Product Overview
Cisco® Aironet® 1522 Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Point (Figure 1) enables cost-effective and scalable deployment of a secure outdoor wireless LANs. The Cisco Aironet 1522 is designed for municipal Wi-Fi deployments for public access, public safety, or managed services, and for enterprise campus outdoor Wi-Fi extensions.
Figure 1. Cisco Aironet 1522
The Cisco Aironet 1522 supports dual-band radios compliant with IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b/g standards. Various uplink connectivity options are supported such as Gigabit Ethernet (1000BaseT), and small form-factor pluggable (SFP) for fiber (100BaseBX) or cable modem interface. Power options supported includes 480VAC, 12VDC, cable power, Power over Ethernet (POE), and internal battery backup. It also employs Cisco's Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP) to form a dynamic wireless mesh network between remote access points, while delivering secure, high-capacity wireless access to any Wi-Fi-compliant client device (Figure 2).
The Cisco Aironet 1522 lightweight outdoor mesh access point's dual-radio configuration dedicates the 802.11a radio to access-point-to-access-point communications, allowing the mesh network to maximize all available channels, minimize the occurrence of interference from unlicensed devices, and minimize latency. The dual-radio configuration delivers high system capacity and performance through pico-cell designs.
Key Features on the Cisco Aironet 1522 are:
• Dual-radio support (802.11a, 802.11b/g)
• Improved 802.11b/g radio sensitivity and range performance on the three-channel Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC)
• Multiple uplink options (Gigabit Ethernet-1000BaseT, Fiber-100BaseBX, and cable modem interface)
• Multiple power options (Power over Ethernet, cable power, 480 VAC Streetlight Power, 12 VDC, and internal battery backup power)
• 802.3af-compliant Power over Ethernet out to connect IP devices
• NEMA 4X certified enclosure, certification for hazardous locations (Class 1, Division 2 / Zone 2. Group B, C, D-United States/Canada/EU), (optional).
• FIPS 140-2 certifiable
• LED status indicators
Figure 2. Cisco Wireless Mesh Network Solution
Architecture
The Cisco Aironet 1522 is a component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network and Cisco Outdoor Wireless Networking Solutions. The unified architecture centralizes key functions of the wireless LAN to provide scalable management, advanced security, seamless mobility, proven reliability, and mobility services, such as multiple Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs) and quality of service (QoS) for voice, video, and data applications. The Cisco Aironet 1522 is managed and monitored by Cisco wireless LAN controllers and the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS). It supports zero-touch configuration deployment to easily and securely join the mesh network. Flexible, high-powered, high-sensitivity radio options, along with a selection of high-gain antennas, allow coverage to be scaled as capacity needs increase. Uplink connectivity can be via Gigabit Ethernet, fiber, or cable. The Cisco Aironet 1522 is compliant with Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), which employs hardware-based Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption between wireless nodes to provide end-to-end, enterprise-class security.
Self-Configuring and Self-Healing Mesh
The Cisco Aironet 1522 mesh access point can be installed anywhere power is available, without the need for a network connection. Intelligent wireless routing is based on the Cisco's Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP), which is designed specifically for wireless environments. AWPP enables a remote access point to dynamically optimize the best route to the connected network within the mesh, mitigate interference and helping ensure high network capacity.
Deployment and management costs for the Cisco Aironet 1522 are reduced through support of zero-configuration deployments and through the ability of the access points to self-heal in response to interference or outages. The mesh access point can act as a relay node and can associate 2.4GHz clients at the same time.
The Cisco Aironet 1522 has a dedicated radio for the backhaul and another radio for local access, allowing the mesh network to maximize use of the total available channels. This results in more capacity than is available with solutions that use only a single radio. When more capacity is needed, additional sectors can be enabled-for example, by provisioning a network connection to additional access points. The mesh dynamically re-optimizes itself when this is done
Zero-Touch Configuration
Using the Cisco Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) features, the Cisco Aironet 1522 mesh access point can discover its LWAPP controller and automatically download the correct configuration and software for its role in the wireless mesh network.
Cisco Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP)
Wireless mesh networks have unique features and requirements, and to address these features and requirements Cisco has built a new protocol that allows each node to determine its neighbor or parent intelligently, choosing the optimal path toward the controller. Unlike traditional routing protocols, AWPP takes RF details into account.
AWPP automatically determines the best path back to the LWAPP controller by calculating the cost of each path in terms of signal strength and number of hops. After the path is established, AWPP continuously monitors the best path conditions and changes routes if necessarily to optimize performance. AWPP also performs a smoothing function by signaling condition information to ensure that the ephemeral nature of RF environments does not impact network stability.
Robust Embedded Security
A core component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Solution is the use of X.509 certificates and AES encryption for LWAPP transactions. This X.509 and AES encryption is embedded into the wireless mesh solution with LWAPP transactions and by AES encrypting all traffic between mesh nodes. The complete packet path is from the Cisco controller to the access points and eventually to the users. The controller encapsulates user packets and forwards them to the correct roof top access point (RAP) over Ethernet. Roof top access point has a wired connection to the back haul and it wirelessly connect mesh access points (MAPs) at locations without a wired connection. RAP then encrypts the user data packets and transfers them over the backhaul. Data packets may travel through multiple mesh access points before reaching the destination MAP. After receiving the encrypted user data, the destination MAP decrypts them and sends them over the air to the client using the encryption method specified by the client.
For mutual authentication, Extensible Authentication Protocol / Pre-Shared Key (EAP / PSK) is now supported between the mesh access point nodes.
Seamless Mobility
The same seamless mobility features delivered through the Cisco Unified Wireless Solution are delivered in the Cisco Outdoor Wireless Networking solution. Users can seamlessly roam in outdoor environments between the various Cisco Aironet 1520 mesh access points at different locations. If there is a Cisco indoor wireless network infrastructure, the user can also roam between the indoor and outdoor environment.
Layer 2 or Layer 3 Network Operation
Just as the Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution allows the LWAPP access points to communicate with the controller via a Layer 2 (L2) or Layer 3 (L3) network, this flexibility is extended to the outdoor wireless mesh network.
Highly Scalable Mesh
The Cisco Outdoor Wireless Networking solution can scale to a few thousand mesh access points with a cluster of up to 24 controllers each with up to 16 multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers (BSSIDs). For large deployment, a Cisco 4400 Series controller can support up to 100 Cisco Aironet 1520 mesh access points. Capacity in a mesh network can be increased conveniently by adding the mesh access points at the edge of the network or by configuring more rooftop access points in the network. As with all large scale deployments, a professional site survey is required to determine the optimal number of access points required for best performance.
Applications
The Cisco Aironet 1522 is designed specifically for outdoor environments. It features antenna connectors for extended range or coverage versatility and more flexible installation options. In outdoor municipal wireless applications, for example, network operator can place Cisco Aironet 1522 mesh access points on buildings, or mount them on lamp posts, cable strands, and antenna towers connected with a wired connection. Several uplink connectivity options such as Gigabit Ethernet, fiber, and cable are supported on the Cisco Aironet 1522. This provides flexibility for deploying the mesh access point anywhere in the community. The access point without wired connection will use the 5-GHz radio to wirelessly connect to the other mesh access point.
The metal housing enclosure of the Cisco Aironet 1522 provides the rugged and extended operating temperature range required in harsh outdoor, hazardous environments such as oil fields and mining pits (optional, specific part numbers are required). The rugged enclosure allows the mesh access point to maximize network uptime, remaining available and reliable even in severe weather conditions.
With the 802.3af compliant PoE feature, mesh access points can connect to other IP devices such as video surveillance cameras and IP sensors. This allows easy and quick deployment of mission-critical monitoring applications at locations where infrastructure does not exists. Video cameras and monitor sensors can take advantage of the mesh access point to connect to the network, and data can be transmitted via secure Wi-Fi. With internal battery power backup, the mesh access point will continue to function reliably even when the power is temporarily down. This allows the network operator to continue to monitor any incident while the power is being restored.
Features and Benefits
Table 1 describes the features and benefits of Cisco Aironet 1522 Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Points.
Table 1. Features and Benefits
Summary
The Cisco Aironet 1522 is ideal for outdoor wireless deployments, scaling from enterprise extensions of indoor wireless LANs to metropolitan-sized deployments. It supports a dual-radio configuration that enables pico-cell designs to deliver high system. Cisco's Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP), designed specifically for wireless environments, provides dynamic path optimization and self-healing capabilities, making the Cisco Aironet 1522 easy to use and minimizing management costs.
The Cisco Aironet 1522 is part of the innovative Cisco Unified Wireless Network. It works with Cisco wireless LAN controllers and Cisco WCS to enable centrally, at a systems level, all management, security, and mobility services capabilities. This allows the network to smoothly operate across the indoor and outdoor wireless LAN.
Cisco Aironet 1522 Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Points deliver industry-leading performance for wireless mesh networking.
Product Specifications
Table 2 lists specifications for the Cisco Aironet 1522.
Table 2. Cisco Aironet 1522 Product Specifications
Ordering Information
To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering Website at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/ordering/index.shtml
For detail parts lists and order information, please review the ordering guide at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/index.html
The Cisco Aironet 1522 part numbers distinguish the regulatory domains for which the access points are designed. Customers are responsible for verifying approval for use in their individual countries. To verify approval and to identify the regulatory domain that corresponds to a particular country, please visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/aironet/compliance
Table 3 lists the part numbers available for the Cisco Aironet 1522.
Table 3. Part Numbers for the Cisco Aironet 1522
Antennas
The Cisco Aironet 1522 provides three separate N-type connectors for the 2.4-GHz and one N-type connector for the 5-GHz antennas.
It is certified for use with antenna types listed in Table 4.
Table 4. Antennas for Cisco Aironet 1522
Configurable Options
Cisco Aironet 1522 provides internal backup power and a cable modem interface for FCC configuration (AIR-LAP1522PC-A-K9) and non-FCC configuration (AIR-LAP1522PC-N-K9). Table 5 shows the part numbers for the battery and cable modem options.
Table 5. Cisco Aironet 1522 Battery and Cable Modem
Accessory Options