Product Overview

This section provides an overview of Cisco Mobility Express.


Note

In this document, Mobility Express refers to the Cisco 1800 series Access Point which supports the controller functionality. It is referred to as primary AP.

Cisco Mobility Express is a software-based controller function integrated on Cisco 1800 series Wave 2 Access Points. It is a simplified, low cost, feature rich WiFi architecture with enterprise level WLAN capability streamlined for small and mid-sized deployments.

In a Cisco Mobility Express network, Access Point (AP) running the wireless controller function is designated as the primary AP. The other Access Points which are managed by this primary AP are referred as Subordinate APs.

The primary AP has two roles:

  1. It functions and operates as a wireless LAN controller to manage and control the Subordinate APs. The Subordinate APs operates as lightweight access points to serve clients.

  2. Primary AP operates as an Access Point to serve clients.

For the list of supported primary and subordinate APs, see Supported Cisco Aironet Access Points.


Note

Cisco Mobility Express supports central authentication, and local switching.

Supported Cisco Aironet Access Points

Access Points which support the Mobility Express controller function capability are listed in the following table:

Table 1. Access Points supporting Mobility Access (Primary APs)

Access Points supported as Primary AP

Supported Model Numbers

Cisco Aironet 1850 Series

  • AIR-AP1852I-x-K9C

  • AIR-AP1852E-x-K9C

Cisco Aironet 1830 Series

  • AIR-AP1832I-x-K9C


Note

The model numbers that contain -x- is a placeholder for the actual letter indicating the model's regulatory domain. For more information on regulatory domains, see www.cisco.com/go/aironet/compliance.

The Access Points which operate as subordinate APs are listed in the following table:

Table 2. Access Points supported as Subordinates

Access Points supported as Subordinate APs

Supported Model Numbers

Cisco Aironet 700i Series

  • AIR-CAP702I- x-K9

Cisco Aironet 700w Series

  • AIR-CAP702W- x-K9

Cisco Aironet 1600 Series

  • AIR-CAP1602I-x-K9

  • AIR-CAP1602E-x-K9

Cisco Aironet 1700 Series

  • AIR-CAP1702I- x-K9

Cisco Aironet 1800 Series

  • AIR-AP1832I-x-K9C

  • AIR-AP1852I-x-K9C

  • AIR-AP1852E-x-K9C

Cisco Aironet 2600 Series

  • AIR-CAP2602I-x-K9

  • AIR-CAP2602E-x-K9

Cisco Aironet 2700 Series

  • AIR-CAP2702I-x-K9

  • AIR-CAP2702E-x-K9

Cisco Aironet 3600 Series

  • AIR-CAP3602I-x-K9

  • AIR-CAP3602E-x-K9

Cisco Aironet 3700 Series

  • AIR-CAP3702I-x-K9

  • AIR-CAP3702E-x-K9

Licenses

There is no license requirement for Mobility Express.

Software Release Numbers

Cisco Mobility Express is supported from 8.1.121.0 release. You can check the system information, using the command: 

(cisco controller) >show sysinfo
Manufacturer's Name .................. Cisco systems Inc.
Product Name	......................... Cisco controller
Product version	...................... 8.1.121.0

Interoperability

Cisco Mobility Express can interoperate with the following:

Cisco Prime Infrastructure

  • PI Release 3.0.1 and later

Connected Mobility Experiences (CMX)

  • Presence is supported on CMX Release 10.2 and later

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

  • ISE Release 1.4 and later. 802.1x authentication is supported.