The Cisco
® 5500 Series Wireless Controller is a highly scalable and flexible platform that enables system wide services for mission-critical wireless in medium to large-sized enterprises and campus environments. Designed for
802.11n performance and maximum scalability, the 5500 Series offers enhanced uptime with RF visibility and protection, the ability to simultaneously manage up to 500
access points; superior performance for reliable streaming video and toll quality voice; and improved fault recovery for a consistent
mobility experience in the most demanding environments.
Optimized for high performance
wireless networking, the 5500 Series offers improved mobility and prepares the business for the next wave of mobile devices and applications. The 5500 Series supports a higher density of clients and delivers more efficient roaming, with at least nine times the throughput of existing 802.11a/g networks.
The 5500 Series automates wireless configuration and management functions and allows network managers to have the visibility and control needed to cost-effectively manage, secure and optimize the performance of their wireless networks. With integrated CleanAir technology the 5500 Series protects 802.11n performance by providing cross-network access to real-time and historic RF interference information for quick, troubleshooting and resolution. As a component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, this controller provides realtime communication between
Cisco Aironet® access points, the
Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS), and the
Cisco Mobility Services Engine to deliver centralized security policies, wireless intrusion prevention system (IPS) capabilities, award-winning RF management, and quality of service (QoS).
Base access point licensing offers flexibility to add up to 500 additional access points as business needs grow. The licensing structure supports a variety of business mobility needs as part of the basic feature set, including the OfficeExtend solution for secure, mobile teleworking and Enterprise Wireless Mesh, which allows access points to dynamically establish wireless connections in locations where it may be difficult or impossible to physically connect to the wired network.
Table 1 lists the features of the Cisco 5500 Series
Wireless LAN Controllers.