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Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points

    Score9.2 out of 10
    N/AThe Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points includes the 9115 and 9117, and designed to meet high demand network access.N/A

    Cisco Catalyst Switches

    Score9.1 out of 10
    N/ACisco's Catalyst is one of that company's brand of network switches.N/A
    Pricing
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access PointsCisco Catalyst Switches
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access PointsCisco Catalyst Switches
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access PointsCisco Catalyst Switches
    Considered Both Products
    Cisco
    Chose Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
    Because I worked with APs that were already deployed and they got my attention and trust.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
    We selected the 9100 access points because the wi-fi 6 coverage and throughput that they delivery.
    Incentivized
    Cisco
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points series works perfectly with the cisco catalyst switch series, they can be integrated easily in the Cisco SD Access architecture using the Cisco Wireless controller 9800 serie as well as the Cisco DNA Center.
    Also catalyst switches support high …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    We chose Cisco Catalyst Switches because it works with all the mentioned technology and if you have an issue you can call one company and troubleshoot it end to end.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    Its functionality of Stacking the multiple switches into one unit.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    Cisco WLC's integrate seamlessly with the switches to provide a simple setup and end to end solution.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    I believe that Cisco Catalyst Switches are an excellent choice for data traffic management, which is one of the reasons why we chose them, since it is one of the main needs of the company. In addition to the fact that we use a large number of other devices of the brand and it …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    The cisco switches has a better MTBF, more stable software and better support but are alot pricier
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Catalyst Switches
    Cisco Catalyst Switches have reliability performance.
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    96%
    Would buy again
    101 Answers
    98%
    Would buy again
    600 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    92%
    Delivers good value for the price
    84 Answers
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    531 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    98%
    Happy with the feature set
    103 Answers
    98%
    Happy with the feature set
    600 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    98%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    91 Answers
    97%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    490 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    95 Answers
    98%
    Implementation went as expected
    568 Answers
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    WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
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    Medium-sized Companies
    Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
    Score8.5 out of 10
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    Enterprises
    Cisco Meraki MR Wireless Access Points
    Score8.9 out of 10
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    Score9.1 out of 10
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    User Ratings
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access PointsCisco Catalyst Switches
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.2
    (107 ratings)
    9.0
    (774 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    4.5
    (1 ratings)
    8.9
    (40 ratings)
    Usability
    6.4
    (2 ratings)
    8.6
    (46 ratings)
    Availability
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    8.8
    (14 ratings)
    Performance
    9.2
    (100 ratings)
    9.3
    (14 ratings)
    Support Rating
    6.4
    (3 ratings)
    8.5
    (38 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    4.5
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (5 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    6.4
    (1 ratings)
    8.0
    (12 ratings)
    Configurability
    6.4
    (1 ratings)
    8.8
    (10 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    6.4
    (1 ratings)
    8.1
    (9 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    9.5
    (100 ratings)
    9.2
    (14 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    4.6
    (2 ratings)
    7.9
    (36 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    4.6
    (2 ratings)
    8.2
    (37 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access PointsCisco Catalyst Switches
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cisco
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points are well suited for dense Client solutions. We have used these in areas where we have a large number of guests that need top-notch connectivity without ever losing connection. The one area where we do have difficulty is in outdoor deployment, where large areas need to be covered, but we do not have physical connectivity in order to get the access points connected. This is not an access point issue but more of a physical connectivity limitation.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    Well-suited for big companies like mine, where we have a lot of users that we have to connect together. Getting all the switches into one big stack that you can just manage all at one time is fantastic for ease of use. Not suited for maybe smaller mom and pop shops or smaller companies that don’t have as many. They could probably go with something much easier to manage.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Cisco
    • So this product actually helps in healthcare facilities where we have a wireless, we call this WOW monitors. It's Wireless On Wheels. So we use those monitors to the patient's room to room. So in that case, rather than connecting it to wire, so it really helps us to connect through the WIFI and access the patients whenever we be needed.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • Easy-to-use management interfaces. The CLI commands go across the whole Cisco Catalyst Switches 9000 series, so it makes it easy, the code being the same on the 9000 series. Just being able to do port channels, trunks, and connecting up edge switches to it with the Cisco Catalyst Switches 9000 Series.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Cisco
    • They could definitely download their code faster. When we first get them out of the box and join them on the network, it takes probably 20, 30 minutes per access point to download the new code from the wireless controller and then reboot itself and then come back online.
    • When you're configuring it on the controller, if you want to switch access point groups, we have them broken out per site. Every time you add it to one of those groups, it also has to reboot. That's like downtime for us. That could be improved, I think.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • One thing is that these, every time Cisco gets a new switch, they just make an amendment to the power supply, so they'll just put a knob on it. So let's say if you lose any power supply unit, you'll have to purchase another one, which costs a lot of extra money because we have a lot of another power supply units from the redundant, which we can use, but we can't now because they have just tweaked the modeling of that. Which makes no sense, particularly to me because it's an extra money making machine kind of a thing. But that's fine.
    • Another thing is these ports, I believe they are a bit less of, if I can say the quality of the oldest switches, they were quite sturdy. As I said earlier, the new switches, they're very light and when you lift them you feel it. So that's one thing, which I think the quality or the material which we are using has gone down.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    Cisco
    On a scale of 1–10, we would rate our likelihood to renew Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points as a 9. The access points have provided reliable wireless connectivity, strong security features, and consistent performance, which are critical for supporting both in-office and hybrid work. Minor improvements could make the experience fully seamless.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    They are consistently reliable and this switch in particular is a very affordable solution. We can place the Cisco Catalyst 1000 Series Switches gear in areas that we normally would not place a switch because it is affordable enough to make it justifiable. And because it is a reliable solution, we are confident it will continue to provide service over the long haul.
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Cisco
    The Cisco Catalyst 9120 Access Points have been a solid deployment for me. Using their interface is a mix of new and old. They run IOS, so if you know the CLI, you can easily navigate around them. You can join them to an older controller if it supports a certain version, you can join it to a new 9800 controller--very straight forward--and you can run the embedded wireless controller on them directly. I've found this to be very useful at smaller sites. The Cisco Catalyst 9120 Access Points are not limited to feature sets like the older generations' mobility express platform.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    Cisco by and far does a great job with the Catalyst line. From a layer 2 dumb switch all the way up to ISP carrier grade switching within the Catalyst portfolio. The best part about it is command parity among the various tiers of product. The only differences are going to lie in what features are available per switch.
    Incentivized
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    Reliability and Availability
    Cisco
    On a scale of 1–10, I would rate the overall usability of Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points as an 8. The interface is intuitive, and common tasks like monitoring and basic configuration are straightforward. While some advanced features and troubleshooting functions remain complex, the majority of operations are user-friendly, making the system efficient for IT teams managing hybrid and in-office environments.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    We have very few is any outages due to a Cisco hardware failure. Some of our gear is exposed to some pretty harsh environments, and they keep on ticking!
    Incentivized
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    Performance
    Cisco
    Using Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points you can expect good performance, if not excellent. Coupled with other tools and managment systems you can easily gain good insight and ease of management. Flexible deployment variations help you adopt the equipment to work for most any required scenario you could think of. It's a well designed and evolved product.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    No, the packets flow. Sometimes you will see collisions and broadcast storms can happen which will slow performance but that can be fixed and the packets will flow.
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    Cisco
    We rate Cisco support 8/10 because the response time is generally very good, with most cases receiving attention and feedback within the same business day. When hardware replacement is required, delivery can sometimes take longer than expected, but replacements are consistently provided. Overall, the service remains credible, reliable, and essential for maintaining business continuity and network availability.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    We rarely have issues with the product. I have only had to contact support one time since we put it in and that was to see if another vendor was giving me accurate information on an issue I was having.
    Incentivized
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    In-Person Training
    Cisco
    On a scale of 1–10, I would rate the in-person training for Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points as an 8. The sessions were interactive and provided hands-on experience, which helped IT staff understand configuration, troubleshooting, and advanced features. Greater depth in real-world scenario exercises could make the training even more effective.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    Cisco Networking Academy partners with many local Colleges and High Schools to provide great hands-on training. You do need to drive to learn the topic. The in-class session only go so far. You really need to apply this to the real world. Cisco makes it easy for business to connect via CLC or Cisco Learning Credits.
    Incentivized
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    Online Training
    Cisco
    On a scale of 1–10, I would rate the online training for Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points as a 6. While the training materials were comprehensive and covered essential topics, some modules were overly technical and not always intuitive for all users. Additional practical examples and interactive exercises would improve understanding and make the training more effective.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    My own personal research to get the information I want is very handy and helped me many times
    Incentivized
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    Implementation Rating
    Cisco
    Key insights from implementing Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points include the importance of thorough planning, pilot testing, and involving both IT teams and end-users early in the process. Centralized management and robust security features simplify long-term operations, but adequate training and clear documentation are essential to maximize adoption and ensure smooth, reliable connectivity across hybrid work environments.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    The implementation of the Cisco Catalyst 1000 Series Switches is fairly seamless, especially if you are familiar with Cisco products. We have had Brocade switch gear in place too, and the differences between the manufacturers [are] not a major issue.
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    Cisco
    We are migrating from Aironet platform to Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points. That's more flexible, and we do it to sync switching, SDWAN, and wifi under one family.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    2960s, 9200s, 9400s, 3650s, 3800s. I think that this product is a lot better. I know I just complained about the noise, but it’s still much quieter than our other ones. So we do have a couple of public deployments, and once we swap these out, they complained less. Sometimes we have small offices that get the gear in with them, and these sound less like a jet engine. And yeah, these are a lot easier to manage as well. Everything in the same family. It’s a lot.
    Incentivized
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    Scalability
    Cisco
    These access points offer flexibility in deployment scenarios, supporting both standalone and controller-based architectures. Organisations can choose the model that best suits their current needs and scale as their requirements grow. Cisco Aironet Access Points are compatible with Cisco's Wireless LAN controllers, allowing for centralized management and monitoring of a large number of access points across the network. With the recent changes, it will even support cloud base controllers.
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    We are exclusive Cisco at our organization. In truth part of the reason is, with one type of switch and one manufacturer, it is easier to support. It is also easier to give consistent training to our staff in our tech department
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Cisco
    • problem with delivery time for the product - 12 months
    • we extended our WiFi network - is easy with Cisco AP
    • Connection new area\sites with AP is easy, we have got same location with only WiFi access - no wired cables
    • increase secutity
    Incentivized
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    Cisco
    • energy costs dropped by around 11 per cent on the access layer
    • management has become easier with DNA Center
    • ISSU software upgrades and fabric deployments have significantly reduced "planned" down times
    • network speed has increased, latency is at an all-time best within our own LAN
    Incentivized
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    ScreenShots

    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points Screenshots

    Screenshot of C9117AXI-B Catalyst 9117AX Access PointScreenshot of C9117AXI-B Catalyst 9117AX Access PointScreenshot of C9117AXI-B Catalyst 9117AX Access PointScreenshot of C9117AXI-B Catalyst 9117AX Access Point

    Cisco Catalyst Switches Screenshots

    Product screenshotScreenshot of Catalyst 9200 SeriesScreenshot of Catalyst 9300 SeriesScreenshot of Catalyst 9400 SeriesScreenshot of Catalyst 9400 Series Additional ViewScreenshot of Catalyst 9500 Series