The Cisco^® 8500 Series Wireless Controllers are a highly scalable and flexible platform that enables mission-critical wireless networking for enterprise and service provider deployments.

Designed for 802.11ac and 802.11n performance and maximum scalability, the 8500 Series offers enhanced uptime for high-scale deployments with support for:

●   6000 access points and 64,000 clients in a 1RU form factor

●   4096 VLANs for large-scale deployments

●   Sub-second access point and client failover for Service Set Identifier (SSID) high availability

●   Dual-redundant power supplies installed (AC or DC)

●   Dual-redundant 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity

Features

The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers (Figure 1) provide centralized control, management, and troubleshooting for enterprise and service provider deployments. The 8500 Series offers flexibility to support multiple deployment modes in the same controller: for example, centralized mode for campus, Cisco FlexConnect™ mode for lean branches managed over the WAN, and mesh (bridge) mode for deployments where full Ethernet cabling is unavailable.

The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers support Cisco Application Visibility and Control (AVC). Cisco AVC includes the Network-Based Application Recognition 2 (NBAR-2) engine, Cisco’s deep packet inspection (DPI) capability, which classifies applications, applies quality of service (QoS) settings to either drop or mark the traffic, and prioritizes business-critical applications in the network. Cisco AVC uses NetFlow Version 9 to export the flows to Cisco Prime™Infrastructure or a third-party NetFlow collector.

The Cisco 8500 Series also supports Bonjour Services Directory to enable Bonjour Services to be advertised and utilized in a separate Layer 3 network. A wireless policy engine on the Cisco 8500 Series enables profiling of wireless devices and enforcement of policies such as VLAN assignment, QoS, access control lists (ACLs), and time-of-day- based access.

Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers automate wireless configuration and management functions and allow network managers to have the visibility and control needed to cost-effectively manage, secure, and optimize the performance of their branch networks. As a component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, this controller provides real-time communications between Cisco Aironet^® access points, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, and the Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and is interoperable with other Cisco controllers.

The Cisco 8500 Series has integrated Cisco CleanAir^® technology, providing the industry’s only self-healing and self-optimizing wireless network for branches.

Software Licensing Flexibility

Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers provide right-to-use license enablement (with EULA agreement) for faster time to deployment, with the flexibility to add additional access points (up to 6000 access points) as business needs grow. Table 1 lists the features and benefits of the Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers.

Table 1. Features and Benefits

Table 2 lists the product specifications for the Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers.

Table 2. Product Specifications

Table 3 lists ordering and accessories information for the Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers.

To place an order, visit the Cisco ordering website: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/ordering/index.shtml.

Table 3. Ordering Information

Additive Capacity Upgrade Licenses

Tables 4 and 5 show the additive capacity upgrade licenses that are available for the Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller.

Table 4. Ordering Information for Additive Capacity Licenses (e-Delivery PAKs)

Table 5. Ordering Information for Additive Capacity Licenses (Paper PAKs)

Table 6 shows the optional DTLS license for the Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers.

Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) is required for all Cisco OfficeExtend deployments to encrypt the data plane traffic. To enable this functionality, you must obtain a $0 DTLS license. Customers planning to install this device physically in Russia must obtain a paper PAK in order to enable a DTLS license and should not download the license from Cisco.com. Please consult your local government regulations to ensure that data DTLS encryption is permitted.

The DTLS paper PAK license is designated for customers who purchase a controller with DTLS disabled due to import restrictions but get permission to add DTLS support after initial purchase. This optional DTLS license is required for Cisco OfficeExtend deployment.

Table 6. Optional Licensing (PAKs) and Accessories

Service and Support

Realize the full business value of your wireless network and mobility services investments faster with intelligent, customized services from Cisco and our partners. Backed by deep networking expertise and a broad ecosystem of partners, Cisco professional and technical services enable you to successfully plan, build, and run your network as a powerful business platform. Our services can help you successfully deploy the Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller and integrate mobility solutions effectively to lower the total cost of ownership and secure your wireless network.

To learn more about Cisco Wireless LAN service offers, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/wirelesslanservices.

Summary

The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers are designed to support large-scale service provider and large-campus deployments. They simplify deployment and operation of wireless networks, helping to ensure smooth performance, enhance security, and maximize network availability. The Cisco 8500 Series manages all the Cisco access points within campus, service provider, and branch locations, eliminating complexity and providing network administrators with visibility and control of their wireless LANs.