Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller

[chris11256]

Just wondering whether anyone on here has had any experience with a Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller? We currently have three Cisco 5508 controllers that are due to be replaced next year and are thinking the virtual controller will be a good replacement.

 

At this stage we'd prefer to stick with Cisco as otherwise we'd need to replace all 200+ access points or run down the existing solution as they reach end of life.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Chris

[mavhc]

Why are they due to be replaced?

[ellsandell]

Worth remembering that the Wireless AP Licenses aren't transferable to a new controller (At least when I last looked). There are some features you loose on the vWLC.

 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/wireless-lan-controller/product-comparison.html?columnsToShow=0+2+5

[chris11256]

We’re replacing them as that’s our budgeted year for it, plus August 2019 is the last date for software releases and the boss gets funny with kit not in support/getting updates.

 

We have had them 7 years, so they’ve served well!

[mavhc]

They get security updates until 2021, not like you need any new features.

 

Is it me or are budgets usually done in stupid ways? Just put the money in the bank until you actually need to spend it

[chris11256]

From the bosses point of view we'd miss out on new access points, which wouldn't necessarily support the controller. He's already taken the decision to replace them, it's just a case of 'with what'.

 

But yes, not replacing them this year would mean finance taking the money back and reducing our budget next year!

[mavhc]

So stupid, then people wonder why money is wasted. Anyway, main difference seems to be max throughput, if you have 200 APs that seems like it would be an issue, 500Mbps for Virtual, 20Gbps for physical high end

[RobD]

I use them on a pretty daily basis. As Mavhc has said throughput is the difference...we use flexconnect on our APs so everything is switched locally meaning only management traffic talks back to the controller.

 

I've also noticed you cant do Application monitoring as you could on physical controllers "This feature is not supported by this controller in this release".