What You Should Know about the Cisco Mobility Express Solution

Briefly, the Cisco Mobility Express wireless network solution provides a virtual wireless LAN controller functionality bundled into, currently, the Cisco Aironet 1850 and 1830 series access points. This functionality provides a simplified WiFi architecture with enterprise-level WLAN capability to small and medium deployments.

In the Cisco Mobility Express wireless network solution, one access point (AP), running the Cisco Mobility Express wireless controller, is designated as the master AP. Other access points, referred to as subordinate APs, associate to this master AP.

The master AP operates as a wireless LAN controller, to manage and control the subordinate APs, and also operates as an access point to serve clients. The subordinate APs behave as normal lightweight access points to serve clients.

For the list of supported access points, see Supported Cisco Aironet Access Points.

The Mobility Express solution provides most features of a wireless LAN controller and has the capability to interface with the following:

Cisco Prime Infrastructure—for simplified network management and managing the AP group.

Cisco Identity Services Engine—for advanced policy enforcement.

Cisco Mobility Services Engine—for providing presence level data as well as advanced spectrum solution.

Supported Cisco Aironet Access Points

In this release of Mobility Express, the following APs are supported.

APs supported as masters (support integrated wireless controller capability)	APs supported as subordinates
Cisco Aironet 1850 Series Cisco Aironet 1830 Series	In addition to the following, all APs that are supported as master APs are also supported as subordinate APs. Cisco Aironet 700i Series Cisco Aironet 700w Series Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Cisco Aironet 1700 Series Cisco Aironet 2600 Series Cisco Aironet 2700 Series Cisco Aironet 3500 Series Cisco Aironet 3600 Series Cisco Aironet 3700 Series

Supported Software Images

AP models supported as masters can be ordered with either of the following as the default factory-shipped software:

A Mobility Express software image. These models have model numbers (or Product IDs) ending in C.

A lightweight AP software image, based on the CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) protocol, for joining a wireless controller. You can manually convert these models to have a Mobility Express software image, on site.

For information on this conversion, see Converting from CAPWAP Lightweight AP 15.3.3-JBB5 Software to Mobility Express Software.

AP models which are supported only as subordinates will need to have CAPWAP-based lightweight AP software image.

The Mobility Express software for your AP model can be downloaded from the AP's Download Software page on Cisco.com. The common URL to the Download Software page is https:/​/​software.cisco.com/​download/​navigator.html.

On the Download Software page, browse to your AP model and then select 'Mobility Express Software' to view a list of currently available software, with the latest the top. The software releases are labeled as follows to help you determine which release to download:

Early Deployment (ED)—These software releases provide new features, new hardware platform support, and bug fixes.

Maintenance Deployment (MD)—These software releases provide bug fixes and ongoing software maintenance.

Deferred (DF)—These software releases have been deferred. We recommend that you migrate to an upgraded release.

Cisco Mobility Express software for Cisco Wireless Release 8.1.122.1, is as follows:

Software Type and Purpose	For AP 1850	For AP 1830
Mobility Express Network Software Bundle (for Mobility Express controller and network software update)	AIR-AP1850-K9-ME-8-1-122-0.zip	AIR-AP1830-K9-ME-8-1-122-0.zip
Mobility Express Controller-capable AP Software (for conversion from CAPWAP Lightweight AP type to Mobility Express)	AIR-AP1850-K9-8.1.122.0.tar	AIR-AP1830-K9-8.1.122.0.tar

From http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/mob_exp/1/user_guide/b_ME_User_Guide/about_mob_exp.html

More Related…

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What’s the Cisco Mobility Express Solution and Can DO…

Qs & Tips Help You Know Cisco Mobility Express Solution

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Key Questions to Help you Know Cisco 802.11ac Wave 2

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How to Start a Cisco ASA 5500-X Series?

If you are new users of Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Next-Generation Firewalls, are you familiar with the ASA 5500-X Series configuration? There are different Cisco ASA CX models available in a wide range of sizes, for small offices, branch locations, and Internet-edge deployments. 

In this article, we will share the simple start guide of Cisco ASA 5500-X Series, including the model ASA 5512-X, ASA 5515-X, ASA 5525-X, ASA 5545-X, and ASA 5555-X.

First of all, let’s check the main package contents of ASA 5512-X, ASA 5515-X, or ASA 5525-X, ASA 5545-X and ASA 5555-X.

ASA 5512-X, ASA 5515-X, or ASA 5525-X

ASA 5545-X and ASA 5555-X

Note: The contents are subject to change, and your exact contents might contain additional or fewer items.

Power on the ASA

1. Attach the power cable to the ASA and connect it to an electrical outlet.

The power turns on automatically when you plug in the power cable; do not press the power button on the front panel. (For older models, the power does not turn on automatically; check the hardware installation guide for more information).

2. Check the Power LED on the front of the ASA; if it is solid green, the device is powered on.

3. Check the Status LED on the front of the ASA; after it is solid green, the system has passed power-on diagnostics.

Modify the Initial Configuration for the Software Module (Optional)

The ASA ships with a default configuration that enables Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) connectivity to the Management 0/0 interface. When you use a software module such as the ASA FirePOWER module, we recommend that you do not use the default configuration, which can preclude the module from reaching the Internet for updates. This section describes how to apply a new configuration so the module can access the Internet. This configuration also enables a basic usable configuration for an inside and outside network.

The following figure shows the suggested network deployment for the ASA 5500-X with a software module:

Note: If you have an inside router instead of a switch, you can skip this section and instead configure the ASA to route between management and an inside network. In this case, configure the ASA and the module Management 0/0 IP addresses to be on the same network. Be sure to configure appropriate routes on the ASA and on the module so the management network can reach the inside network, and vice versa.

This procedure lets you connect to the ASA console port and paste in a new configuration that configures the following behavior:

• inside --> outside traffic flow
• outside IP address from DHCP
• DHCP for clients on inside
• Management 0/0 interface is Up, but otherwise unconfigured. The software module can then use this interface to access the ASA inside network and use the inside interface as the gateway to the Internet.
• ASDM access on the inside interface

To achieve the above configuration, perform the following steps.

1. Connect your computer to the ASA console port with the supplied console cable. You might need to use a third party serial-to-USB cable to make the connection.

2. Launch a terminal emulator and connect to the ASA.

3. Press the Enter key to see the following prompt:

ciscoasa>

4. Access privileged EXEC mode:

enable

The following prompt appears:

Password:

5. Press Enter. By default, the password is blank.

6. Access global configuration mode:

configure terminal

7. Clear the configuration:

clear configure all

8. Copy and paste the following configuration at the prompt:

interface gigabitethernet0/0

nameif outside

ip address dhcp setroute

no shutdown

interface gigabitethernet0/1

nameif inside

ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0

security-level 100

no shutdown

interface management0/0

no shutdown

object network obj_any

subnet 0 0

nat (any,outside) dynamic interface

http server enable

http 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 inside

dhcpd address 192.168.1.5-192.168.1.254 inside

dhcpd auto_config outside

dhcpd enable inside

logging asdm informational

9. Save the new configuration:

write memory

10. Cable the inside GigabitEthernet 0/1 interface, Management 0/0 interface, and your computer to a Layer 2 Ethernet switch.

11. Connect the outside GigabitEthernet 0/0 interface to your upstream router or WAN device.

12. For software module configuration, see the ASA FirePOWER quick start guide, ASA CX quick start guide, or IPS quick start guide. Use the following network settings for the module:

–Management interface: 192.168.1.2

–Management subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

–Gateway IP: 192.168.1.1

4. Launch ASDM

Using ASDM, you can use wizards to configure basic and advanced features. ASDM is a graphical user interface that allows you to manage the ASA using a web browser. See the ASDM release notes on Cisco.com for the requirements to run ASDM.

How to…

1. On the computer connected to the ASA, launch a web browser. If you are using the default configuration and did not use 3. Modify the Initial Configuration for the Software Module (Optional), you need to connect the computer to the Management 0/0 interface.

2. In the Address field, enter the following URL: https://192.168.1.1/admin. The Cisco ASDM web page appears.

3. Click one of the available options: Install ASDM Launcher, Run ASDM, or Run Startup Wizard.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions to launch ASDM according to the option you chose. The Cisco 

ASDM-IDM Launcher appears.

5. Leave the username and password fields empty, and click OK. The main ASDM window appears.

…

The Full Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Start Guide you can read the http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/asa/quick_start/5500X/5500x_quick_start.html

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802.11ac Wave 2, Ready for It?

802.11AC Wave 2, the next phase of Wi-Fi, brings wireless speeds of up to almost 7 Gigs. Wave 2 also brings multi-user MIMO to Wi-Fi, enabling dedicated bandwidth to be allocated to users. 802.11AC Wave 2 will allow businesses to create new ways of working, such as being able to do medical imaging over tablets or streaming videos to mobile devices in school systems.

802.11ac Wave 1 vs. 802.11ac Wave 2

Having wireless speeds that are that fast, though, does have some big implications on the wired network. If the air speed is anything greater than a Gig and the backhaul connection from the AP to the access switch is a Gig, then there’s an obvious problem, as the wired network becomes a choke point. Also, the Wave 2 solutions will require PoE+ (30W), and many businesses only have PoE (15W) in the access edge now. Also, with today’s switches, Cat5E has a limit of 1 Gig for speed.

Cisco founded the NBASE-T Alliance in October 2014 to promote solutions for more speed over installed Category 5e and 6 cables. Now we are introducing innovations that include NBASE-T technology and more across the entire breadth of our Cisco Catalyst portfolio–from compact switches to the backbone. These new innovations directly address the challenges we learned from customers.

Cisco Catalyst Multigigabit Technology can prepare your access switches for future innovations by delivering speeds beyond 1 Gigabit on existing Category 5e cables. This technology also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), PoE+, and Cisco Universal PoE (UPOE) so you don’t need to install new electrical circuits to power your access points.

And, Cisco Catalyst Multigigabit Technology can protect your investments in existing Cisco Catalyst switches. For example, new Cisco Catalyst 3850 Mutigigabit models can be stacked with existing 1-Gb copper and fiber models. Cisco Catalyst Mutigigabit Technology is available on Cisco Catalyst 4500E, 3850, and 3560-CX switches. Use our new innovations to take advantage of 802.11ac Wave 2 capacity increases and start delivering even better user experiences.

New Cisco Catalyst 3560-CX and 2960-CX Compact Switches can help you increase speeds and agility, and lower costs. These switches offer Catalyst Instant Access mode, which means no more individual switch configuration. And they are flexible to support numerous networking environments and industries, including hospitality, transportation, retail, and others.

Two Times More 10-Gb Density for a Faster Backbone

Extend your existing backbone investments into the future. New, 32-port 10-Gb line cards on Cisco Catalyst 6800 and 6500-E Series Switches help you make the transition from 1 Gigabit to 10 Gigabits, and allow for twice the 10-Gb density. They also provide rich network services that you have come to expect from these platforms. And flexibility is built in so you can convert to 40-Gigabit speeds in future.

More Related Cisco Wireless Topics

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What are the Technical and Physical Differences between Ethernet Cables?

Which Ethernet cable do you should use? How do you know? In fact, Ethernet cables look the same, but they are different. So in the following short guide we take a look at the technical and physical differences between the Ethernet cables.

Ethernet cables are grouped into sequentially numbered categories (e.g. CAT5) based on different specifications; sometimes the category is updated with further clarification or testing standards (e.g. CAT5e, CAT6a). These categories are how we can easily know what type of cable we need for a specific application.

CAT Technical Differences
The difference in Ethernet cable specification is not as easy to see as physical changes; so let’s look at what each category does and does not support. Below is a chart for reference when picking cable for your application based on the standards for that category.

When you pick Ethernet cable, you can refer to the following table to check the standard of each category.

	Length	10Mb/s	100Mb/s	1GbE	10GbE	PoE	Mhz
CAT5	100	√	√			√	100
CAT5e	100	√	√	√		√	100
CAT6	100 (55 for 10GbE)	√	√	√	√	√	250
CAT6a	100	√	√	√	√	√	500

You may notice that as the category number gets higher, so does the speed and Mhz of the wire. This is not a coincidence, because each category brings more stringent testing for eliminating crosstalk (XT) and adding isolation between the wires.

Category 5 cable was revised in 2001, and mostly replaced with Category 5 Enhanced (CAT5e) cable which did not change anything physically in the cable, but instead applied more stringent testing standards for crosstalk. Category 6 was revised between 2002 with Category 6 Augmented (CAT6a) in 2008 that provided testing for 500 Mhz communication (compared to CAT6 250 Mhz). The higher communication frequency eliminated alien crosstalk (AXT) which allows for longer range at 10 Gb/s.

Physical Differences Between These Ethernet Cables

How does a physical cable eliminate interference and allow for faster speeds? It does it through wire twisting and isolation. 

Cable twisting reduced the interference and increased the range. Twisted pair became the basis for all Ethernet cables to eliminate interference between internal wires (XT), and external wires (AXT).

There are two main physical differences between CAT5 and CAT6 cables, the number of twists per cm in the wire, and sheath thickness.

Cable twisting length is not standardized but typically there are 1.5-2 twists per cm in CAT5 (e) and 2+ twists per cm in CAT6. Within a single cable, each colored pair will also have different twist lengths based on prime numbers so that no two twists ever align. The amount of twists per pair is usually unique for each cable manufacturer.

Many CAT6 cables also include a nylon spline which helps eliminate crosstalk. Although the spline is not required in CAT5 cable, some manufacturers include it anyway. In CAT6 cable, the spline is not required either as long as the cable tests according to the standard.

The nylon spline helps reduce crosstalk in the wire, with the thicker sheath protecting against Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Alien Crosstalk (AXT), which both occur more often as the frequency (Mhz) increases. In this picture below, the CAT5e sheath has the thinnest sheath versus CAT6 but it also was the only one with the nylon spline.

Shielded (FTP) vs. Unshielded (UTP)
Because all Ethernet cables are twisted, manufacturers use shielding to further protect the cable from interference. For example, Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) can easily be used for cables between your computer and the wall but you will want to use Foil Shielded Cable (FTP) for areas with high interference and running cables outdoors or inside walls.

There are different ways to shield an Ethernet cable, but typically it involves putting a shield around each pair of wire in the cable. This protects the pairs from crosstalk internally. Manufacturers can further protect cables from alien crosstalk with additional cable shielding beneath the sheath. The diagram below shows the different types of Ethernet shielding and the codes used to differentiate them.

The code before the slash designates the shielding for the cable itself, while the code after the slash determines the shielding for the individual pairs: TP = twisted pair, U = unshielded,F = foil shielding, S = braided shielding

Solid vs. Stranded
Solid and stranded Ethernet cables refer to the actual copper conductor in the pairs. Solid cable uses a single piece of copper for the electrical conductor while stranded uses a series of copper cables twisted together. There are many different applications for each type of conductor, but there are two main applications for each type you should know about.

Key Differences: Stranded cable vs. Solid cable

• Stranded cable is more flexible and should be used at your desk or anywhere you may be moving the cable around often.
• Solid cable is not as flexible but it is also more durable which makes it ideal for permanent installations as well as outdoor and in walls.

Now you may be clear that which type of cable you should use. If you want to order Ethernet cables for connecting your routers, you can visit the leading Cisco supplier-router-switch.com for more details, or email their sales representatives.

http://www.router-switch.com/

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