About Cisco Mobility Express

Overview of Cisco Mobility Express

The Cisco Mobility Express wireless network solution comprises of at least one 802.11ac Wave 2 Cisco Aironet Series access point (AP) with an in-built software-based wireless controller (WLC) managing other APs in the network.

The AP acting as the WLC is referred to as the master AP while the other APs in the Cisco Mobility Express network, which are managed by this master AP, are referred to as subordinate APs.

In addition to acting as a WLC, the master AP also operates as an AP to serve clients along with the subordinate APs.

The Cisco Mobility Express solution provides most of the features of a WLC and has the capability to interface with the following:

  • Cisco Prime Infrastructure—For simplified network management, including managing AP groups

  • Cisco Identity Services Engine—For advanced policy enforcement

  • Cisco Mobility Services Engine—For providing presence-level data as well as an advanced spectrum solution

Supported Cisco Access Points

The following Cisco Aironet Series APs are supported in the Cisco Mobility Express network:


Note

  • APs listed under master APs can also function as subordinate APs.

  • The software on the APs listed under master APs can be converted from Cisco Mobility Express to CAPWAP Lightweight AP software and vice versa. For ordering information, visit the Cisco Aironet Access Points Ordering Guide

Table 1 Cisco APs Supported in Cisco Mobility Express

Master APs

Subordinate APs

Cisco Aironet 1830 Series

Cisco Aironet 1850 Series

Cisco Aironet 700i Series

Cisco Aironet 700w Series

Cisco Aironet 1600 Series

Cisco Aironet 1700 Series

Cisco Aironet 1810W Series

Cisco Aironet 2600 Series

Cisco Aironet 2700 Series

Cisco Aironet 3500 Series

Cisco Aironet 3600 Series

Cisco Aironet 3700 Series

Supported Software Images

AP models that are supported as masters can be ordered with either of the following as the default factory-shipped software:

  • A Cisco Mobility Express software image. These models have model numbers (or Product IDs) ending in C.

  • A lightweight AP software image, based on the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol, for joining a wireless controller. You can manually convert these models on site to have a Cisco Mobility Express software image. For information about this conversion, see Converting from CAPWAP Lightweight AP to Cisco Mobility Express Software.

AP models that are supported only as subordinates require a CAPWAP-based lightweight AP software image.

The Cisco Mobility Express software for your AP model can be downloaded from:

https:/​/​software.cisco.com/​download/​navigator.html:

From the Download Software window, browse to your AP model and then select Mobility Express Software to view a list of currently available software, with the latest the top. The software releases are labeled as follows to help you determine which release to download:

  • Early Deployment (ED)—These software releases provide new features, new hardware platform support, and bug fixes.

  • Maintenance Deployment (MD)—These software releases provide bug fixes and ongoing software maintenance.

  • Deferred (DF)—These software releases have been deferred. We recommend that you migrate to an upgraded release.

Cisco Mobility Express software for Cisco Wireless Release 8.2 is as follows:

Software Type and Purpose

Release

For AP 1850

For AP 1830

Mobility Express controller-capable AP software to be used for conversion from Lightweight Access Points only.

8.2.100.1

AIR-AP1850-K9-8.2.100.1.tar

AIR-AP1830-K9-8.2.100.1.tar

Access Point image bundle, to be used for updating ME controller software and images of supported access points.

8.2.100.1

AIR-AP1850-K9-ME-8-2-100-1.zip

AIR-AP1830-K9-ME-8-2-100-1.zip