The Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller provides centralized control management and troubleshooting for high-scale deployments in service provider and large campus deployments. It offers flexibility to support multiple deployment modes in the same controller: for example centralized mode for campus Cisco FlexConnect™ mode for lean branches managed over the WAN and mesh (bridge) mode for deployments where full Ethernet cabling is unavailable. As a component of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network this controller provides real-time communications between Cisco Aironet® access points the Cisco Prime™ Infrastructure and the Cisco Mobility Services Engine and is interoperable with other Cisco controllers.

The Cisco Digital Network Architecture (Cisco DNA) is an open and extensible software-driven architecture that accelerates and simplifies your enterprise network operations. The programmable architecture frees your IT staff from time-consuming repetitive network configuration tasks so they can focus instead on innovation that positively transforms your business. SD-Access as part of Cisco DNA enables policy-based automation from edge to cloud with foundational capabilities. Cisco DNA Assurance also part of Cisco DNA provides a single source to monitor modify and manage your network and application data.