CISCO Catalyst 9115AX Series

CISCO Catalyst 9115AX Series

Description

The Cisco Catalyst 9115AX Series is a line of enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless access points designed for high-performance, high-density networking. It delivers fast, reliable dual-band wireless connectivity (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) with technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO for efficient multi-device support, multigigabit Ethernet uplinks, and robust security features. These access points are typically used in offices, campuses, and other demanding environments to support modern applications, high client counts, and advanced services like IoT and analytics.

Cisco Catalyst 9115AX Series – Key Features

Wi-Fi Technology

• Supports 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) with backward compatibility for 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4).

• Dual-band operation across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

Performance

• Aggregate data rates up to ~5.38 Gbps (combined 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz).

• OFDMA and MU-MIMO for efficient multi-client throughput.

• Support for wide 20/40/80/160 MHz channels to maximize throughput.

Advanced Radio Enhancements

• Beamforming, BSS Coloring, Target Wake Time (TWT) — improves performance in dense environments and efficiency for battery-powered devices.

Ethernet & Power

• Single Multigigabit Ethernet (100/1000/2.5 GbE) RJ-45 port.

• Supports PoE+ (802.3at) and higher PoE standards (e.g., UPOE) depending on model.

Antennas

• Models with internal or external antennas available.

• Internal peak antenna gains typically ~3 dBi (2.4 GHz) and ~4–6 dBi (5 GHz).

Management & Security

• Enterprise security: WPA3/WPA2/WPA, 802.1X, AES, RADIUS.

• Management via Cisco DNA Center or controller-based deployment (e.g., Catalyst 9800 series).

Use Cases

• Designed for high-density environments such as offices, campuses, healthcare, retail, and large public spaces where many clients connect simultaneously.

Variants & Deployment Considerations

There are several configurations in the 9115AX family, including:

• C9115AXI-x – Internal antenna models.

• C9115AXE-x – External antenna models (for customizable coverage).

• EWC versions – With Embedded Wireless Controller image pre-loaded (can act as a local controller in smaller deployments).

Highlights & Protocol Support

Wireless Efficiency

• OFDMA & MU-MIMO: Allows simultaneous communication with multiple clients.

• Beamforming: Improves signal focus and device performance.

PHY & Channel Support

• Support for 20/40/80/160 MHz channels for higher throughput.

• Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) to mitigate interference.

Bluetooth LE

• Some SKUs include Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radios for location services and IoT integration.

Ideal Use

The Cisco Catalyst 9115AX Series is ideal for organizations that need:

✅ High-capacity Wi-Fi 6 performance
✅ Enterprise-grade security
✅ Centralized management in large deployments
✅ Support for IoT and BLE services
✅ Scalable multiradio architecture