Cisco Cisco 4402 Wireless LAN Controller White Paper
Total Economic Impact Study of Unified Wireless Network
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Table 4: Total Access Point Costs
Ref.
Metric
Calculation
Initial
B1
New access points purchased
50
B2
Average cost per access point
$799
Bt
Total costs of access points
B1*B2
$39,950
Source: Forrester Research, Inc.
Total Controller Costs
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers are another component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network and
deliver services simultaneously to all access points. To assess the costs of controller
implementation, Forrester assumes that the composite organization distributes the following access
point breakdown across its four campuses: 500, 100, 100, and 50. We assume that the composite
organization uses two types of controllers: WiSM and 4400-100 series.
deliver services simultaneously to all access points. To assess the costs of controller
implementation, Forrester assumes that the composite organization distributes the following access
point breakdown across its four campuses: 500, 100, 100, and 50. We assume that the composite
organization uses two types of controllers: WiSM and 4400-100 series.
The WiSM and 4400-100 controller can manage up to 300, and 100 access points, respectively.
With an average list price of $45,995 for WiSM and $34,995 for 4400-100 controllers, we applied
the following controller distribution: two WiSMs to manage the 500 access point campus, three
4400-100 controllers for campuses with access points varying from 50 to 100, and one additional
WiSM controller for backup (n+1 environment); allowing additional capacity to accommodate future
access point expansion. Table 5 illustrates this calculation.
With an average list price of $45,995 for WiSM and $34,995 for 4400-100 controllers, we applied
the following controller distribution: two WiSMs to manage the 500 access point campus, three
4400-100 controllers for campuses with access points varying from 50 to 100, and one additional
WiSM controller for backup (n+1 environment); allowing additional capacity to accommodate future
access point expansion. Table 5 illustrates this calculation.
Table 5: Total Controller Costs
Ref.
Metric
Calculation
Per period
C1
Total WiSM controllers purchased
3
C2
Total 4400-100 controllers purchased
3
C3
Cost per controller (WiSM)
$45,995
C4
Cost per controller (4400-100)
$34,995
Ct
Total cost to implement controllers
C1*C3+C2*C4
$242,970
Source: Forrester Research, Inc.
WCS Licensing Costs
Cisco WCS allows network managers to design, control, and monitor the wireless network from a
centralized location. Cisco offers licenses for 100, 500, 1000, 2500, 10000, and 50000 access
points. We chose the option to purchase one license for 1000 access point for the list price of
$46,950 to accommodate any future expansion. The 2500, 10000, and 50000 enterprise licenses
also include WCS Navigator, a utility to manage multiple WCS management stations. Table 6
demonstrates this calculation.
centralized location. Cisco offers licenses for 100, 500, 1000, 2500, 10000, and 50000 access
points. We chose the option to purchase one license for 1000 access point for the list price of
$46,950 to accommodate any future expansion. The 2500, 10000, and 50000 enterprise licenses
also include WCS Navigator, a utility to manage multiple WCS management stations. Table 6
demonstrates this calculation.