Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Point: Shipped with Wi-Fi 6

Recently, Cisco released the newest AP, the Catalyst 9100 series access points, which are shipped with Wi-Fi 6. We all know the Wi-Fi 6 is the newest Wi-Fi technology, the next-generation wireless standard that’s faster than 802.11ac.

What is the Wi-Fi 6?

The emerging IEEE Wi-Fi 6 standard is the latest step in a journey of nonstop innovation. It builds on the strengths of 802.11ac while adding flexibility and scalability that lets new and existing networks power next-generation applications. IEEE Wi-Fi 6 couples the freedom and high speed of Gigabit Ethernet wireless with the reliability and predictability we find in licensed radio.

You may be confused why Wi-Fi has version numbers. Here is the list of every version of Wi-Fi:

Wi-Fi 1 would have been 802.11b, released in 1999.
Wi-Fi 2 would have been 802.11a, also released in 1999.
Wi-Fi 3 would have been 802.11g, released in 2003.
Wi-Fi 4 is 802.11n, released in 2009.
Wi-Fi 5 is 802.11ac, released in 2014.
Wi-Fi 6 is the new version, also known as 802.11ax. It’s scheduled for release in 2019.

As the Wi-Fi 6 is coming, Cisco provides Catalyst 9100 access points support Wi-Fi 6, that extending the power of intent-based networking with hardware and software innovations.

How many Platforms dose Catalyst 9100 provide?

Catalyst 9100 series provides three platform, Catalyst 9115, 9117 and 9120 series:

Cisco Catalyst 9115

Wi-Fi 6 certifiable
3 radios: 2.4GHz (4×4), 5GHz (4×4), and BLE
Supports OFDMA and MU-MIMO
Internal and external antenna

(*See Catalyst 9115 models >>>)

Cisco Catalyst 9117

Wi-Fi 6 compatible
3 radios: 2.4GHz (4×4), 5GHz (8×8), and BLE
Supports OFDMA and MU-MIMO
Internal antenna

(*See Catalyst 9117 models >>>)

Cisco Catalyst 9120

Wi-Fi 6-certifiable
Four radios: 2.5 GHz (4×4), 5 GHz (4×4), Cisco RF ASIC and BLE/IoT
Cisco Flexible Radio Assignment and Cisco CleanAir Technology
RF signature-capture capabilities

(*See Catalyst 9120 models >>>)

What is the portfolio transition from the Cisco Aironet® 1800 Series to the Cisco Catalyst 9100 platform?

The Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points are the follow-ups to the Cisco Aironet 1830, 1850, and 2800 Series Access Points, respectively.

Here shares you a comparison of Catalyst 9100, Aironet 1830, Aironet 1850 and Aironet 2800.

( *See models: Catalyst 9100, Aironet 1830, Aironet 1850 and Aironet 2800 >>> )

Series	Catalyst 9100	Aironet 1830	Aironet 1850	Aironet 2800
Wi-Fi standards	802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax or 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax-prestandard	802.11a/b/g/n/acW2	802.11a/b/g/n/acW2	802.11a/b/g/n/acW2
Target deployment	Small or midsize enterprise	small and medium-sized networks	small and medium-sized networks	Midsize to large enterprise requiring advanced features
Antenna type	9115 – Internal and external 9117 – Internal 9120 – Internal, external and professional	Internal	Internal and external	Internal (2802i); external (2802e)
Number of radios	9115 – Three (2.4GHz, 5GHz, BLE) 9117 -Three (2.4GHz, 5GHz, BLE) 9120 – 5 GHz (4×4) Flexible radio with 2.4 or 5 GHz (4×4), Cisco RF ASIC, and IoT ready	Dual	Dual	Dual (XOR and 5 GHz)
Cisco RF ASIC	Only 9120	/	/	/
Combined maximum data rate	5 Gbps	867 Mbps	1.7 Gbps	5 Gbps
MIMO radio design: number of spatial streams	9115&9120 -4×4:4 MU-MIMO 9117 – 8×8:8 MU-MIMO	3×3:2 MU-MIMO	4×4：4MU-MIMO	4×4:3 MU/SU-MIMO
Supported wireless LAN controllers	● Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers ● Cisco 3500, 5520, and 8540 Series Wireless Controllers and Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller	● Cisco 2500, 3500 series Wireless Controllers, Cisco Wireless Controller Module for ISR G2, Cisco Wireless Services Module 2 (WiSM2) for Cisco Catalyst® 6500 Series Switches, Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers, Cisco Flex® 7500 Series Wireless Controllers, Cisco 8500, 9800 series Wireless Controllers, Cisco 5760 Wireless LAN Controller, Cisco Catalyst 3650 and 3850 Series Switches with integrated controller ● Cisco Mobility Express		● Cisco 2500, 3500 Series Wireless Controllers, Cisco Wireless Controller Module for ISR G2, Cisco Wireless Services Module 2 (WiSM2) for Catalyst® 6500 Series Switches, Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers, Cisco Flex® 7500 Series Wireless Controllers, Cisco 8500, 9800 series Wireless Controllers, Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller ● Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches, Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches ● Cisco Mobility Express