Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller vs Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points

Likelihood to Recommend

I was given the task to setup a new wifi network in a very large building. With many departments and a complicated layout, we needed to have a solid router to handle all of the network traffic and throughput. I was given the task to find a reliable, robust and cost-effective solution. With the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller, I was easily able to setup an autonomous access point with a few clicks. The cloud based controller software was easy to use and had many features I was able to utilize and control.

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BHUPESH PANT

React Developer

BoxinallInformation Technology & Services, 51-200 employees

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We have used the 100 Series Wireless Access Points as our "go-to" wireless add-on, to complement our other Cisco Small Business quick deployment equipment. Depending on if the need for wireless arises, having these Cisco Wireless Access Points makes it so much faster and easier to set up to be operational in no time at all.

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Verified User

Engineer in Information Technology

Telecommunications Company, 501-1000 employees

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Pros

[...] One thing which always fascinated me is the user interface because it is very friendly in nature.
Also, with this tool, [my team and I] have started feeling more secure and safe because this platform does not require any such implementation. [A]ll the security patches happen on their own.
One of the main pros of this app is that because it is so compact, it makes this platform a very good travel option. [I]t is also portable [and] can be easily carried anywhere.

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Nathan Linkon

Senior Software Engineer

SwisscomInformation Technology & Services, 10,001+ employees

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Access coverage is great.
Devices are simple to place and activate.
There weren't as many replacements required as with other products.

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Verified User

Technician in Information Technology

Higher Education Company, 501-1000 employees

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Cons

The interface needs improvement, it is still complex to find some functions quickly
The price of the product is still a big limiter
The fragility of its physical structure, any impact, which is a little stronger, can cause damage to the product

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Roni Peterson Alvarenga

Diretor de Tecnologia da Informação e Telecomunicação

Câmara Municipal de CampinasGovernment Administration, 501-1000 employees

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Meant for too small of a business
Lack of full control for IT team

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Matthew Gardner

Director of Customer Success

RouteThisComputer Software, 11-50 employees

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Pricing Details

General

Free Trial

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Free/Freemium Version

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Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Entry-level set up fee?

No

Starting Price

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General

Free Trial

—

Free/Freemium Version

—

Premium Consulting/Integration Services

—

Entry-level set up fee?

No

Starting Price

—

Likelihood to Renew

Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller 9.0

Based on 1 answer

We have been using Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller in our network infrastructure for a long time now and it has been a very critical and beneficial addition in our network infrastructure. it has provided us with the tools required to efficiently manage and monitor our wireless network and users. it is a highly reliable and efficient device for any kind of environment.

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Umair Ali Khan

Deputy Manager - IT Operations (Network Infrastructure)

Pak Suzuki Motor Company LimitedAutomotive, 1001-5000 employees

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Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points 10.0

Based on 1 answer

Overall, we have been very happy with the results.

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Verified User

Technician in Information Technology

Higher Education Company, 501-1000 employees

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Usability

Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller 8.0

Based on 1 answer

The GUI is easier to navigate as compared to the 2504. Also the responsiveness of the GUI, the quicker failover capabilities and the enhanced visibility are all major improvements over the previous generation WLC.

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Verified User

Director in Engineering

Information Technology and Services Company, 51-200 employees

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No score

No answers yet

No answers on this topic

Support Rating

Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller 8.9

Based on 9 answers

Cisco TAC is well known and SLA levels are great. Cisco support website and Cisco communities are another help for issues resolution. TAC is always supportive over Webex and helps to resolve issues pretty fast. This is another assurance for people to go with Cisco as the TAC capabilities are proven for all product lines.

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Verified User

Employee in Information Technology

Computer Networking Company, 1001-5000 employees

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No score

No answers yet

No answers on this topic

Alternatives Considered

Like I said previously, switching wireless controllers was really simple and the process was very smooth. We believed that the 3504 could do everything and maybe a little more than what the 9800 was giving us when it started getting old. Both were great at managing the networks and the response times was similar

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Duncan Hernandez

Sr. Data Analytics Consultant

Armanino LLPAccounting, 1001-5000 employees

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Pricing and the use case all pointed to us going with the Small Business 100 Series instead of the Meraki.

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Verified User

Engineer in Information Technology

Telecommunications Company, 501-1000 employees

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Return on Investment

The WLAN controller is a great tool for wireless network administration. With the Cisco Wireless Controller, we can quickly configure and manage all Cisco access points. It's also very easy to set up and manage. The Wlan Controller is a must-have for all our wireless network design.
The WLAN Controller is a really useful device, it's easy to use and the setup is clear. The 3504 we use has 4 interfaces, we use 2 for data, one for management and one for failover. The wireless controller is very reliable, it will not let your network down. The only downside is that it can be a little bit slow when you need to add a lot of new access points.
Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller is a great tool for managing WLANs. The controller allows you to manage a large number of access points and allows you to very quickly manage and configure all devices in the network and have one of the most important components of the system. The controller is easy to use and supports a large number of connections and devices.

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BHUPESH PANT

React Developer

BoxinallInformation Technology & Services, 51-200 employees

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Uptime was 100%
No complaints from employees when it was used

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Matthew Gardner

Director of Customer Success

RouteThisComputer Software, 11-50 employees

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Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller vs Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points