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The Cisco Catalyst 9130 Series indoor APs deliver cutting-edge 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) technology for high-density enterprise environments.
Available in both internal-antenna (9130AXI) and external-antenna (9130AXE) models, they combine advanced RF innovations, deep network intelligence, and embedded security to support applications ranging from high-definition video streaming to massive IoT deployments.
Paired with Cisco DNA Software and optional Embedded Wireless Controller, the Catalyst 9130 series scales from small offices to distributed campuses with unified policy, analytics, and automation.
Product Overview
Specifications
| Feature | Catalyst 9130AXI | Catalyst 9130AXE |
| Antenna Type | Internal, omnidirectional (4 dBi @ 2.4 GHz; 6 dBi @ 5 GHz) | External antennas, smart-connector, up to 13 dBi gain |
| MIMO Configuration | 4×4:4 MU-MIMO | 8×8 MU-MIMO |
| Wi-Fi Standard | IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Frequency Bands | Dual-band 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz |
| Max Throughput | Up to 5.38 Gbps | Up to 5.4 Gbps |
| Bluetooth | Integrated Bluetooth 5.0 | Integrated Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ethernet Ports | 1× GigE, 1× 2.5 GbE Multigigabit | 1× GigE, 1× 2.5 GbE Multigigabit |
| PoE | IEEE 802.3at PoE+ | IEEE 802.3at PoE+ |
| Operating Temp. | 0 °C to 40 °C | 0 °C to 40 °C |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 42 × 220 × 220 mm | 42 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Weight | 0.9 kg | 1.1 kg |
| Management | Cisco DNA Center, CLI, SNMP, Embedded Wireless Controller (optional) | Cisco DNA Center, CLI, SNMP, Embedded Wireless Controller (optional) |
Core Features
-
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with OFDMA & MU-MIMO
Delivers high efficiency and low latency by allocating resource units via OFDMA and supporting up to eight spatial streams for multi-user MU-MIMO traffic. -
Cisco RF ASIC & CleanAir™
The built-in RF ASIC performs real-time spectrum analysis, power-drain mitigation, and wireless intrusion prevention (WIPS), ensuring robust connectivity in congested RF environments. -
Flexible Radio Assignment (FRA)
Automatically splits radios into dual- or tri-radio modes based on RF conditions and client demands, optimizing coverage and capacity. -
Intelligent Capture
Probes up to 240 anomalies on demand, feeding deep analytics to Cisco DNA Center for faster troubleshooting and proactive optimization. -
Target Wake Time (TWT) & BSS Coloring
Extends device battery life and boosts spatial reuse by scheduling client wake times and differentiating overlapping BSS transmissions. -
Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC)
Optional onboard controller for small to medium deployments, enabling full WLAN functionality without separate hardware controllers. -
Multigigabit Ethernet Uplinks
Supports 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps uplinks over existing Cat 5e/6 cabling, future-proofing infrastructure upgrades. -
Bluetooth 5 & IoT Edge
Integrates BLE 5 for location-based services and supports containerized IoT applications via USB interface, enabling edge compute on the AP. -
Apple FastLane™
Prioritizes roaming and traffic for iOS devices through device-specific optimizations, enhancing experience for mobile users. -
Secure Boot & Trust Anchor
Ensures platform integrity with hardware root of trust and signed images, mitigating supply-chain and runtime threats.
Technical Guides
-
Site Survey & RF Planning
Use Cisco’s DNA Center or Ekahau Pro integration to model coverage, interference, and capacity, optimizing AP placement for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. -
Channel & Power Management
Enable Cisco RRM (Radio Resource Management) to automatically select optimal channels and power levels; configure manual overrides in high-density or high-interference areas. -
Quality of Service (QoS)
Apply Cisco Unified Wireless QoS profiles to prioritize voice/video traffic (e.g., DSCP EF for voice, AF41 for video) and rate-limit bulk data flows. -
Security Best Practices
Enforce WPA3‐Enterprise with 802.1X authentication, enable Cisco TrustSec for micro-segmentation, and activate rogue AP detection via CleanAir. -
Firmware & Software Upgrades
Leverage Cisco’s Embedded Wireless Controller or Cisco DNA Center to schedule rolling upgrades with zero downtime using Cisco IOS XE 17.x platform. -
IoT & BLE Configuration
Create separate BLE‐only SSIDs via software-defined service templates, mapping to VLANs for asset tracking, wayfinding, or proximity marketing.
Competitor Comparison
| Feature | Cisco Catalyst 9130 | Aruba AP-515 |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Spatial Streams | 8×8 MU-MIMO (AXE) / 4×4 MU-MIMO (AXI) | 4×4 MU-MIMO |
| Max Throughput | Up to 5.4 Gbps | Up to 5.3 Gbps |
| RF ASIC & CleanAir | Yes | AirMatch |
| Embedded Wireless Controller | Optional EWC | Controller on-board (Instant) |
| Multigigabit Uplinks | 2.5 GbE & 5 GbE | 2.5 GbE only |
| IoT & BLE Support | Integrated BLE 5 & IoT slots | BLE gateway |
| Security (Trust Anchor) | Secure Boot, Trust Anchor Module | Secure Boot |
CLI Configuration
Global Wireless Enable
configure terminal
wireless
Create SSID and Map to VLAN
wireless profile policy corp-policy
ssid corporate_ssid
vlan 100
security wpa2 ciphers aes
Apply RF Profile
wireless profile rf corp-rf
coverage-level heavy-client
dca enable
Configure 5 GHz Radio
interface Dot11Radio1
channel width 80
power local 23
no shutdown
Configure 2.4 GHz Radio
interface Dot11Radio0
channel width 20
power local 20
no shutdown
Enable Band Select (5 GHz Steering)
wireless profile client client-steer
band-select
Configure QoS for Voice
class-map match-any voice
match ip dscp ef
policy-map qos-voice
class voice
priority percent 30
Configure RRM
wireless rrm load-balance client
Enable Intelligent Capture
wireless capture enable
Real Case Studies and Scenarios
-
University Campus
Deployed 200× 9130AXI APs across lecture halls and dormitories, achieving seamless roaming for 10,000 users and reducing Wi-Fi complaints by 85%. -
Financial Trading Floor
Leveraged 9130AXE with external antennas in a dense RF environment; OFDMA and MU-MIMO delivered sub-10 ms latency for algorithmic trading systems. -
Smart Manufacturing Plant
Integrated BLE asset tracking and container-hosted quality-control apps on the 9130AXI; real-time analytics via Cisco DNA reduced downtime by 30%.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
What Wi-Fi standard do Catalyst 9130 indoor APs support?
They support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), enabling OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and BSS coloring for improved throughput and efficiency. -
What is the difference between 9130AXI and 9130AXE?
AXI has internal antennas (4×4 MIMO), while AXE offers external antennas (8×8 MIMO) for flexible coverage in large areas. -
Can I use Catalyst 9130 without a hardware controller?
Yes—Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) on select SKUs provides full WLAN functionality without separate hardware. -
What uplink speeds are supported?
Both models support 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps multigigabit Ethernet over Cat 5e/6 cables. -
How do these APs enhance security?
Features include WPA3-Enterprise, Trust Anchor, Secure Boot, Cisco CleanAir WIPS, and 802.1X integration. -
What management options are available?
Cisco DNA Center, CLI, SNMP, Web UI, and Embedded Wireless Controller are all supported. -
Do these APs support IoT applications?
Yes—integrated BLE 5 radio and container-hosted IoT apps allow edge compute and location services.
Conclusion
The Cisco Catalyst 9130 indoor APs set the bar for enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 Access Points, offering unmatched RF intelligence, built-in security, and flexible deployment options.
Whether you choose the compact 9130AXI or the high-capacity 9130AXE, these APs ensure robust performance, seamless scalability, and deep network visibility for today’s most demanding indoor environments.
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