CTS 361: Mobility Field Day 13 – Cisco

Clear To Send: Wireless Network Engineering

In this episode, we unpack the latest from Cisco’s wireless portfolio as they move toward a unified platform—no longer “Cisco vs. Meraki,” but a single product line with common licensing and support. Cisco’s Wi-Fi 7 access points (CW9172, CW9176I/D1, CW9178) offer future-ready performance while supporting legacy 2.4 and 5 GHz devices. We cover client readiness, advanced Wi-Fi 7 features like multi-link operation (MLO), and new security standards (GCMP-256, WPA3-SAE). But while the controller offers unmatched configuration flexibility, it demands deep operator expertise. Design complexity increases as organizations juggle cipher compatibility, roaming reliability, and client capability gaps.

We also discuss the new Campus Gateway solution designed to give Meraki customers seamless roaming across large campuses without redesigning their WLAN architecture. While technically impressive—leveraging QUIC for the control plane, VXLAN for tunneling, and active-active high availability—our take is that the solution arrives too late to reclaim customers who’ve already moved on. Finally, Cisco brings assurance intelligence enhancements, offering deeper user experience insights and more actionable troubleshooting tools—though many of these features feel like Cisco playing catch-up. Tune in for real-world perspectives on what’s exciting, what’s complex, and what’s still missing in Cisco’s wireless evolution.

Resources

• MFD Playlist → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLinuRwpnsHacvm_NA6qqs7RVHUXu9wNmP
• Blog post by Rowell: https://rowelldionicio.com/cisco-unveils-meraki-campus-gateway-a-cloud-managed-overlay-for-complex-networks/
• Blog post by Rowell: https://rowelldionicio.com/network-assurance-doesnt-stop-at-visibility/

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