Name: Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller
Rating: 9.7 (9 reviews)
Author: Cisco

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SQL Server Performance Monitoring

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Software-Defined WAN

Time Series Databases

Zero Trust Security Solutions

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Overview

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ProductDemos

Features

ProductDetails

Comparisons

ReviewsAndRatings

medium

small

Cisco Mobility Express was a controllerless wi-fi solution, used by businesses to quickly deploy a wireless network without requiring substantial IT resources. The product is discontinued.

Cisco Mobility Express (discontinued)

Wireless LAN

Cisco

large

Aruba Networks offers wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions via its variety of wireless access points.

Aruba Instant Wi-Fi Access Points

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Top Rated 2024

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-80 is a modular wireless controller with optional 100 Gigabit Ethernet (G) modular uplinks boasting seamless software updates for large enterprises and campuses, and security with ETA and SD-Access.

Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers

Currently supported by Cisco, but no longer sold, Cisco recommends migration to the Cisco Catalyst 9100 Family of Access Points, which offer greater performance and flexibility.

Cisco Aironet 2800 Series Access Points (discontinued)

Discontinued Products

Extreme Networks' Wireless Access Points (or ExtremeWireless) are designed to provide performance in the most demanding environments with the latest Wi-Fi technologies including 6 GHz, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and software-defined dual 6 GHz radios.

Extreme Wireless Access Points

Extreme Wireless Access Points ExtremeWireless

Extreme Networks

Aruba Networks offers the Instant On AP series of wireless access points, with models designed for indoor and outdoor access points.

Aruba Instant On AP Series Access Points

Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)

Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued) Cisco Aironet 1815 Series Access Points cisco aironet 1830 series access points cisco aironet 1850 series access points

The Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points includes the 9115 and 9117, and designed to meet high demand network access.

Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points

Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points are designed to provide simple installation, intuitive web-based configuration, and an integrated setup wizard to make them easy to use. Models include the Cisco WAP 150, and the WAP 125. The WAP 131 and WAP 121 older models are end of sale.

Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points

Tech Cares 2021

Tech Cares 2022

Tech Cares 2023

The Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller on Catalyst Access Points (EWC-AP) is a next-generation Wi-Fi solution, combining an advanced controller – the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers – with a Wi-Fi 6 access point – the Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points – to create a wireless experience for evolving and growing organization.

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller

Wireless LAN Tools perform various network functions like optimizing traffic, maintaining reliable service across the LAN's range, and providing secure access to the LAN.

Likelihood to Recommend

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) enables people to make powerful connections-whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible-providing easy access to information anywhere, at any time.Cisco was founded in 1984 by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Since the company's inception, Cisco engineers have been leaders in the development of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies. Today, with more than 65,225 employees worldwide, this tradition of innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions in the company's core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in advanced technologies.

Zero-Touch Provisioning

Additional access points can be added to a network with little to no configuration necessary.

WLAN Performance Monitoring

Dashboards, analytics, and other visualizations that show performance metrics for the network.

Topology Maps

Trees, lists, and other visualizations that show which specific devices are connected through the network.

Layer 7 Visibility

The product’s ability to show and interact with network operations at the application level. For example, it may monitor or restrict bandwidth consumed by specific web applications or websites.

Power over Ethernet Support

The product’s support for power over ethernet (PoE) connections instead of standalone power cables.

Wireless Security

The product’s security features. This may include support for standards like WPA, built-in security features such as traffic isolation, and alerts for suspicious activity.

Reviews

TrustRadius is a technology and business research firm based in Austin, Texas. The company is known as a review platform for verified B2B technology and software reviews through a proprietary algorithm and human verification.

TrustRadius

Use some work

Difficult to understand

Setting up

Wireless controller

Cost effective

Access points

Security features

Well priced

Well built

Enterprise class

Home

Wireless LAN Tools

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller puts this intuitive, powerful control, easy-to-deploy-and-manage WiFi 6 network in the palm of our hands. The built-in enterprise-class security and resilience features always keep the network on and protected. Managing and monitoring the EWC is easy, so we have a reliable WiFi experience that can serve and perform multiple functions to meet the demanding requirements of the business.

Product Usage

Pros and Cons

Offers enterprise-class security that keeps the network protected
Cost-effective connectivity
Deploying WiFi 6 network without complexity or added expense
Controlling access points and clients

Things done well

The GUI is difficult to understand
The process of setting up the Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller is cumbersome, but I like its reliability

Things done poorly

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller offers WiFi 6 capacity and performance, enterprise-class capabilities,  and robust security to deploy and manage the wireless network. It is a cost-effective approach to introduce WiFi 6 production or beta network.

Smart dashboard and mobile app
Built-in enterprise-class security and resilience features
WiFi 6 capacity

Most Important Features 3.4.21

Minimal IT resources required
No cost of physical appliance
Benefit of enterprise features with a cost-effective approach

Return on Investment

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller provides the ability to manage and deploy the wireless network from a web UI or mobile application, and without the expense or complexity of a wireless controller appliance.

Alternatives

Other Software Used

Managing Director IT Operations and Governance

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller 2021-09-30 12:32:39

Cisco Catalyst Center

Aruba Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN)

KnowBe4 PhishER/PhishER Plus

Previously we had Cisco wireless LAN controller that took care of all our AP's (adding, removing, programming, etc) which still works great for our main site that keeps everything chugging without much interaction. The problem we had at some sites is that they don't connect back to us in a way we could manage their AP's. Enter the Cisco Embedded [Wireless] Controllers. These guys solve that problem handily.

They seem solid and well built, hardly ever fail
Once you get a hand of the setup they're easy to add/remove
Automatic failover is seamless and super helpful

Occasionally require a reboot to get an AP back online
Sometimes they will fight to be the controller
They dont seem to handle as many clients as AP's connected to a WLC

Overall I could see myself recommending these to others if they have the right set of circumstances at their place of business. Those would be like ours, if they had a location that couldnt be served by a WLC. Once setup they are easy to manage and self healing as in they wont go down when one is offline.

Makes having remote sites less problematic when it comes to managing AP's
Saved money on managed AP's as they're found cheaper
Takes more time to manage additional controllers versus a WLC

Aruba Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN), KnowBe4 PhishER, Cisco DNA Center

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller 2021-01-08 15:47:12

Cisco Secure Firewall

Cisco Firepower 4100 Series

We have a mostly Cisco AP shop but was previously using a Cisco WLAN controller to manage all our APs. At a new HQ site, we wanted to try the new embedded wireless controllers in a simpler way with fewer points of failure than using a centralized WLC. This solves the major problem of a centralized point of failure.

Automatic controller failover in the event of an outage.
Lots of great deep security features that Cisco is known for.
Well priced for an all in one device.

Some bugs in the interface.
Issues with licensing and Cisco DNA integration.
Frequent software patches needed,

While it is a fairly solid product for the price tag, some places may not want to deal with bugs and glitches that can occur. These are priced below a standard WLC with APs that are centrally managed. So if you have a site with lots of APs that need as much uptime as possible, this may not be the solution for you.

Money saved not needing a WLC and separate APs.
Time saved during setup if you're using a Cisco DNA.
Long term it may be more time spent diagnosing issues.

Cisco Firepower NGFW (formerly Sourcefire), Cisco Firepower 4100 Series, KnowBe4 PhishER

Operating Systems	Unspecified
Mobile Application	No

Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller

Overview

What is Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller?

Secure by design and flexible in its architecture

If your use case is right, the Cisco Embedded Wireless Controller can be the perfect solution

Good value for the price but may not compete with a Cisco centralized controller

Awards

Product Details