Aruba Networks and Cisco compete in the wireless WAN market, both offering distinct strengths. Cisco seems to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive security features and robust performance.
Features: Aruba Networks is recognized for its stability, ease of installation, strong security, and centralized management. It integrates seamlessly with other Aruba products, provides vendor-agnostic adaptability, and uses the centralized Mobility Master without needing a physical controller. Cisco Wireless WAN is acclaimed for its security features, integration with Cisco products, ease of configuration, and strong performance. It supports modern technologies like Wi-Fi 6 and offers reliable connectivity.
Room for Improvement: Aruba could enhance its management software interface, offer integrated antennas with all models, and address stability issues with portable devices. Better support responsiveness and pricing adjustments are also needed. Cisco, while robust, is expensive and could improve its pricing, user interface, and licensing model.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Aruba and Cisco primarily support on-premises deployment with some cloud capabilities. Aruba is appreciated for its ease of deployment and robust technical support, though response times can be slow. Cisco is noted for its simple deployment process and helpful support, though pricing can be a hurdle.
Pricing and ROI: Aruba offers competitive pricing and flexible licensing that provides good value, leading to considerable ROI through reduced infrastructure costs. Cisco, though more expensive with complex licensing, is valued for its high performance and reliability, justifying the investment for robust network solutions.
Aruba Networks Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) is a powerful WAN solution that enables organizations and businesses to create global networks that securely connect their members regardless of their locations. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN leverages AI to create a network that is always equipped to address issues or keep up with evolving needs. The operations that run on this network are also capable of running consistently because the AI is always learning and keeping the network running smoothly. The cutting-edge build of this solution is the reason that it is a leader in the field of wide area networks.
Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Benefits
Some of the benefits of using Aruba Networks Wireless WAN include:
Aruba Networks Wireless WAN Features
When users deploy Aruba Networks Wireless WAN, they gain access to a number of very powerful and useful features. These features include:
Dynamic Path Steering (DPS). Aruba Networks Wireless WAN’s DPS feature keeps a user’s network running smoothly. It directs traffic running through the network to the uplink that is most appropriate for it. This minimizes potential network latency.
WAN Compression. This feature makes it possible for users to route more traffic through a given WAN circuit at times of high congestion. It compresses traffic so that the network circuit can better accommodate the increased activity.
Reviews from Real Users
Aruba Networks Wireless WAN allows users to create, deploy, and manage wide area networks. It is a highly flexible solution that provides system engineers with many options when they are designing and rolling out their networks. Administrators can produce networks that are easily configured, rolled out, and monitored from anywhere in the world. Aruba Networks Wireless WAN has a centralized management interface. Administrators can control every aspect of the network from one console. They can access all of the network controls and data from this one interface. This simplifies the jobs of network administrators who are responsible for keeping the networks up and running.
A network engineer at a technology company writes, “I feel that Aruba allows for more flexibility when it comes to configuration and deployment. Aruba gives you the same feeling as using a controller on-prem, whereas Meraki seems to be hiding a lot of the configuration behind the scenes and forces you to actually call them and ask them to enable certain features. So far, using Aruba Central is more like using an actual controller based on the amount of configuration you can do. Meraki just came out with profiles, but as far as I know, they don't have profiles for how your device connects to the actual physical LAN.”
A network and security engineer at a communications service provider writes, “The most valuable feature of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is centralized management capability. You don't have to have wireless LAN controllers at every location.”
Cisco Wireless WAN refers to the wireless networking solutions provided by Cisco Systems, a leading technology company specializing in networking and communication products. Cisco Wireless WAN enables organizations to establish wireless connections and extend their wide area network (WAN) connectivity using cellular networks.
Cisco Wireless WAN solutions leverage cellular technologies, such as 4G LTE and 5G, to provide high-speed and reliable wireless connectivity. These solutions offer a range of features and capabilities that enhance network performance, security, and manageability.
Cisco Wireless WAN Features & Benefits:
Cisco Wireless WAN empowers organizations with reliable, secure, and scalable wireless connectivity, enabling mobility and enhancing network performance and productivity.
Reviews from Real Users
PeerSpot user, Manager - Technology at a tech services company, states that "Recently, the most valuable and in-demand feature that users are enjoying is WiFi 6 support on the access points. The other good thing about Cisco Wireless LAN is how easily it provides clean access to the WiFi network."
Muhammad Alim Besari, Solution Architect at Packet System Indonesia, says that “Cisco Wireless LAN deliver the best wireless experience yet so easy to operate and manage.”
Zulfiqar Saeed, SE at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, writes that "The most valuable features of Cisco Wireless WAN are its security functionality. We have a lab environment and we have to provide different authentications to the users which are easy to manage. Additionally, there is a lot of useful automation embedded into the system."
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