

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Cisco Wireless compete in the wireless networking category. Cisco Wireless appears to have the upper hand due to its advanced security features, reliability, and integration capabilities.
Features: Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is recognized for its cloud management capabilities, providing excellent network visibility and simplified management through an intuitive dashboard. It supports remote troubleshooting and configuration without requiring onsite presence. The solution easily integrates with various network components and offers robust analytics and in-depth traffic analysis. Cisco Wireless is notable for robust security features, centralized management, and extensive integration capabilities with other Cisco products. It offers advanced RF management and supports complex enterprise environments with excellent stability and reliability.
Room for Improvement: Meraki's licensing model is often considered inflexible, heavily relying on subscriptions that can lead to service interruptions if not renewed on time. Users desire more customization options and improved support for advanced enterprise features. Cisco Wireless could benefit from simplifying its integration capabilities and reducing the complexity of its licensing model. Enhancements in troubleshooting options and user interface intuitiveness are needed for both products. Cisco Wireless is also often criticized for its high costs and steep learning curve during initial setup.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Meraki's cloud-based deployment supports public, private, and hybrid cloud environments, ensuring flexibility for diverse operational needs. Users value the straightforward setup and centralized dashboard management, facilitating easier deployment across sites. Cisco Wireless focuses on on-premises and private cloud deployment models, offering reliability across enterprise networks. Both products receive good customer support from Cisco, though Meraki users have reported occasional inconsistencies in support quality. Cisco Wireless receives praise for its robust support through established channels.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki is often viewed as expensive due to ongoing subscription licenses necessary for full functionality and support, with users concerned about cost escalation after the initial subscription period. However, its comprehensive features and ease of management justify the expense for many, showing successful ROI in specific use cases. Cisco Wireless is known for a high initial cost but offers performance and functionality that enterprises value. The pricing aligns with the extensive features provided, though it may be prohibitive for smaller enterprises. Both solutions have demonstrated successful ROI in environments where robust, reliable wireless networking is crucial.
A comparison from standalone to distributed WLC-controlled access points provides some decent ROI.
I would rate Cisco support a 10, as the response time and process via the dashboard are easy, and response times are always within the SLA.
It would be better if the SLA of technical support was less than four hours.
There are some problems with their technical support when it comes to the whole Meraki system.
The technical support from Cisco is of high quality.
We received responses quickly after logging our problem.
The refresh cycle is not as aggressive with Aruba, meaning they will continue supporting products for longer durations without facing end-of-life and end-of-sale situations as frequently as Cisco does.
Meraki is not scalable enough since it straightforwardly maps its products to segmented specifications.
Installing new licenses with the number of access points that the device WLC is expected to support makes it scalable.
Stability is not an issue for me because it comes with Cisco's proven manufacturer quality.
We have experienced many instances where we have experienced a lag in our network, and I am not sure if it is due to their devices or our network.
The performance is excellent, rating 10 out of 10.
The best aspect is that even if the WLC goes down, the access points stay up and remain functional.
The most important improvement needed is to eliminate the limitation of uplinks.
Some of the newer models of the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN access point have encompassed the new wireless protocols and increased the strength of their antennas.
The solution supports Wi-Fi 6.
Sometimes, integration with other Cisco products requires manual intervention for tasks such as firmware upgrades, which should be automated.
We would prefer if we could increase the controller to a 10 gig interface because we want to connect our controller to a 10 gig interface.
In the long term, there could be a cost reduction because it does not require much maintenance.
The pricing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is not competitive enough for the SMB market compared to other brands.
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is on par with other devices in that category, offering competitive pricing.
My experience with the pricing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is that it is competitive with other providers offering paid subscriptions.
Cisco generally is expensive.
The setup cost involves licenses.
The licensing of Cisco Wireless is competitive.
It also manages security clients and switches, providing a single dashboard to manage multiple network infrastructures.
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN has helped optimize network traffic very effectively, as we do prioritization for streaming and web conferencing apps, resulting in a clear, visible improvement in performance.
The ability to program all access points from the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN dashboard, view the status of all of them, and examine the individual devices connected to each access point is very valuable.
If one network fails, there is a link between different access points, which ensures network continuity.
The advantages of Cisco Wireless include helping me aggregate all the access points, managing one point connection for my users easily, controlling rogues, and addressing hotspots effectively.
The primary benefit is the ability to triage and identify what is where, and when users report issues, we can identify the users, location, endpoint, and nuances such as signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Wireless | 8.8% |
| Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN | 9.6% |
| Other | 81.6% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 69 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 27 |
| Large Enterprise | 31 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 78 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 41 |
| Large Enterprise | 73 |
Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.
Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.
What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?
What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?
Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.
Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.
In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.
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