![Cisco Application Control Engine [EOL] Logo](https://images.peerspot.com/image/upload/c_scale,dpr_3.0,f_auto,q_100,w_100/0dra2w8zbx5vrvwmhkdswx9l90ys.jpg?_a=BACAGSGT)
The Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) is Cisco’s offering for the ADC market. If you are an existing Cisco customer like us, the Cisco ACE seems to be a logical fit as an ADC. ACE also is bundled together with their virtual data center portfolio, which makes it a must-have if you are planning to go this route. Ciso’s ADS also features a pay-as-you-grow licensing scheme, which allows us to pay only for features required at the onset and add more features as the need and budget allows.
Uncertain future. No clear direction yet.
Valuable Features:
Room for Improvement:
The greatest problem with Cisco’s ADC offering is that they have ceased development of ACE hardware systems. This will surely impact future and existing customers as it puts them in limbo regarding the future of their ADC investment. Furthermore, more and more customers are giving negative feedback regarding Cisco’s perceived inadequate knowledge in this area. I've also heard that independent researchers have also received numerous complaints about Cisco’s ACE offering.
Overall, Cisco’s ACE is a decent product that works for basic load-balancing requirements. It seems to me unclear how Cisco will decide to move forward with their ADC offerings. The perceived weakness of Cisco in this product space has also contributed to the somewhat poor reputation of their ADC offerings.
Other Advice:
I would still recommend it though if you just need basic load-balancing, and already investing or will invest in Cisco’s Virtual Data Center offerings. It can be tightly integrated system together with your Cisco ecosystem, and makes it a lot easier to manage as you have only one system integrator and one vendor to talk to.
