Implementing and Operating Cisco Wireless Core Technologies

Overview

This five-day instructor-led course develops the knowledge and practical skills required to implement, operate, secure, monitor, and troubleshoot enterprise Cisco wireless networks. Learners will explore modern wireless networking concepts, including radio frequency (RF) fundamentals, Wi-Fi standards, Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless LAN Controllers, Cisco access points, Cisco Meraki, wireless security, automation, and AI-assisted operations. The course prepares learners to deploy secure wireless infrastructure, optimise wireless performance, manage enterprise wireless environments using Cisco Catalyst Center, and troubleshoot common connectivity and operational issues. It also prepares learners for the Cisco 350-101 WLCOR examination, which fulfils the core exam requirement for Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Wireless and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Wireless certifications.

Prerequisites

• A solid understanding of networking fundamentals, including switching, routing, TCP/IP, and enterprise network architecture
• Experience working with Cisco networking technologies
• Familiarity with wireless networking concepts, RF fundamentals, and Wi-Fi standards
• Basic knowledge of Cisco wireless controllers and access points
• Experience equivalent to Cisco CCNA or the Understanding Cisco Wireless Foundations (WLFNDU) course is recommended but not mandatory

Target Audience

• Wireless network engineers
• Enterprise network engineers
• Network administrators
• Network architects
• Network automation engineers
• Technical consultants responsible for Cisco wireless deployments
• Professionals preparing for the Cisco 350-101 WLCOR certification exam
• Organisations looking to build expertise in designing, operating, and supporting secure enterprise wireless infrastructure

Objectives

Delegates will learn how to:

• Explain enterprise wireless architectures, governance models, and modern Wi-Fi technologies
• Evaluate RF characteristics, antenna selection, and wireless design principles for enterprise environments
• Deploy and configure Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wireless LAN Controllers and Cisco access points
• Configure secure wireless client connectivity using local and external authentication methods
• Implement mobility, roaming, guest networking, and client management policies
• Monitor and manage enterprise wireless networks using Cisco Catalyst Center
• Automate operational tasks using APIs and AI-assisted capabilities
• Analyse wireless traffic and troubleshoot client, controller, and access point issues using structured troubleshooting techniques
• Prepare for the Cisco 350-101 WLCOR certification examination

Outline

Wireless Networking Foundations

• Evolution of enterprise wireless networking
• Cisco wireless architecture
• Wireless governance and design principles
• CAPWAP architecture
• Centralised and distributed deployments
• Enterprise wireless use cases

Radio Frequency Fundamentals

• RF propagation
• Signal strength and attenuation
• Interference sources
• Channel planning
• Frequency bands
• Wireless spectrum management
• RF calculations
• Antenna characteristics
• Antenna placement and coverage optimisation

Modern Wi-Fi Technologies

• IEEE 802.11 standards
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
• OFDMA
• MU-MIMO
• BSS colouring
• Channel widths
• Roaming technologies
• Wireless performance optimisation

Deploying Cisco Wireless Infrastructure

• Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless LAN Controllers
• Cisco access point deployment
• Cisco Meraki integration
• Initial controller configuration
• Physical infrastructure requirements
• High availability concepts
• Network segmentation
• WLAN creation
• SSID configuration
• Policy profiles
• Tags and profiles

Wireless Client Connectivity

• Client onboarding
• Wireless profiles
• VLAN assignment
• Client policies
• Device profiling
• Operating system considerations
• QoS configuration
• Client optimisation

Wireless Security

• WLAN security
• WPA3
• Enterprise authentication
• Local authentication
• External authentication using RADIUS
• Cisco Identity Services Engine integration
• Certificate-based authentication
• Guest access
• Secure management access
• Policy enforcement

Mobility and Roaming

• Layer 2 and Layer 3 roaming
• Mobility groups
• Mobility tunnelling
• Fast Secure Roaming (802.11r)
• Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC)
• Pairwise Master Key (PMK) caching
• Client hand-off optimisation
• Mobility troubleshooting
• High availability considerations

Managing Enterprise Wireless Networks

• Cisco Catalyst Center overview
• Wireless assurance
• Device inventory
• Monitoring client health
• RF optimisation
• Software image management
• Configuration management
• Performance monitoring
• Reporting and analytics
• AI-driven operational insights

Wireless Automation and Programmability

• Network programmability concepts
• REST APIs
• Model-driven programmability
• JSON and XML data formats
• Cisco automation tools
• Telemetry
• Streaming data
• Configuration automation
• Operational workflows
• Integrating wireless infrastructure into automated management processes

Quality of Service

• Quality of Service fundamentals
• Traffic classification
• Marking and queuing
• Voice over Wi-Fi considerations
• Video optimisation
• Application prioritisation
• End-to-end QoS policies
• Client experience optimisation

Troubleshooting Enterprise Wireless Networks

• Troubleshooting methodology
• Client connectivity issues
• Authentication failures
• DHCP and DNS issues
• Roaming failures
• RF interference
• Coverage gaps
• Controller diagnostics
• Access point troubleshooting
• Packet capture analysis
• Log analysis
• Wireless performance optimisation
• Common operational scenarios

Best Practices for Enterprise Wireless Operations

• Wireless design recommendations
• Capacity planning
• Lifecycle management
• Software maintenance
• Security best practices
• Monitoring strategies
• Change management
• Documentation
• Operational governance
• Preparing enterprise environments for future wireless technologies

Exams and Assessments

• Learners reinforce their knowledge throughout the course using instructor-led discussions, practical configuration exercises, and knowledge checks. Practical lab activities provide opportunities to configure, validate, and troubleshoot enterprise wireless solutions in realistic scenarios.
• This course also prepares learners for the Cisco 350-101 Implementing and Operating Cisco Wireless Core Technologies (WLCOR) examination, which satisfies the core examination requirement for Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Wireless certification and acts as the qualifying core examination for Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Wireless certification.

Hands-on Learning

• Configuring Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wireless LAN Controllers
• Deploying and managing wireless LANs
• Configuring secure authentication methods
• Implementing mobility and roaming
• Monitoring wireless health using Cisco Catalyst Center
• Using automation and APIs to simplify administration
• Diagnosing and resolving enterprise wireless issues through guided troubleshooting exercises