What users are saying about
48 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 8.8 out of 100
Based on 48 reviews and ratings
121 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 8.4 out of 100
Based on 121 reviews and ratings
Attribute Ratings
- Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller is rated higher in 1 area: Likelihood to Recommend
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
87%
27 Ratings
7.9
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
79%
8 Ratings
Usability
8.2
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
82%
1 Rating
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
N/A
0 Ratings
Support Rating
9.0
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
90%
2 Ratings
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
N/A
0 Ratings
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
[Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller's] software quality has been shed in recent years. The only problem I have with it is its inability to work with older Cisco Access Points. However, that's to be expected for any deployment. While the controller's UI works well, some areas could be improved. API integrations lack flexibility. [I feel] it's time for policy redesign. It can be a little difficult to determine coding quality.
IT Specialist
Lamda I-TECHInformation Technology & Services, 11-50 employees
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
Cisco [Aironet Access Points] are well suited in offices where they can be managed by a wireless LAN controller (WLC). Using them in this way allows the APs to be well managed and security policies can easily be enforced down to users connecting to these APs for wireless access. Scenarios, where Cisco [Aironet Access Points] are less appropriate, are in small-office-home-office (SOHO) situations because of price and licensing costs to use a WLC to manage them. Thus, using them, in this case, would be that the APs would have to be in Autonomous mode, and the technical know-how in converting a lightweight AP to an Autonomous one is not straightforward.

Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology
Oil & Energy Company, 501-1000 employeesPros
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
- The GUI on the Cisco 8540 WLC is much better designed than other Cisco products. Its easy to navigate between the different settings to find what is needed.
- The AP groups allows touching multiple APs at one time.
- It also allows us to create standard SSIDs that can be used at all sites that connect back to it, this saves a lot of time instead of hitting each site with a local controller.
Senior Network Engineer
EatonMachinery, 10,001+ employees
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
- Outdoor mesh bridging of access points brings significant cost savings to many of our production facilities. Deploying mesh APs is a significant cost reduction over trenching conduit to connect remote areas via fiber.
- Cisco APs are extremely resilient, with a failure rate of below 5% in some of our harshest environments.
- Cisco APs have the intelligence to identify wireless interference sources with Clean Air technology

Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology
Utilities Company, 10,001+ employeesCons
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
- Code quality is a bit hit and miss. This will be great for a while, then things will be bad for a while, then we'll do it again. The UI of the controller works, but could do with a refresh, and I would like to see some improvement on layout and organization.
- The constant code/firmware upgrades and the QA of new code could be better.
- Maybe the compatibility with old Cisco Access Points could be improved, but it's normal in all kinds of deployments.

Verified User
Analyst in Information Technology
Information Technology & Services Company, 51-200 employeesCisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
- In the facilities where we operate, we had to put a reinforcement on the ceiling to avoid problems due to the weight of the access point.
- On the appearance, it could be smaller and lighter.
- As for the hardware, I think it's incredible, I don't see any points to improve.
Networking Coordinator
NetshoesInternet, 1001-5000 employees
Pricing Details
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
—Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
—Usability
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller 8.2
Based on 1 answer
Very well made product. Very stable. We have had no issues administering the 8540.
Senior Network Engineer
EatonMachinery, 10,001+ employees
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller 9.0
Based on 2 answers
It is a better product. The evolution is positive.
Gerente de Noc and support
EVCON GROUPComputer & Network Security, 51-200 employees
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
We have [done] some work before with the Cisco 3504 product, but the more recent Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller provides a wider range of capabilities for managing the wireless network and each individual device [and] also being able to handle more users. Unfortunately, we didn't test and deploy equivalent products from other concurrent companies.
Researcher
Instituto de TelecomunicaçõesTelecommunications, 501-1000 employees
Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
The usage scenario was different. I don't see this as a benefit versus harm comparison, necessarily. What happened was that, at a certain point, the implementation of the cisco solution was the winner of our public bidding process and with that, we implemented it and have used it ever since.
Diretor de Tecnologia da Informação e Telecomunicação
Câmara Municipal de CampinasGovernment Administration, 501-1000 employees
Return on Investment
Cisco 8540 Wireless Controller
- Network engineers find it easier to [manage] high-stress levels since they're more reliable and robust.
- Their initial cost is very high compared to other router providers, such as Juniper.
- Their hardware dependability can be a big drawback if you run on a budget.

Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology
Information Technology & Services Company, 1-10 employeesCisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
- Obviously, these things aren't cheap. But we do believe that with the functionality we get, we are getting a good return on productivity.
- These things are really reliable, we don't spend a lot of time troubleshooting or replacing them.

Verified User
Director in Information Technology
Hospital & Health Care Company, 201-500 employees