The Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series is a component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, a comprehensive solution that delivers an integrated, end-to-end wired and wireless network. Using the radio and network management features of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network for simplified deployment, the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series extends the security, scalability, reliability, ease of deployment, and manageability available in wired networks to the wireless LAN.

The Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series is available in two versions: unified or autonomous. Unified access points operate with the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) and work in conjunction with Cisco wireless LAN controllers and the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS). When configured with LWAPP, the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series can automatically detect the best-available Cisco wireless LAN controller and download appropriate policies and configuration information with no manual intervention. Autonomous access points are based on Cisco IOS® Software and may optionally operate with the CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE). Autonomous access points, along with the CiscoWorks WLSE, deliver a core set of features and may be field-upgraded to take advantage of the full benefits of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network as requirements evolve.

Award-Winning Security

The Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series has achieved National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 level 2 validation and is in process for Common Criteria validation under the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) program.
The Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series supports 802.11i, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), WPA2, and numerous Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types. WPA and WPA2 are the Wi-Fi Alliance certifications for interoperable, standards-based WLAN security. These certifications support IEEE 802.1X for user-based authentication, Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for WPA encryption, and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for WPA2 encryption. These certifications help to ensure interoperability between Wi-Fi-certified WLAN devices from different manufacturers.

The Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series hardware-accelerated AES encryption supports enterprise-class, government-grade secure encryption over the WLAN without compromising performance. IEEE 802.1X authentication helps to ensure that only authorized users are allowed on the network. Backward compatibility and support for WPA client devices running TKIP, the RC4 encryption algorithm, is also supported by the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series.

Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series Access Points operating with LWAPP support Cisco Unified Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System (IDS/IPS), a software feature that is part of the Cisco Self-Defending Network and is the industry's first integrated wired and wireless security solution. Cisco Unified IDS/IPS takes a comprehensive approach to security-at the wireless edge, wired edge, WAN edge, and through the data center. When an associated client sends malicious traffic through the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, a Cisco wired IDS device detects the attack and sends shun requests to Cisco wireless LAN controllers, which will then disassociate the client device.

Autonomous or unified Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series Access Points support management frame protection for the authentication of 802.11 management frames by the wireless network infrastructure. This allows the network to detect spoofed frames from access points or malicious users impersonating infrastructure access points. If an access point detects a malicious attack, an incident will be generated by the access point and reports will be gathered on the Cisco wireless LAN controller, Cisco WCS, or CiscoWorks WLSE.

Applications

Designed for rugged environments and installations that require antenna versatility, the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series features antenna connectors for extended range or coverage versatility and more flexible installation options. Manufacturing applications, for example, can place WLANs in hazardous locations and remotely place antennas in the hazardous locations while securing the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series Access Points. The access point without wired connection will use the 5-GHz radio to wirelessly connect to the other access point for backhaul to the network.

The metal housing and industrial-grade components of the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series provide the ruggedness and extended operating temperature range required in factories, warehouses, "big box" retail environments, and similar facilities. High transmit power, receive sensitivity, and delay spread for both 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz radios provide the long range and large coverage area consistent with these applications. 5-GHz radios are used as wireless bridges between access points for backhaul to the network.

Access points may be placed above ceilings or suspended ceilings, allowing antennas to be discreetly placed below drop ceilings. The UL 2043 rating of the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series allows the access points to be placed above ceilings in plenum areas regulated by municipal fire codes. Public access applications such as large hotel buildings may also present a challenging RF environment; the antenna versatility of the Cisco Aironet 1240AG Series, together with industry-leading range and coverage, provides reliable performance for the most demanding environments.