Wireless design for branches

[im_mohamed77]

Hello,

I want to deploy 10 - 15 APs in 5 branches and want to have controller in each branch as well as centralized controller in the HQ. This is because the count of APs in each branch may reach 30 APs and expected to go up to 10 branches. I want to have centralized control over the WiFi network, but still have local access & AP termination on each branch.

Thanks to advise the best design & products.

Regards,

[Scott Fella]

Redundant controller in the HQ or DC and FlexConnect access points in each branch. AP’s local with the controller can be in local mode.

[Scott Fella]

Here is a link to the design guide for FlexConnect
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/8-5/Enterprise-Mobility-8-5-Design-Guide/Enterprise_Mobility_8-5_Deployment_Guide/ch7_HREA.html

[Rasika Nayanajith]

How many APs in HQ ?

As Scott said, FlexConnect design may be the best for your branch wireless if you have limited bandwidth WAN links (sub 1Gbps). In that case, you do not want any dedicated controllers in each branch.

Pair of 3504 (in HA) mode would work for those branches. 150 is the AP count that can handle by a 3504

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/3504-wireless-controller/datasheet-c78-738484.html

considering your HQ APs, if you are looking for 200+ AP in total, then pair of 5520 will be good enough to manage your HQ & Branch APs (assuming branch AP count hits 150)

Regards

Rasika

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[Leo Laohoo]

What is the WAN bandwidth of the site?
A good rule-of-thumb to follow is the 1 AP = 1 Mbps (up to 20 APs).
If you have more than 20 APs, get a WLC or Mobility Express.

[im_mohamed77]

So, Can we have 3504 Controller @ each branch as well as 5520 @ HQ? what will be the relation between those two types of controllers? (branch & HQ)? can I centralize the configuration on the HQ controllers (and control the branch controllers)? can it be HA/Redundant to each other?

[Leo Laohoo]

Sure. 3504 at branch and 5520 at HQ/DC.

[im_mohamed77]

Thanks for the info

Where is this documented? how it will be configured?

[Scott Fella]

You can’t have a “master” controller sync configuration to another different model controller. FlexConnect is what you want to do. Having a controller in the DC/HQ and then having controllers in each branch is a poor design. You either have two controllers in the DC or HQ, or two controllers in each branch. 

[im_mohamed77]

sounds logic ... but if the customer is insisting on HW controller on both the branch & HQ?

He is asking if the Branch controller can be main controller for the branch APs and then have the HQ controller as backup controller for the branches? how many branches can we go in this case?

Sounds strange, but the customer is insisting on this design till we confirm that we can/cannot provide it.

[Scott Fella]

Yeah that is not a design you will find in any Cisco deployment guides. What will happen if you deploy this is that each controller will be managed separately and you will be using FlexConnect local switching.