Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers Reviews and Ratings

Rating: 9.8 out of 10

Score

9.8 out of 10

Community insights

TrustRadius Insights for Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, third party data sources.

Pros

Robust Security Features: Users have praised the Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers for their dual-layer protection, including firewalls and VPNs, which significantly enhance information security. This robust security setup has instilled confidence in users regarding the safety of their data and network integrity.

High Network Speed: Reviewers have highlighted the routers' ability to deliver high network speed across the entire company, driving increased productivity in all departments. The fast network speeds have enabled seamless communication, quick access to resources, and efficient completion of tasks.

Adaptability and Efficiency: Customers appreciate the routers' adaptability in providing good internet speed throughout their company, minimal energy consumption leading to reduced expenses on bills, and easy maintenance for smooth operations. The combination of these features ensures a reliable and cost-effective network infrastructure that adapts well to changing business needs.

Reviews

61 Reviews

Reliable remote connections in the field.

Rating: 9 out of 10

August 13, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use the Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers ruggedized at outside remote locations with cellular Private Networks for a secure direct connection back to our headquarters. We needed a cellular solution that is only accessible by our personel and not the vendor, with VPN or Private Network connection and for security we encrypt the traffic.

Pros

Easy to configure
Easy to troubleshoot
Easy to mass deploy with copying configurations
Is hardened and handles extreme weather

Cons

I'd like to see an internal only dashboard for visibility of status

Likelihood to Recommend

We use them at our major outside remote locations. I have other locations or points along the way that I could use them at but are cost prohibitive due to the amount of locations. It would be really good to have a lite weight device that we could use to extend our network and have the Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers be the collector for communications.

Verified User

Manager in Information Technology (11-50 employees)

Vetted Review

1 year of experience

Good on its own, but avoid if you need Secure Equipment Access.

Rating: 1 out of 10

Incentivized

August 6, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We were sold this item over an FTD, being told that Secure Equipment Access would be the better way to go over VPN. But has been an uphill battle that took nearly a year and a half before we could even get this thing implemented, and then another year before Cisco would update things enough to give us MFA options.

Pros

reliability in harsh environments
flexibly power options

Cons

useability outside SEA
Cisco CDO integration
eliminate the need for zone based routing to function with SEA.

Likelihood to Recommend

I can't say this is a good idea to use. The only use we were able to have for it at our company was for a DMZ firewall to a controls network. But with how it's been tied to SEA and its horrific deployment and functionality, I can not recommend this over a Cisco FTD with AnyConnect. I guess if you never need access or VPN, or if you need no communication between network and DMZ, these could work, but I would recommend going with something else.

Verified User

Team Lead in Information Technology (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers Review

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

August 6, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

IR1101 is used as DMVPN-spoke routers, it's small router for its size but still powerful, it has an external DC power supply which suits us well, plus 4 Ethernet ports and a WAN port, as well as the option for fiber SFP.

Pros

good performance
the voltage supply has a large voltage range - flexible
Choice for connecting both Ethernet copper and fiber/SFP

Cons

the console port should NOT be a USB Mini !!! , that's the only thing

Likelihood to Recommend

IR1101 is less appropriate if it's a 19" rack montage with 230 power But in industrial and OT environment it's well suited, small with DIN montage and external power, without fan and 4 eth ports for devices, so you don't have to use a switch if it's just a small installation, just this little router

Torgny Holmlund

Network Engineer in Engineering at Skekraft (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

4 years of experience

View profile

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers Review

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 16, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We support a lot of our infrastructure internally, so retail stores, admin offices, garage offices, so pretty much support everything internally.

Pros

It's very stabled. It's very easy on the command line. I love the command line, but I guess if I have to go with the best part is it's very stable product.

Cons

Maybe the cellular module portion of it could use maybe some improvement. That's the only thing that I can think of that might have some issue with every once in a while.

Likelihood to Recommend

I think they're appropriate everywhere, but we use it in a retail store and small and meduim offices. So I belive it's very suitable.

Verified User

Engineer in Information Technology (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

5 years of experience

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers Review

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

February 25, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Well it's mostly used because it's a Rugged ISE Router. It's mostly used in smaller remote sites, not in an office environment. Generally it's utility company, so they're in car stations and substations and so on. So it's sort of harsher environments don't have normal office temperatures.

Pros

Well I think we particularly find it was useful because as well as providing traditional networking to the better nets IP connections, it also has modules that support things like digital connections, which you used for various security systems. And then like I mentioned for asynchronous serial, which we use for managing various industrial control scatter type systems. So that was why we picked this particular model.

Cons

I'm trying to think of any, I mean to be honest, us it's actually quite an ideal product. I think possibly an extra onboard SFP port would be quite useful with some scenarios where we need a WAN and the LAN fiber connection and that would be quite useful. At the moment we have to buy an extra module for that. So I guess that would be the only improvement I suggest really.

Likelihood to Recommend

It really suited our requirement really well and also was quite cheap to be honest for the performance level it has. So I would highly recommend it. Definitely in that sort of an environment I described in a sort of remote location where it might have high humidity or it might have a wider range of temperatures, it's been an organized model, it's well suited to that. It's also very useful. Where do you have connections, which tends me a lot more common I think in that sort of ruggedized type environment. For other peripherals like door sensors and serial connections. Where it's not so useful is the form factor doesn't really sit being mounted in a data center type environment. So that's not really what it's intended for. So it's not surprising the form factor means it takes a little about two to three U of space, which is a lot more than a standard router takeoff, but that's not really as intended purpose, so that's not a big problem.

Verified User

Employee in Information Technology (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

3 years of experience

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers cost efficient option for IoT deployments

Rating: 8 out of 10

Incentivized

November 15, 2024

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Use Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers as the SDWAN routers for small sites connecting to single or a few IoT endpoints.

Pros

Small form factor, easy to install in small cabinets
Rugged router suits harsh environment
Supports 4G / 5G / DSL / fibre multiple connections

Cons

GPS support on the router is not as easy as expected

Likelihood to Recommend

Suits harsh environments like small cabinets, no ventilation Provide basic access control via SDWAN firewall rules, but doesn't suit if end to end TrustSec is needed.

Verified User

Consultant in Information Technology (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers Review

Rating: 8 out of 10

Incentivized

November 11, 2024

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Remote site 4G/Fibre/Copper WAN communications for SCADA and Corporate data.

Pros

4G Communications
AAA Authentication
MPLS Routing

Cons

Missing CAT-m1
Cellular interface MTU Issues

Likelihood to Recommend

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers IR1101 has worked very well for remote locations, but not too remote due to the lack of a CAT-m1 module.

Verified User

Engineer in Engineering (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers - Perhaps the best industrial router Cisco has made to date.

Rating: 10 out of 10

July 24, 2024

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

These are deployed at sites where we need a manageable hardened device that supports cellular connectivity. These are useful when low power requirements are important, but full features are still required. They are useful in hazardous conditions, (C1D2) and where serial connections are needed. Since the development of the serial expansion module, these are especially good for replacement of aging terminal servers.

Pros

Serial connectivity
Manageability
Hardened, high/low temperature and C1D2

Cons

The pinout of the serial ports is not standard, this is not a significant issue, just annoying
The console port is only USB
No LAN fiber port

Likelihood to Recommend

Great for sites with AC power. Would prefer something in the 5W consumption range, but otherwise it is ideal for any small industrial facility. These are suitable for DIN rail mounting and DC power (12/24/48V) and are relatively small and fanless. It really is a great product for any small industial site.

Verified User

Professional in Information Technology (5001-10,000 employees)

Vetted Review

5 years of experience

Adios to Instability in Network Connectivity.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Incentivized

September 2, 2022

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We have deployed Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers in our business network to improve connectivity. The routers allow for automation of workflows and faster deployment of new services. Our internet connection is faster and more flexible than before. They also provide a compact way for robust network security. We have implemented Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers over wide areas because of its integration with SD-WAN.

Pros

Simple maintenance. It is easy to replace any broken parts due to its compact modular design.
We can extend our network connectivity with low power consumption.
It is highly programmable.
Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers are highly scalable.

Cons

Complex installation. We usually ask for help from the Cisco team during the installation.

Likelihood to Recommend

Since the deployment of the routers, our network connectivity is at its peak. They provide us with solid connections to maintaining our productivity. The routers automate our workflows simplifying and speeding up our deployment processes. Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers ensure security within our network systems. They are highly adaptable and can withstand the most critical environment allowing us to securely extend our network.

Verified User

Analyst in Information Technology (10,001+ employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

High-quality wireless rugged router that can withstand the harshest conditions.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Incentivized

May 30, 2022

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

These are the best routers for any business, network, or home. The Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers have been designed to last for a long time, so you can be sure that you will have a dependable product as your business grows. I like these routers because they have a modular design which means you can replace parts easily and cheaply if they break. They also have low power consumption, so your electricity bills won't go up when you use them. I recommend this product to any business owner because they are the best in the market.

Pros

Easy to replace parts if they break.
Low power consumption.
Support 5G.
Excellent durability.

Cons

Initial setup is costly and needs export help on setup.

Likelihood to Recommend

The Cisco Catalyst IR1100 series routers are packed with a variety of features that can be used in many different businesses. Features such as the modular design, low power consumption, and the 5G-ready status, make the Cisco Catalyst IR1100 series an essential piece of equipment for businesses.

Bed Prakash

CTO in Research & Development at Metamium Future Tech Pvt. Ltd. (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

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