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Johnson Olajide - PeerSpot reviewer
Director, Business Technology Solutions at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Good support and documentation, and extremely stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "It is an extremely stable and scalable solution. Its documentation and support are also very good."
  • "There is no technology without room for improvement. The main setback with Cisco solutions, not only with Cisco Wireless, is having to update the OS manually. We are now migrating to Miraki, so we've been able to work that out."

What is most valuable?

It is an extremely stable and scalable solution. Their documentation and support are also very good.

What needs improvement?

There is no technology without room for improvement. The main setback with Cisco solutions, not only with Cisco Wireless, is having to update the OS manually. We are now migrating to Miraki, so we've been able to work that out. 

There is also a small gap in the space of compatibility.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been deploying Cisco Wireless in our environment for over 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is extremely stable.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Wireless
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Wireless. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
842,767 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is extremely scalable.

How are customer service and support?

Their support is very good, and their documentation is also very good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have only been working with Cisco Wireless. We are a partner and reseller.

How was the initial setup?

Its implementation is not complex. I have trained experts working with me, so it is not at all complex.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Its price is a bit high. It is more expensive than its competitors, but when I look at the return on investment, it is worth it.

What other advice do I have?

If budget is an issue, then you can go for a cheaper option. If you're not planning for a big environment, you don't necessarily need to invest in Cisco because of the price.

I would rate it an eight out of 10. Overall, I am very satisfied with this solution.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
PeerSpot user
Anton Krivonosov - PeerSpot reviewer
Application Security Architect at Kuehne & Nagel Inc.
Real User
Top 5
Is tough, reliable, and has a nice speed
Pros and Cons
  • "It is tough, has a nice speed, and is quite reliable."
  • "Sometimes, in some rooms the signal could be a bit better, a little stronger."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for Wi-Fi at home. We'll have all devices connected to this Wi-Fi router.

What is most valuable?

As for valuable features, it is tough, has a nice speed, and is quite reliable.

What needs improvement?

I would improve the Wi-Fi range. Sometimes, in some rooms the signal could be a bit better, a little stronger.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Cisco Wireless for a couple of years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have had no problems at all with stability.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is very easy and straightforward. I did it myself.

What other advice do I have?

It's a good device, and I would recommend it. On a scale from one to ten, I would rate it at eight.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Wireless
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Wireless. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
842,767 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Network and Security Engineer at SK international
Real User
A stable wireless networking solution with great documentation and technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "I like that Cisco Wireless is easy to implement. If you get stuck with any issues, they have ample documentation on the internet. It's easy to implement, and Cisco documentation is easily accessible."
  • "In the next release, I would like to see some AI capability deployed. Other competitors like Mist and Juniper already have it. So, AI features need to be introduced next year."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is to provide enterprise wireless solutions for employees. We're a system integration provider, and we have a number of customers. Our customers deploy our wireless solutions in an active-standby mode for better network stability. We mostly have customers who have standalone wireless controllers.

What is most valuable?

I like that Cisco Wireless is easy to implement. If you get stuck with any issues, they have ample documentation on the internet. It's easy to implement, and Cisco documentation is easily accessible.

What needs improvement?

In the next release, I would like to see some AI capability deployed. Other competitors like Mist and Juniper already have it. So, AI features need to be introduced next year. Cisco is the defacto brand in wireless technology, and they're a little bit behind. They need to introduce some AI features so we can introduce the customer to these new features.

Some training will help because Cisco's new offering, 9800, requires a lot of hands-on experience. This is because the Cisco 9800 controller is new compared to the previous models, like 2504 and 3504. It requires more hands-on experience to get familiar with the terminologies used in 9800. This is because there are some AP profiles and site profiles, and all these things we aren't familiar with. It's a good tool.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been implementing Cisco Wireless for the last five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Wireless is obviously very stable, and there's no doubt about that. When you go for Airwave, it's very stable. The new IOx is going to be stable, and we're deploying it for a couple of customers.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

You can deploy it for whatever your user wants and their AP count. It's very good when it comes to scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

Cisco technical support is great. Cisco is based in Texas and provides technical support in any manner. Cisco provides support to customers who require it for updates or break-fix IT.
Support is wonderful. We haven't had a problem.

How was the initial setup?

It's easy to set up and implement this solution. For a basic implementation, you can deploy it within two or three hours. This is for a basic deployment for publishing SSID and testing. At a granular level, you may need a week to deploy this solution. This is because, in wireless scenarios, you need to do tests and try different testing scenarios. It's a very good basic solution for deploying to the cloud.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

From a pricing point of view, it's a little bit expensive compared to competitors like Aruba and others. But the product is also very promising and very stable. The hardware is wonderful. As a system integrator, it's okay, but you'll probably see it as expensive as a customer.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise potential users to implement Cisco wireless if they're implementing Airwaves. The old models like 2504 and 5508 work well with Airwaves. But it requires some specific knowledge to take that to the controllers and unplug the device. Some connectivity is derived from the core to the controller. You need to know what type of connectivity is required, what kind of access, and all those things. Cisco 9800 is a pure IOx, and it has a very straightforward configuration. It's very easy when compared to Airwaves.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco Wireless a ten for stability and performance. I don't have any issues with that.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
IT Infrastructure Architect at Plexus Corp.
Real User
Works reliably but the licensing is expensive
Pros and Cons
  • "Wireless access has enabled users to be mobile and as a result, more productive."
  • "The new licensing has no added value and seems to be Cisco's effort to take advantage of customers."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for this solution is the provision of standard wireless access.

How has it helped my organization?

Service delivery is critical in our organization. Wireless access has enabled users to be mobile and as a result, more productive.

What is most valuable?

The most important feature for us is the standard service delivery. Once configured correctly, it is 95% reliable.

What needs improvement?

The cost model is expensive. The new licensing has no added value and seems to be Cisco's effort to take advantage of customers.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than ten years.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Safety Officer at Tata Consultancy
Real User
Has good support services but needs to simplify deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco has good support services."
  • "Cisco's architecture is becoming complex."

What is most valuable?

Cisco has good support services.

What needs improvement?

Simplification in terms of deployment would be good. The need for different boxes should be improved as well.

The architecture is becoming complex. It's not a three-layer architecture; it's only two layers, and the access is based on the leaf and spine. However, there are lots of components, and we need to add more components and more licenses for services. This ends up becoming costly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working for almost seven years with Cisco Wireless.

How are customer service and technical support?

Cisco's technical support is good.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Because the Cisco architecture is quite complex, you may end up having to add more components and licenses. So, the cost could go up.

What other advice do I have?

Cisco is quite complex compared to Aruba Central, which is more user friendly and easy to handle. I would rate Cisco Wireless at seven on a scale from one to ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Presales Engineer with 51-200 employees
Reseller
The most valuable feature for us is the management of the systems.
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature for us is management of the systems. We can easily access all features."
  • "Probably more in terms of how much power it's using. Right now it just seems like it doesn't have enough power. Maybe that is all indicated, but says exactly how much power it's using."

What is our primary use case?

Right now, this is our primary connection for the network. We have all of our end devices connect to that. All workers connect to wireless, rather than a wired connection, so they all have laptops. 

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature for us is management of the systems. We can easily access all features.

What needs improvement?

Probably more in terms of how much power it's using. Right now it just seems like it doesn't have enough power. Maybe that is all indicated, but says exactly how much power it's using.

When it comes to wireless controllers you have issues where you want to take an access point computer to a wireless controller, you have to configure the iOS for it. That's just cumbersome and it takes time. It just is not as convenient so not having to do that would be nice. I think it's a little more complicated than that to convert the iOS file when you're doing the wireless controller where you're going to have them converted.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the power was an issue for us recently. The access point seems to have enough power, but it turns out it did not have enough power.

How are customer service and technical support?

I did not use technical support. After an hour of trouble-shooting, I figured it out on my own.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have prior experience with Cisco Meraki, which is a powerful solution.

How was the initial setup?

It's fairly straightforward. They are not always wireless, and that can cause some complications. But, otherwise it is not complicated at all.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: I am a reseller.
PeerSpot user
it_user173814 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager, IT Infrastructure at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Vendor
The ability to group APs to specific VLANs gives us a lot of flexibility. The GUI needs work.

What is most valuable?

  • Scalability
  • Enterprise Wireless Mesh
  • Number of interfaces
  • High Performance Video

How has it helped my organization?

In our company we have employees spread across multiple floors which requires more APs than we originally have. This new WLAN Controller accommodates us very well. It also has the great feature of grouping APs to specific VLANs which gives us a lot of flexibility.

What needs improvement?

Overall i haven't had any major complaints. I have noticed though when grouping interfaces, sometimes if you need to delete a previously created interface group there can be glitches. The GUI can be improved on.

For how long have I used the solution?

This specific model (Cisco 5508 Wireless Controller ) - 1 year

Cisco WLAN controller in general - over 10 years

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

No. The setup was pretty simple and straight forward.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

None encountered.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

None encountered.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

They do just fine.

Technical Support:

Very good. On the 2 occasions that I had to contact support I got immediate assistance and the reps were very knowledgeable and able to resolve my issues in little to no time.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have always used Cisco.

How was the initial setup?

The intial setup was very straight forward. Like most of Cisco devices the initial setup asks you some questions and you can select what you want to use as default or change. I did the preliminary setup then everything else from the GUI.

What about the implementation team?

Implementation was done in-house.

What was our ROI?

The increased productivity and low downtime from the wireless network is worth every cent spent. The different teams can roam the building while staying connected.....100%

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The initial set-up cost including the device was approximately $7500. There is no day-to-day cost besides the power it uses since the device just about maintains itself. Unless adding new APs or subnets to the wireless network there is no need to touch the controller really.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No, we stuck we Cisco since that's what we have been using all these years.

What other advice do I have?

No, we stuck we Cisco since that's what we have been using all these years.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Cisco Partner
PeerSpot user
AshokKumar15 - PeerSpot reviewer
Presales Consultant - Enterprise Networks at Cubit technologies LLC
Real User
Top 10
Robust software, highly reliable, and excellent support
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco is one of the leading vendors and is at the top of many lists. The access software is robust, and the performance of the devices is excellent."
  • "Cisco Wireless could improve if they had some kind of social media integration. There is some limitation with social media integration and wireless interaction. They need to add some additional components to their wireless devices to complete the solution or requirements."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Wireless for mobile WiFi connectivity to the end-users. It provides mobile device connectivity. They don't need any LAN connectivity to access the network. They can connect any mobile device or wireless device to access the network.

What is most valuable?

Cisco is one of the leading vendors and is at the top of many lists. The access software is robust, and the performance of the devices is excellent.

What needs improvement?

Cisco Wireless could improve if they had some kind of social media integration. There is some limitation with social media integration and wireless interaction. They need to add some additional components to their wireless devices to complete the solution or requirements.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Wireless for approximately 17 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Wireless solutions are highly reliable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable.

How are customer service and support?

Cisco technical support is excellent. Cisco is well known for its superior support.

How was the initial setup?

I'm taking care of the Cisco Wireless designs. I'm not into the implementation right now. I work designing suitable solutions for our customers. I provide consultancy to our customers and design the solution based on the customer's requirements. I used to work on the implementation, but for the last six years, I'm not into this field of implementation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Pricing is a little higher for Cisco Wireless than all other vendors. Cisco should work on improving the pricing because there are some other vendors out there in the market which may have the same features or equivalent features that Cisco has at a lesser price.

What other advice do I have?

Cisco Wireless has a large portfolio and is used in many places, such as school campuses. They have many types of deployments, such as on the cloud. Most of the features are available and they're supporting the latest technology.

I rate Cisco Wireless a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
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