Cisco WAP121 User manual

© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.
Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points
At-A-Glance
1
Product Overview
As business applications become more powerful and sophisticated, organizations are
looking for new ways to improve productivity. Mobile computing and communication
devices have become more prevalent, requiring businesses to expand the performance,
security, and reach of their office networks. Delivering secure, high-speed wireless
connectivity with business-class features to employees, partners, and guests anywhere
in the office is critical.
The Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 series wireless access points now support
Single Point Setup controller-less technology. The WAP121 is a simple, affordable
way to improve the performance and reach for your small business network with
advanced 802.11n supporting 2.4 GHz wireless technology. The WAP321 is suitable for
connecting up to 16 users on a single WAP321.
The WAP321 makes it easy to deliver advanced 802.11n, supporting either 2.4 or
5 GHz wireless networking with business-class features, at an affordable price. This
flexible solution is perfect for connecting up to 32 users on a single WAP321.
The WAP551 and WAP561 provide cost-effective selectable or concurrent dual-
radio Wireless-N connectivity for high capacity and support for additional users. This
highly scalable solution lets organizations connect dozens of employees and provides
business-class features.
Single Point Setup
With Single Point Setup deployment is easier and faster. This helps to enable the
wireless LAN to scale up to four WAP121, up to eight WAP321 devices, and up to
16 WAP551 or WAP561 devices in order to provide broader coverage and support
additional users as business needs change and grow.
Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series Wireless Access
Points Product Highlights
The primary features and benefits of the WAP121, WAP321, WAP551 and
WAP561include:
• Access points feature multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology to deliver
superior performance with the fastest speeds possible to expand range and
coverage. With MIMO technology, Cisco wireless access points multiply the effective
data rate and use the inherent signal reflections to provide a reliable wireless
infrastructure throughout the office, including conference rooms, lobbies, lunch
rooms, and quads for improving staff communications and productivity.
• Single Point Setup controller-less technology can enable multi-access point
setup, configuration, management, and expansion from a single access point.
This allows partners and customers to save time and money both in deployment
and troubleshooting costs. Combined with Single Point Setup, web-based GUI
configuration tools and setup wizard make it more intuitive for customers to install
their Cisco wireless access points and set up their network devices. Setting up
a wireless network through one device with a web-based GUI enables remote
management and monitoring in or out of the office.
• To help protect sensitive business communications and data, advanced security
standards, encryption protocols, rogue device detection, and secure guest access
provide robust protection so that Cisco wireless access points offer the same strong
security that exists in wired networks.
• Captive Portal (for WAP321, WAP551, and WAP561) allows secure guest access in
the office with customized login page.
• Optimized SmartSignal Antenna system (for the WAP551 and WAP561) increases
the wireless coverage area in the office.
• Cisco wireless access points can be powered by either AC power or PoE (WAP551
and WAP561 use PoE only). This flexibility provides convenient options to best suit
your facility and reduce network cabling concerns and costs.
• Cisco wireless access points are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty and are
supported by the Cisco Small Business Support Center as well as the Small Business
Support Community.

© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.
Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points
At-A-Glance
2
Figure 1 features Single Point Setup, device connectivity, and connection to wired
networkand devices.
Figure 1. Single Point Setup and Connection to Wired Network and Devices
Table 1. Cisco WAP121, WAP321, WAP551, and WAP561 Feature Comparisons
Feature WAP121 WAP321 WAP551/561
Wi-Fi Standards (a/b/g/n) b/g/n a/b/g/n a/b/g/n
RF Band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz,
orDual)
2.4 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz WAP551:
Selectableradio band
(2.4 or 5GHz)
WAP561:
Dualconcurrent radios
(2.4 and 5 GHz)
MIMO Support 2x2:2 2x3:2 3x3:3
Maximum Active WLANClients 16 32 64 per radio
Number of SSID Supported 4 8 16
Ethernet Port Speed 10/100 10/100/1000 10/100/1000
Captive Portal No Yes Yes
Maximum Number of Access
Points Supported in a Single
Point Setup Group (Cluster)
4 8 16
Managed
PoE Switch
Router/Gateway
Customer
Data
Printer WorkstationsIP Phones
Single Point Setup allows
additional WAPs to join a
cluster as coverage, capacity,
and performance needs
evolve for the Wireless LAN
Data
SSID
Voice
SSID
Guest
SSID
Cluster of WAPs
Guest
WiFi
IP Phone

© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.
Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points
At-A-Glance
3
Figure 2 explains how Cisco WAP121, WAP321, WAP551, and WAP561 fit with other
Cisco products.
Figure 2. Positioning Cisco WAP121, WAP321, WAP551, and WAP561 to Other Cisco
Access Points and Services
Small Business APs Cisco Aironet®APs and Controllers
Target
Market SMB SB, Mid-market and Enterprise
TCO Lower CapEx Lower OpEx (overall network life)
Integration Seamlessly integrates with other
Cisco SMB solutions
Foundation for Borderless Networks
solutions
Support Cisco Small Business Support
Center (SBSC) Cisco TAC
Features SMB Architecture, ease-of-use
Advanced Architectures — TrustSec,
Medianet, EnergyWise, Smart
Operations
Software Linux-based Software Cisco IOS Software
Orderability/
Refresh
Cycles
3-5 years orderability (2 tier Only)
1-2 years product refresh
5-7 years orderability (2 tier & direct)
3-5 years product refresh
Services Small Business Services Cisco SMARTnet®/SmartCare Services
Scalability Scale to a few sites Scale up to world’s largest networks
Management Optimized for deployment and
management of SMB networks
Multiple enterprise-level management
options: CAN, Prime LMS for large/
multi-site networks with TCO emphasis
Warranty Limited Lifetime Hardware
Warranty 90-Day Limited Hardware Warranty

© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public.
Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points
At-A-Glance
4
Table 2 outlines how Cisco WAP121, WAP321, WAP551, and WAP561 compare against competitors’ offerings.
Table 2. Competitive Comparison Chart
Feature
Cisco
WAP121
Cisco
WAP321
Cisco
WAP551/561
D-Link
DAP-2310
D-Link
DAP-2553
Netgear
WNAP320
Netgear
ProSafe
WNDAP620
Netgear
ProSafe
WNDAP660
Wi-Fi standards
(a/b/g/n)
b/g/n a/b/g/n a/b/g/n b/g/n a/b/g/n a/b/g/n a/b/g/n a/b/g/n
RF Band (2.4 GHz,
5GHz, or Dual)
2.4 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.4 and/or 5 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.4 and 5 GHz
Controller-Less
Management
Technology
Single Point Setup
with clustering
Single Point Setup
with clustering
Single Point Setup
with clustering
Access point
array
Access point
array
Requires
a separate
controller
Requires
a separate
controller
Requires
a separate
controller
Simplied Deployment Wizard-based
setup guides the
setup process
Wizard-based
setup guides the
setup process
Wizard-based
setup guides the
setup process
Access point
array’s master/
slave concept that
is not simplied
Access point
array’s master/
slave concept that
is not simplied
N/A N/A N/A
Scale 4 —
WAP121s per
cluster. Deploy
multiple clusters
as scaling
needsevolve
8 —
WAP321s per
cluster. Deploy
multiple clusters
as scaling
needsevolve
16 —
WAP551/561s
per cluster.
Deploy multiple
clusters as scaling
needs evolve
Manage up to 8
D-Link AirPremier
business access
points
Manage up to 8
D-Link AirPremier
business access
points
N/A N/A N/A
For More Information
For more information on the Cisco WAP121, WAP321, WAP551, and WAP561
Wireless-N Access Points with Single Point Setup visit www.cisco.com/cisco/web/
solutions/small_business/products/wireless/.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R) C45-717569-01 5/13