancing, which allow an organization to deploy intelligent network services and ensure network reliability and availability.

VLANs allow an organization to segment its users into their own discrete LANs. Thus, individual LAN policies, services, security levels, and QoS levels can be established for different groups of users.

The Cisco Wireless Security Suite manages the security for the Aironet 1100 AP. This product is based on the 802.1X standard for port-based network access, and makes use of Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) for user-based authentication. EAP and other security mechanisms are explained in more detail in Chapter 4, "Wireless Security."

The Aironet 1100 uses the Cisco Internetworking Operating System (IOS), which provides common command-line feel for Cisco veterans. Alternately, the device can be managed through a browser-based graphical user interface (GUI), such as the one shown in Figure 1-3.

Figure 1-3. The Aironet 1100 Can Be Managed Using a Browser-Based Interface

The Aironet 1100 AP can be used as a single point of access to the WLAN, or several APs can be placed throughout the site to provide wireless access anywhere on the premises. Cisco offers various pieces of hardware to mount the device to the ceiling, the wall, or the edge of a cubicle.

Aironet 1130AG Series AP

The 1130AG AP builds on the functionality and utility of the Aironet 1100 Series AP. This AP uses two built-in radios (802.11a and 802.11g) for optimal coverage and usability.

Shown in Figure 1-4, the 1130AG AP employs two internal antennas for omnidirectional coverage. The ring on the front of the device changes color, depending on its current state. For example, when nothing is associated, the ring glows a pale green. When one or more devices have associated, it glows blue. If an error occurs, it glows red.

Figure 1-4. Cisco Aironet 1130AG AP

Because the AP employs both 802.11a and 802.11g radios, it affords a capacity of up to 108 Mbps. In addition, because both radios are used, it can handle 15, nonoverlapping channels (12 from the 802.11a radio and 3 from the 802.11g radio). In a future firmware upgrade, this capacity will increase to 22 channels. This will ensure less interference with neighboring WLANs and fewer transmission errors.

Note

Because the AP uses an 802.11g radio, existing 802.11b legacy devices are supported.

For example, multiple 1130AGs can be installed in a ceiling to provide continuous coverage as users roam from room to room in a facility. As this device is somewhat of an "entry-level" model, it is easy to connect and deploy. Additional benefits include ongoing maintenance and an overall reduction of costs. To ensure security, the Aironet 1130AG uses the Cisco Wireless Security Suite, supporting 802.11i, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), WPA2, and many types of EAP. In addition, the radio's power can be adjusted to fine-tune the device for operation in various environments.

Cisco Aironet 1200 Series

The big brother to the Aironet 1100 is the Cisco Aironet 1200. The 1200 series (shown in Figure 1-5) incorporates single or dual radios, and it allows connectivity in both the 2.4-GHz (802.11g) or 5-GHz (802.11a) bands. The device can be configured for optimal flexibility (as shown in Figure 1-6), and it can be set up to operate solely in the 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g mode. Alternately, it can be set in dual mode, which allows connectivity for clients operating in two different protocols. Ultimately, it can be set in trimode, to offer simultaneous service for all three protocols. This functionality provides great flexibility and return on investment because devices using any of the popular protocols can be used.

Figure 1-5. Cisco Aironet 1200 AP

Figure 1-6. The Aironet 1200 Allows Connections in Single, Dual, or Trimode

Like the Aironet 1100 series, the Aironet 1200 offers up to 16 VLANs, QoS capabilities, and Cisco Wireless Security Suite manages its security set.

The Aironet 1200 series is an important component in the Cisco Structured Wireless-Aware Network (SWAN). SWAN is a framework for deploying, operating, and managing thousands of Aironet APs when using a Cisco infrastructure.

For 802.11a networks, the Aironet 1200 series offers a variety of antennas including one that can be configured omnidirectionally (in a circle surrounding the AP) or as a patch antenna that directs a hemispherical signal from the wall and across the room.

Note

Antennas are explained in greater detail in Chapter 2, "Cisco Antennas."

Like the Aironet 1100 series, the Aironet 1200 Series is managed either via the command line using IOS or via a browser-based GUI.

Aironet 1230AG Series AP

The Aironet 1230AG Series AP provides many of the same features as its younger brother, the 1130AGchiefly dual 802.11a and 802.11g radios. However, the Aironet 1230AG is designed for environments in which omnidirectional antennas would be lacking. The 1130AG AP employs only internal antennas, but the 1230AG AP features connectors for external antennas.

This is ideal in environments such as factories, warehouses, or large retail facilities that require specialized antennas for proper functionality. Figure 1-7 shows this device.

Figure 1-7. Cisco Aironet 1230AG AP

Like other AP offerings from Cisco, the Aironet 1230AG AP is a component of the Cisco SWAN framework that delivers an integrated wired and wireless network.

Because the device uses both 802.11a and 802.11g radios, up to 15 nonoverlapping channels are available. This number will increase to 22 channels in a future firmware release.

The Aironet 1230AG AP is rugged enough to withstand high levels of heat.

Cisco Aironet 1300 Series

For outdoor wireless applications, Cisco offers its Aironet 1300 Series of APs, shown in Figure 1-8. These APs are encased in a tough, durable exterior, which makes them well suited for operation in the elements. In addition to its work as an AP, this device is also used as a network bridge (which is explained in greater detail in the "Cisco Wireless Bridges" section).

Figure 1-8. Cisco Aironet 1300 AP

Note

Although the Aironet 1300 is designed for outdoor environments, it can still be used indoors.

The Aironet 1300 supports the 802.11g standards, providing data transfer rates of up to 54 Mbps.

These APs are not just for employees to take their laptops outside during lunch breaks. A number of organizations that benefit from an outdoor AP include the following:

• Campus networks For multibuilding organizations (schools, apartment buildings, hospitals, and so on), Wi-Fi makes interbuilding networks easy and inexpensive.

• Nomadic users Networks and users are not just tethered to their desks, offices, or even buildings. Many users work in trucks, vans, cars, or ambulances and require connectivity to the network. To resolve this problem, outdoor, Wi-Fi networks come in handy.

• Outdoor public access Wi-Fi hotspots pop up at many places, such as coffee shops, libraries, hotels, and now truck stops. As hotspots grow, devices such as the Cisco Aironet 1300 can be employed to provide Wi-Fi access to large outdoor areas.

• Temporary access The Aironet 1300 is a good solution when a temporary wireless network is needed. For example, aid workers caring for victims of a natural disaster can employ this sort of device to provide easy, reliable connectivity among its users and devices.

The AP can manage 16 VLANs and 24 Voice over IP (VoIP) circuits on a point-to-point link. It also uses the Cisco Wireless Security Suite for its security chores. The Cisco Aironet 1300 can be easily managed as part of a Cisco SWAN solution (Chapter 3, "Cisco Wireless Technologies," covers SWAN in more detail). In addition, the command line or browser-based GUI can manage it.

AP Quick Comparison

When considering which AP is best for your organization's needs, a number of variables come into play. Table 1-1 through Table 1-5 compare popular traits of these Cisco APs.

Table 1-1. Aironet 1100 Properties

Network Standard	Speed	Range	Security	Channels
802.11b and 802.11g	1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps	802.11b Indoor: 220 ft (67 m) at 11 Mbps 310 ft (94 m) at 5.5 Mbps 350 ft (107 m) at 2 Mbps 410 ft (124 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11b Outdoor: 490 ft (149 m) at 11 Mbps 700 ft (213 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11g Indoor: 90 ft (27 m) at 54 Mbps 95 ft (29 m) at 48 Mbps 100 ft (30 m) at 36 Mbps 140 ft (42 m) at 24 Mbps 180 ft (54 m) at 18 Mbps 210 ft (64 m) at 12 Mbps 250 ft (76 m) at 9 Mbps 300 ft (91 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11g Outdoor: 250 ft (76m) at 54 Mbps 600 ft (183 m) at 18 Mbps 1300 ft (396 m) at 6 Mbps	Cisco Wireless Security Suite, which includes: Authentication: 802.1X (Cisco LEAP, PEAP, EAP-TLS, and EAP-SIM) MAC Addresses and basic 802.11 authentication tools Encryption: 40- and 128-bit WEP keys TKIP WEP enhancements (key hashing, message integrity check, and broadcast key rotation)	Americas (FCC): 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels China: 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels ETSI: 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels Japan (TELEC): 2.4-GHz Band (OFDM): 13 channels 2.4-GHz Band (CCK): 14 channels North America: 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels

Table 1-2. Aironet 1200 Properties

Network Standard	Speed	Range	Security	Channels
802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g This model must be configured for one or more network standards.	1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps	802.11b Indoor: 220 ft (67 m) at 11 Mbps 310 ft (94 m) at 5.5 Mbps 350 ft (107 m) at 2 Mbps 410 ft (124 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11b Outdoor: 1000 ft (304 m) at 11 Mbps 2000 ft (610 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11g Indoor: 90 ft (27 m) at 54 Mbps 95 ft (29 m) at 48 Mbps 100 ft (30 m) at 36 Mbps 140 ft (42 m) at 24 Mbps 180 ft (54 m) at 18 Mbps 210 ft (64 m) at 12 Mbps 250 ft (76 m) at 9 Mbps 300 ft (91 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11g Outdoor: 250 ft (76m) at 54 Mbps 600 ft (183 m) at 18 Mbps 1300 ft (396 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11a Indoor: 90 ft (26 m) at 54 Mbps 225 ft (69 m) at 48 Mbps 300 ft (91 m) at 36 Mbps 350 ft (107 m) at 24 Mbps 400 ft (122 m) at 18 Mbps 450 ft (137 m) at 12 Mbps 475 ft (145 m) at 9 Mbps 500 ft (152 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11a Outdoor: 170 ft (52 m) at 54 Mbps 800 ft (244 m) at 18 Mbps 950 ft (290 m) at 6 Mbps	Cisco Wireless Security Suite	Americas (FCC) 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels China: 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels ETSI: 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 9 channels Japan (TELEC): 2.4-GHz Band (OFDM): 13 channels 2.4-GHz Band (CCK): 14 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels North America: 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels

Table 1-3. Aironet 1300 Properties

Network Standard	Speed	Range	Security	Channels
802.11b and 802.11g	1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps	Aironet 1300 with integrated antenna: 350 feet (105 meters) at 54 Mbps 1410 feet (430 meters) at 11 Mbps Americas: 865 feet (260 m) at 54 Mbps 3465 feet (1055 m) at 11 Mbps ETSI: 150 feet (45 m) at 54 Mbps 775 feet (235 m) at 11 Mbps TELEC: 485 feet (145 m) at 54 Mbps 1095 feet (330 m) at 11 Mbps Aironet 1300 with optional, add-on antennas: 865 feet (260 m) at 54 Mbps 3,465 feet (1055 m) at 11 Mbps Americas: 350 feet (105 m) at 54 Mbps 1410 feet (430 m) at 11 Mbps ETSI: 195 feet (60 m) at 54 Mbps 630 feet (190 m) at 11 Mbps TELEC: 195 feet (60 m) at 54 Mbps 445 feet (135 m) at 11 Mbps	Cisco Wireless Security Suite	Americas (FCC): 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels China: 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels ETSI: 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 9 channels Japan (TELEC): 2.4-GHz Band (OFDM): 13 channels 2.4-GHz Band (CCK): 14 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels North America: 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels

Table 1-4. Cisco 1000 Series Lightweight AP Properties

Network Standard	Speed	Range	Security	Channels
802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g	1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps	802.11a Indoor: 45 ft (14 m) at 54 Mbps 110 ft (34 m) at 18 Mbps 165 ft (50 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11a Outdoor: 100 ft (30 m) at 54 Mbps 600 ft (183 m) at 18 Mbps 1000 ft (305 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11b Indoor: 160 ft (49 m) at 11 Mbps 410 ft (125 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11b Outdoor: 1000 ft (305 m) at 11 Mbps 2000 ft (610 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11g Indoor: 90 ft (27 m) at 54 Mbps 180 ft (55 m) at 18 Mbps 300 ft (91 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11g Outdoor: 250 ft (76 m) at 54 Mbps 600 ft (183 m) at 18 Mbps 1300 ft (396 m) at 6 Mbps	Cisco Wireless Security Suite	Americas (FCC) 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels China 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels ETSI 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 9 channels Japan (TELEC) 2.4-GHz Band (OFDM): 13 channels 2.4-GHz Band (CCK): 14 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels North America 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels

Table 1-5. Aironet 1130 AP Properties

Network Standard	Speed	Range	Security	Channels
802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g	1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps	802.11a Indoor: 80 ft (24 m) at 54 Mbps 150 ft (45 m) at 48 Mbps 200 ft (60 m) at 36 Mbps 225 ft (69 m) at 24 Mbps 250 ft (76 m) at 18 Mbps 275 ft (84 m) at 12 Mbps 300 ft (91 m) at 9 Mbps 325 ft (100 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11a Outdoor: 100 ft (30 m) at 54 Mbps 300 ft (91 m) at 48 Mbps 425 ft (130 m) at 36 Mbps 500 ft (152 m) at 24 Mbps 550 ft (168 m) at 18 Mbps 600 ft (183 m) at 12 Mbps 625 ft (190 m) at 9 Mbps 650 ft (198 m) at 6 Mbps 802.11g Indoor: 100 ft (30 m) at 54 Mbps 175 ft (53 m) at 48 Mbps 250 ft (76 m) at 36 Mbps 275 ft (84 m) at 24 Mbps 325 ft (100 m) at 18 Mbps 350 ft (107 m) at 12 Mbps 360 ft (110 m) at 11 Mbps 375 ft (114 m) at 9 Mbps 400 ft (122 m) at 6 Mbps 420 ft (128 m) at 5.5 Mbps 440 ft (134 m) at 2 Mbps 450 ft (137 m) at 1 Mbps 802.11g Outdoor: 120 ft (37 m) at 54 Mbps 350 ft (107 m) at 48 Mbps 550 ft (168 m) at 36 Mbps 650 ft (198 m) at 24 Mbps 750 ft (229 m) at 18 Mbps 800 ft (244 m) at 12 Mbps 820 ft (250 m) at 11 Mbps 875 ft (267 m) at 9 Mbps 900 ft (274 m) at 6 Mbps 910 ft (277 m) at 5.5 Mbps 940 ft (287 m) at 2 Mbps 950 ft (290 m) at 1 Mbps	Cisco Wireless Security Suite	Americas (FCC) 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels China 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels ETSI 2.4-GHz Band: 13 channels 5-GHz Band: 9 channels Japan (TELEC) 2.4-GHz Band (OFDM): 13 channels 2.4-GHz Band (CCK): 14 channels 5-GHz Band: 4 channels North America 2.4-GHz Band: 11 channels 5-GHz Band: 12 channels

For more information on connecting your APs, flip ahead to Chapter 5.

Note

You might still see Cisco Aironet 350 APs in organizations that were early adopters of wireless networking technology. These devices operated using only the 802.11b protocol. Cisco has phased out this device and no longer supports it. However, because it employs the 802.11b protocol, it is still compatible with other 802.11g devices. The Aironet 350 bridge is still available. Bridge devices are discussed in the section, "Cisco Wireless Bridges."