Introduction

Enterprise wireless networks are becoming more complex to support various devices. IoT devices, which make up over 50% of connected devices, are the fastest-growing category in the business segment. This growth is driven by powerful, low-cost sensors, better connectivity technology, cheaper computing power, and lower storage costs. As IoT devices proliferate, enterprises need a simple, standardized method to onboard, authorize, and control them on a single network. This approach will allow multiple applications to coexist and solve the IoT walled garden problem.

The IoT ecosystem is filled with proprietary solutions that hinder widespread adoption. There is a need to simplify solutions and offer deployment flexibility while supporting most of the IoT use cases.

Simplifying and standardizing the IoT device onboarding experience and providing a uniform method for controlling, managing, and consuming data from IoT devices are crucial.

Sensor Connect for IoT services is a BLE solution that simplifies onboarding, authorization, and control of third-party BLE devices. It collects data from BLE devices and forwards it to relevant applications for specific customer use cases. This is enabled by Cisco's wireless infrastructure, featuring Catalyst Access Points with integrated IoT radios and Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wireless Controller. With Spaces Connect for IoT services, the third-party applications can use web-based APIs to onboard BLE devices onto enterprise wireless networks, control them, and receive telemetry data.

This solution expands our IoT capabilities by offering a common IoT framework for the third-party applications to onboard, manage, and consume telemetry from IoT devices.

Architecture

Figure 1: Architecture

Benefits

  • Offers full BLE capabilities, including secure pairing and streaming in connected mode
  • Introduces trusted BLE devices onto Cisco Catalyst Wireless infrastructure
  • Overcomes challenges of proprietary implementations with the help of Open APIs
  • Allows multiple BLE use-case co-existence with different Partner applications
  • Meets strict air-gapped deployment requirements, ensuring no data goes to the cloud due to data sovereignty
  • Use cases wherein internet connectivity is not reliable
  • Leverages existing Cisco Catalyst Wireless Infrastructure to enable the solution
  • Supports BLE device mobility across different APs

Requirement

Deployment Requirement

The Cisco Sensor Connect for IoT Services solution is offered for scenarios where Cloud-based IoT solution is not feasible (For example, Air-gapped requirement, during unreliable internet connectivity or data sovereignty mandate).

System Configuration

Supported Cisco Wireless Controller Platforms

  • Cisco Catalyst CW9800H1 and CW9800H2 Wireless Controllers
  • Cisco Catalyst CW9800M Wireless Controller
  • Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller
  • Cisco Catalyst 9800-80 Wireless Controller
  • Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller

Supported Access Points

For supported access points, see the Cisco Sensor Connect for IoT Services Release Notes, Release 1.2.

Meraki Access Points

  • Not Supported

Software

  • Cisco IOS XE software release: 17.15.3 and later
  • IOT Orchestrator release: 1.1.0

Supported Licenses

For Sensor Connect for IoT services, choose one of the following licensing options:

  • Cisco Spaces Smart Operation
  • Cisco Spaces ACT
  • Cisco Spaces Unlimited
  • Cisco Wireless Advantage

What's Next:

Day 0 - Deploying IoT Orchestrator Application on Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wireless Controller. For information, see the Cisco Sensor Connect for IoT Services Configuration Guide.