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Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers is a name of trust and costly both
Updated June 11, 2022

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers is a name of trust and costly both

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Software Version

8540 Wireless Controller

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

We use Cisco Wireless controllers for production users and engineers in the first phase. Benefits that can be considered: No doubt it provides ease on the administrative and implementation side, as its configuration is easy and GUI is very user-friendly. Strong authentication provides good security. Stable APs and makes roaming easy between multiple areas. You can configure HA in multiple APs. It is a very stable device and has very few issues you may face which ensures your uptime much more. Things you may Dislike: SSH support is a limitation of Web Browsers. Too many updates annoy the admins. Application consumption information did not appear. Pricing is high as compared to market products.
  • Interface is good.
  • Configuration is easy.
  • High Availability.
  • Stable product.
  • Pricing
  • Limitation on SSH console.
  • Web Browser Limitation.
  • Licensing Requirements are too much and which are costly too.
  • Ease of Administration.
  • Easy to configure.
  • Uptime
  • Product cost is much more so some time your ROI cannot be fulfill.
  • Customization limitation can stop your productivity.
  • Your uptime will be more.
  • Device can be manage easily by 1st level team.
We did not stack them with this as it was an a kind of isolated location. may be later we go for extended and advance solution but not now as we already deployed other competitor products. So right there is no chance for this changing in such large scale, but we will preform some POC for this in future.

Do you think Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers again?

No

You can use it in rough environments and where the critical places where uptime is more likely considered. Since it is easy to configure, you can install it in remote locations so in case of replacement the local engineer or any person can easily replace it as it will reduce the traveling cost. Many companies are budget-constrained so where pricing is considered, this product is not for them as they can go for alternate options. If you wish for high customization then this product did not support it so you can move to the other competitors.

Using Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

450 - They are mostly production users, which work on shift based and these are general working staff mostly. other than these peoples, maintenance workers, project workers and some of the quality assurance users including Quality control, Regulatory, Research and development and visiting faculty also use while visiting the specific area to check the ground situation and get the details which they required for their working and quality assurance users have to visit to check the compliance of the productions.

2 - Normally these type of controllers are manage and support by Network Level 2 team, but as these routers are easy to manage so 2 support persons are enough for the support of entire users. They also change some config if they required after approval of the senior and build the confidence to level 1 support engineer to start learning and work on their growth. Normally not much support is required for these Controller, moreover mostly support calls are related to users understanding and some cell phone issues.
  • For provision of guest Internet through captive portal
  • For Connection with Smart phones
  • To connect laptop users
  • connection Production Machines through smart sensor
  • Wireless printers
  • We use it with smart sensors for production machines
  • Digital thermostats
  • manage by Level 1 support persons
  • New Production Site
  • Auditorium
  • Open spaces
Although it is a very good product, support is easy and can manage by Level 1 support persons and downtime is too much less but still there is a cost factor matters which is consider by each organization. Furthermore, organizations also compare with other competitors so it is hard to pursue and defend the high prices.

Evaluating Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and Competitors

  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
Cisco had a very good name in market and as well as a good reputation and build a trust among the client as well as the vendors which ensures both the client and vendor relaxation during sale and implementation. The main factor is the cost which is the main reason clients and vendors stuck and they have to go for alternate options and competitors have plus point.
all the factors are considered for client end. So client test and evaluate the product as much as they can within their limitations. Moreover past experience and technical support experience is also considered during renewal. If i got an opportunity than we will evaluate the quality, uptime, support period, response time and costing. if it met all then i will go for it.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Implementation

That was a great experience of having a new project and working on it. Although we got some hurdles and challenges but we overcome all the things and try to work efficiently for this. in this time Cisco support team also helps a lot an give pro tips which help us.
  • Implemented in-house
Change management was minimal - Change management is always a good task and that was a great experience of having a new project and working on it. Although we got some hurdles and challenges but we overcome all the things and try to work efficiently for this. in this time Cisco support team also helps a lot an give pro tips which help us.
  • SSH console
  • Web Browser

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Training

  • No Training
Cisco Wireless controller guides and training videos were available so there was not such issue with that and i guess each tech guy approach google if they had any query and if material is available than you just feel relax with it. Also we have support of Cisco so we were not so worried about it, although Cisco wireless lan controllers was a new product for us but its configuration is much easy.

Configuring Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

Cisco Wireless Lan controller are easy to configure and it simple procedure make Administrator to feel comfortable. however, during configuration SSH and web console has a great part. there is some limitation in SSH with Cisco Wireless Lan controller so you cannot do each and every thing there. if we talk about web browser than everyone has their own choice but Cisco Wireless Lan controller has limited supported so have to stick on it.
There is some limitation in SSH with Cisco Wireless Lan controller so you cannot do each and every thing there. if we talk about web browser than everyone has their own choice but Cisco Wireless Lan controller has limited supported so have to stick on it. these 2 tips i learned from deployment
No - there is no facility to customize the interface
No - the product does not support adding custom code
there is some limitation in SSH with Cisco Wireless Lan controller so you cannot do each and every thing there. if we talk about web browser than everyone has their own choice but Cisco Wireless Lan controller has limited supported so have to stick on it these 2 things should be the priority. console customization can be vary with different organization.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Support

In the support time, i got a good response time and have a great experience. it also helps me some of the tips to learn and use in future if i am using cisco and other product as well as the concept are generally same. some of the time response time is not up to mark but you can escalate and align another engineer through process. but some times you can bare the time so you did not go for this option.
ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Knowledgeable team
Kept well informed
Immediate help available
Support cares about my success
Quick Initial Response
None
we did not get the premium support for our cisco controllers as these areas was not so much critical. obviously if we go for premium support then we have to pay it according which cost us too much so but for that price multiple options can be available, but in our scenario we did not need such premium support so ge for the standard one rather than for premium.
We did not face much issues so i cannot say or give verdict for the above mention point. But we get the good response and update with follow ups which keep us up to dat with our cases so we got a piece of mind and we engage ourselves in other productivity.

Using Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

Overall usage of Cisco Wireless controllers were good and the accessibility, configuration and management was easy so we got a piece of mind from this product. not so much issue we faced on Cisco Wireless controller which save us a lot of time so we can consume that energy in other projects and productive work.
ProsCons
Like to use
Easy to use
Consistent
Quick to learn
Feel confident using
Requires technical support
Lots to learn
  • Configuration
  • Managing
  • Support
  • Uptime
  • SSH
  • Web Browser
  • Customization

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Reliability

Cisco is a brand name and people trust on it. if any one thing about the networking then Cisco is among those brand which is count as trusted brand and people rely on it. Also it support is good so people can use it. Cisco Wireless Lan controller are easy to use and manage so it requires less effort.
Downtime fear is the first fear which IT persons look and want to eliminate as much as they can but eventually you have to face it as nothing is perfect. Cisco Wireless Lan controller are feasible to use and easy to manage and other than this their issue reported are pretty low so you can get the best up time. now it also depends on scenario as well as environment.
Cisco Wireless Lan controller are feasible to use and easy to manage and other than this their issue reported are pretty low so you get the better uptime. if your get the uptime then it means its a stable product in your environment. Product performance also depends on the product management and Cisco Wireless Lan controller management is easy so you can get the great output.

Integrating Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

No idea as we did not do this
we did not integrate any other systems with it.
Not right now
  • Single Signon
as we were using it very limited so we did not go for full options, we just select as much as we want so not any other options are configured neither we tried.
Although we have multiple options to do but for that thing we have to change a major part which is not is scope now.
Hope we get it done than we can suggest any thing for it

Relationship with Cisco

Working with vendor is normally a challenge as they suggest a solution but we have to evaluate and calculate the configuration as per our environment and infra structure. So we have a great time and their support was satisfactory so we did not have any issue with them. moreover we have have a culture to give respect to every one so if you give respect than other give it back to you.
Although Working with vendor is normally a challenge as they suggest a solution but we have to evaluate and calculate the configuration as per our environment and infra structure and to put on a solution is not so easy so we have to test and perform research and development for this to resolve the point of conflict and to appear some solution or way out for our deployment.
Principle terms were professional and they gave the solution for the scenario or a new way out for the configuration or the scenario in which we get confused so it was a helping hand to us and of vendor both as multiple person can have multiple way of thinking and put a good solution.
Always be nice with Vendor and try to work with documentation and as well as the project plan so you could know the steps and clear mind for the project. Make phases wise the project so you have the clarity of project and have timelines for this. Daily basis updates are necessary to trace at what point we are.

Upgrading Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

  • Security Patches helps a lot
  • Some of the issues fix in updates
  • major update not performed
  • Customication
  • Browser Support
  • SSH support