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Ubiquiti UniFi VS Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

Compare Ubiquiti UniFi VS Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and see what are their differences

Ubiquiti UniFi logo Ubiquiti UniFi

UniFi is the SDN platform for Ubiquitis UniFi series

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers logo Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLAN), wireless controller, provides wireless performance of all mobile devices, offers limited hotspot coverage and more.
  • Ubiquiti UniFi Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18
  • Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-06

Ubiquiti UniFi features and specs

  • Scalability
    Ubiquiti UniFi systems can easily scale from a small home network to a large enterprise network, supporting thousands of devices. This makes it ideal for both small and large-scale deployments.
  • Centralized Management
    The UniFi Controller software allows for centralized management of all network devices from a single interface. This makes it easier to configure and monitor the network.
  • Cost-Effective
    Compared to other enterprise network solutions, Ubiquiti UniFi offers a cost-effective option without sacrificing performance or features. There are no licensing fees for the software.
  • User-Friendly
    The setup and configuration of UniFi devices are generally user-friendly, with clear instructions and an intuitive interface that helps streamline network management tasks.
  • Robust Features
    UniFi offers a wide range of features including guest networks, VLAN support, detailed analytics, and advanced security configurations that cater to various network needs.

Possible disadvantages of Ubiquiti UniFi

  • Complexity for Beginners
    While the system is user-friendly for tech-savvy users, beginners might find some of the advanced features and initial configuration somewhat complex.
  • Hardware Dependency
    UniFi networks depend on Ubiquiti's hardware, which means users are locked into their ecosystem for network expansion and upgrades.
  • Limited Customer Support
    Some users have reported that Ubiquiti's customer support can be limited, with a greater reliance on community forums and user-based troubleshooting.
  • Cloud Key Reliance
    While the Cloud Key allows for easy management, it adds an additional point of failure as the network can become more challenging to manage if this device experiences issues.
  • Firmware Updates
    Firmware updates are crucial for device performance and security, but some users have experienced issues with updates causing disruptions in service.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers features and specs

  • Scalability
    Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) are designed to handle the needs of both small-scale and large-scale wireless deployments, offering models that can manage a wide range of access points and clients.
  • Centralized Management
    WLCs provide a centralized platform for managing all wireless access points, simplifying configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and updates across the network.
  • Advanced Security Features
    Cisco WLCs offer robust security features, including role-based access control, rogue access point detection, and wireless intrusion prevention systems to ensure secure wireless network environments.
  • Quality of Service (QoS)
    Cisco WLCs support QoS features that prioritize traffic to ensure optimal performance for voice, video, and data applications, enhancing user experience.
  • Seamless Roaming
    These controllers provide smooth roaming capabilities, allowing clients to move across access points without interrupting connectivity, which is essential for mobility-driven environments.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

  • Cost
    Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers tend to be more expensive compared to some other vendors, which might be a barrier for smaller companies with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    The advanced features and capabilities of Cisco WLCs can also introduce complexity in setup and management, requiring skilled IT staff or specialized training.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Organizations using Cisco WLCs may become reliant on Cisco products and technology, making it challenging to integrate or switch to solutions from other vendors without significant changes.
  • Licensed Features
    Some features offered by Cisco WLCs require additional licenses, which can increase the overall cost and complexity of deployment for organizations.
  • Hardware Limitations
    In some cases, older models of Cisco WLCs may not support the latest wireless standards and technologies, necessitating hardware upgrades to take full advantage of new features.

Ubiquiti UniFi videos

Pro-level WiFi at Home - Ubiquiti Unifi NanoHD Review

More videos:

  • Review - Review: Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers videos

No Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ubiquiti UniFi and Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers)
Monitoring Tools
83 83%
17% 17
Network & Admin
0 0%
100% 100
Office & Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
CMS
0 0%
100% 100

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ubiquiti UniFi and Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, you can also consider the following products

OpenDaylight - OpenDaylight is an open platform for network programmability to enable SDN and create a solid...

FortiAP - Integrated Secure Access Managed Wireless LAN

tp-link Omada - Software Defined Networking (SDN) with optional Cloud Access

Fortinet Wireless LAN - Simplify WLAN planning and deployment with our graphical Wireless LAN planning and post-deployment site survey tool.

Zabbix - Track, record, alert and visualize performance and availability of IT resources

Aruba Networks Wireless - People move. Networks must follow. Connect your world with intelligent mobility. @arubanetworks