08-14-2007 02:58 AM - edited 07-03-2021 02:28 PM
Good day.
What are the differences in functionality between Cisco Mobility Express AP AP521G and other IOS based AP?
I understand that AP521G support only 802.11b/g, and designed for SMB market but
they have integrated antennas and 802.3af (as other AP).
But why the price is so low?
Can anybody help?
08-14-2007 05:36 AM
Hi Eugene,
Hope things are going well for you :) I thought that this was an excellent question.
These Q & A really outline the differences between the Small Business Cisco Mobility Express Solution of which the AP521G is the only supported AP, and the Enterprise Cisco Unified Wireless Network;
Q. How do these products differ from the existing Cisco Unified Wireless Network?
A. The Cisco Mobility Express Solution is built to address the needs of SMBs (<250 employees), whereas the existing Cisco Unified Wireless Network (for example, Cisco 2106 and 4400 Series Wireless LAN Controllers and Cisco Aironet 1100 and Aironet 1200 Series Access Points) is primarily designed for midmarket and enterprise customers. The Cisco Mobility Express Solution provides many of the benefits of the feature-rich enterprise solution, but with less flexibility and more simplicity.
Q. Can the Cisco Mobility Express Solution be used with the Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution?
A. Access points from the Cisco Mobility Express Solution can associate only with controllers within this solution. The Cisco SBCS was built with the needs of SMB customers in mind. Because these needs are different from those of enterprise customers (for example, simplified network management), the two solutions were intentionally designed differently.
Q. What WLAN standard is supported by the Cisco Mobility Express Solution?
A. The Cisco Mobility Express Solution supports the 802.11b/g standard, that is, the standard widely available on the vast majority of client devices (for example, laptops).
Q. What about dual-band?
A. Because most customers use clients with the 802.11b/g standard, dual-band is not supported in the Cisco Mobility Express Solution. Any potential interference benefits associated with 802.11b/g are mitigated in the Cisco Mobility Express Solution with the available RRM feature, which automatically configures the access points with the optimal power and channel settings to minimize interference.
Q. Can the Cisco IOS command-line interface (CLI) be used to manage the Cisco Mobility Express Solution?
A. Because the objective of the Cisco SBCS was to create a simplified management system and interface for SMB customers, the CLI is limited to troubleshooting (SHO/DEBUG) commands only and cannot be used for configuration.
Q. What is the difference between deploying a Cisco 2106 Controller and six access points versus deploying a Cisco 526 Mobility Controller and six Cisco 521 Access Points?
A. The Cisco Mobility Express Solution has been designed with the needs of the SMB customer in mind. The Cisco 2106 Controller is part of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network and is primarily designed for midmarket and enterprise customers. Following are some of the benefits of the Cisco Mobility Express Solution to an SMB customer relative to deploying the Cisco 2106 Controller and six access points:
Lower total cost of ownership (TCO): The Cisco Mobility Express Solution offers a 30- to 40-percent lower TCO than the Cisco Unified Wireless Network.
Management: The Cisco Configuration Assistant is specially designed to be SMB friendly and offer integration across different technologies such as unified communications and mobility.
Capacity requirements for the future: The Cisco Mobility Express Solution has a maximum capacity of 12 Cisco Wireless Express Access Points-unlike the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, which has no limitations in terms of access points.
Features set: The most advanced features, such as location-based services, are currently offered only on the Cisco Unified Wireless Network.
From this good doc;
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7319/products_qanda_item0900aecd8060c860.shtml
Hope this helps! Cisco has really aimed this product at the Small Business Market and has priced it as such.
Rob
08-14-2007 10:44 PM
Rob, thanks.
Before posting I have read this Q&A marketing materials.
Do you have links for technical data, because I have not found these ones?
I need technical information that will help me to obtain clear understanding of this new wireless product line and its differences from the AIR-AP1xxx series.
Any other help?
08-15-2007 04:34 AM
Hi Eugene,
Sorry about that :( There isn't a ton of info out there for these products due to their rather recent release (June 2007). But here is everything that I could find;
Cisco 521 Wireless Express Access Point
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7319/products_data_sheet0900aecd8060c220.html
Release Notes for Cisco 521 Wireless Express Autonomous Access Point for Cisco IOS Release 12.4(3g)JX1
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/access_point/521/release/notes/iosap521rn1234jx1.html
Cisco 500 Series Wireless Express Access Points
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7319/product_solution_overview0900aecd8060c84b.html
Have a look at Table 2 in this doc that outlines some of the feature differences;
Cisco 526 Wireless Express Mobility Controller
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7320/products_data_sheet0900aecd8060c22b.html
Quick Start Guide: Cisco 526 Wireless Express Mobility Controller
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/controller/526/quick/guide/526cqsg.html
Release Notes for Cisco 526 Wireless Express Mobility Controller and Cisco 521 Wireless Express Lightweight Access Point, 4.1.154.23
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/controller/release/notes/c526rn4115423.html
Hope this helps!
Rob
08-30-2007 06:29 AM
Rob, thanks,
Reading plenty of paper makes me a bit wiser)).
Main reason is scalability, and only the next some technical aspects.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7319/products_qanda_item0900aecd8060c860.shtml
Thanks again!
08-30-2007 06:34 AM
Hi Eugene,
You are most welcome my friend :) It is like getting a reading assignment isn't it!
Take care,
Rob
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