The Cisco AIR-CT2504-5-K9 Wireless LAN Controller works in conjunction with Cisco lightweight access points and the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS). It is an entry-level controller designed to provide systemwide wireless LAN functions in small to medium-sized offices.

The controller supports up to five lightweight access points. Support for additional access points can be obtained with adder licenses. The Cisco Aironet 2500 Series Adder License: 5 Access Points (part number LIC-CT2504-5A) is available through TechSoup.

Benefits for Organizations

These controllers can simplify management of access points for organizations with small, single-site wireless networks of fewer than 500 users.

Major Capabilities

• Centralized management: As a component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network, the Cisco 2500 Series Wireless LAN Controller allows network administrators to manage systemwide security policies and mobility services such as voice, guest access, and location services.
• Scalability: The controller supports up to 500 clients and a maximum of 50 access points through adder license upgrades.

Product Specifications

• Four Gigabit Ethernet ports (Note: Connecting access points directly to the controller is not currently supported.)
• One console port
• Wireless standards: IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11d, 802.11h, 802.11n
• Wired/switching/routing: IEEE802.3 10BASE-T, IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX specification, 1000BASE-T, and IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging
• Management interfaces:
• Designed for use with wireless control system
• Web-based: HTTP/HTTPS individual device manager
• Command-line interface: Telnet, SSH, serial port

More information about this product is available on the Cisco website.

Product Service and Support

Cisco will provide five years of hardware and software service and support ("SMARTnet") for this product.

Obtaining Your Product

When your request has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email from TechSoup. Your product will be delivered within eight weeks. For details, see The Cisco Donation Program.

• AC input: 100 to 240 VAC; 50/60 Hz
• Operating temperature: 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C)
• Storage temperature: -13 to 158°F (-25 to 70°C)
• Operating humidity: 10 to 95 percent, noncondensing
• Storage humidity: up to 95 percent

• Donated product will be distributed under this program to qualifying organizations only, not to individuals.
• Eligible organizations may request one donation of Cisco products per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) with administrative fees totaling up to $2,000.
• This donation is available only to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) designation.
• This donation is not available to organizations in U.S. territories.
• Affiliates of a national organization (such as the YMCA and the American Red Cross) that has more than 20 locations (even if those affiliates are considered separate entities and are not funded by the national organization) are not eligible for Cisco donations.
• After the TechSoup request process is complete, the TechSoup Cisco account management team might request additional information to verify that the organization matches the Cisco philanthropy guidelines. In particular, an organization must be able to show that their focus is serving economically disadvantaged people.
• Cisco requests may not include non-Cisco item requests. Any non-Cisco items must be requested separately so they are not subject to the Cisco processing delay.
• Eligibility:
• To be eligible for a Cisco donation, an organization must have an annual budget of no more than $10 million (your organization's most recent total revenue as reported on your IRS 990 or other tax form), have a unique U.S. Employer Identification Number (EIN), and fall within one of the Cisco-approved nonprofit categories listed below.
• Direct-service 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that primarily serve economically disadvantaged people are eligible to receive Cisco donations. Please make sure that your organization's primary mission and services correspond to one of the following organizational types:
• Health services: hospital auxiliaries; health clinics; rural medical facilities; blood banks; mental health care facilities
• Housing services: low-income housing; low- and moderate-income housing; instruction and guidance on housing
• Education, job training, and literacy support: apprentice training; other instruction and training; job counseling or assistance; remedial educational services
• Emergency or disaster aid: aid to people in the event of a disaster; controlling the effects of a disaster; educating or preparing individuals before disasters occur
• The following organizations are not eligible to receive Cisco donations:
• Organizations that provide care and housing for the aged, even if they were previously eligible
• Faith-based organizations. However, organizations whose primary mission is nonreligous might be able to register with an organization type that is eligible for Cisco donations. See Serving Faith-Based Organizations with Technology Donations for more information.
• Legislative and political advocacy groups, such as Planned Parenthood organizations
• Youth services organizations other than those listed above for education, job training, and literacy support to underserved populations
• Inner city or community organizations, except for community service organizations
• Radio, television, media, publishing programs, or training
• Foundations, lending, grant-making organizations, or organizations that provide funding or loans
• Schools and scholarships: public schools or school systems; private schools; charter schools; school foundations; booster clubs or other fundraising organizations affiliated with particular schools; colleges; universities; scholarships or stipend programs of any kind
• Charities that offer Cisco Networking Academy training programs — even if they were previously accepted for Cisco grants — and those who instruct Networking Academy curriculum as a single or separate component of their overall mission or services
• Referral services
• Animal care services and facilities
• Scientific research activities
• Sports activities and services
• Day care centers
• Legal aid, credit counseling, and civil rights activities
• Museums
• Art, cultural, and environmental education organizations
• Libraries
• Camps
• Zoos
• Rescue and emergency services — fire departments (including volunteer) and ambulance and helicopter services
• Hospitals and nursing homes
• Outpatient services
• Any organization that advocates, supports, or practices discrimination based upon age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background
• All Cisco products include five years of Cisco SMARTnet service and support on both hardware and software. Three weeks after your donation has arrived in its entirety, your SMARTnet contract number will be available on the Donation Request History page in your TechSoup account. After that coverage expires, donation recipients are strongly encouraged to renew their SMARTnet service and support agreement annually, for as long as they own the equipment or until that equipment is declared end of life (EOL) and no longer supported by Cisco.
• Grants that are donated within three months of a sale are not considered as a donation by the IRS; instead, the IRS considers these products an additional discount to the sale. Therefore, TechSoup donations cannot be given to organizations that have purchased Cisco equipment within the last three months or that plan to purchase Cisco equipment within the next three months. TechSoup donations done in conjunction with a Cisco sale are not allowed.
• Requests may be partially fulfilled: Due to the nature of the network design, product availability, and fiscal year schedules, all product donations are subject to change or delay without notice. Cisco reserves the right to substitute functionally equivalent products for any request.
• Cisco products may not be transferred or resold.