Cambium Wi-Fi in Schools

[FragglePete]

I have my on prem cnMaestro up and running in it's initial state....

 

Things that I noted on mysetup so far.

• Had to convert to Hyper-V .VMDX files using Starwind V2V. - On start up of the VM on the Hyper-V console after a few seconds of a blinking cursor I just get a blank screen... No setup, nothing.  It was however claiming an IP address from DHCP and using a web browser I could connect to the WebUI.  Need to see if I can SSH to the box or something if need be?
• I initially got 'Cookies Missing' when entering my Cambium ID and Onboard Key, but I used the link to login in the Anchor account again, changed the onboard key to something else, saved and tried again.  After a short while it seemed to sort itself out and let me do the initial password setup, name, etc.
• It looks slightly different from the version we have in the Cloud.  I know On Prem is 6.0.0., and cloud is 6.2.0 - icons are slightly different.  But then noticed in the Administration > Settings > General - the account view defaults to 'Access and Backhau'l whereas it should just be on 'Enterprise'.  Set that, and all looks the same.
• You need to import the WLANs first and then followed by the AP Groups in the 'Shared Settings > Wi-Fi Profiles' - but these seemed to have come across ok
• I've not 'adopted' any APs just yet, that's the next step but I need to RTFM before I jump in too much as this stage. 

Just comparing side by side now before I move on to the next step, but that won't be until early next week for me now.

 

Pete

 

 

[Andycat]

54 minutes ago, smarties11 said:

 

I think the insurmountable issue here is ongoing compliance.

 

A local controller will solve the immediate problem of the cloud controller going dark, but how long will it be before a security vulnerability is discovered in either the controller itself or the WAP firmware? If that vulnerability carries a CVSS score of 7.0 or higher, there goes any realistic chance of maintaining Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

 

Unless there is a buy out from a competitor I don't see how schools will be able to continue with this solution for anything more than a stop gap.

 

Out of interest, how many others are in the same position as me, having had a brand-new Cambium deployment installed as recently as August? I'm massively regretting not sticking with Ruckus now 😭

We're in the same position, but we're struggling configuring it to a decent standard. No support available and we're shooting in the dark. Unusable in most of the building.

[smarties11]

1 hour ago, Andycat said:

We're in the same position, but we're struggling configuring it to a decent standard. No support available and we're shooting in the dark. Unusable in most of the building.

 

Oh no 😞 Our experience on the deployment side has been really positive. And it's performing really well. But that's not much use if the whole ecosystem is shelved 😞

 

Is there anything I can help with? Could it be interference - have you scaled back your radio power at all. Redway recommended the following for us (with an AP in each classroom)

- 2.4ghz - 8 to 14dBm, 20Mhz channel width

- 5ghz - 11 to 17dBm, 40Mhz channel width (with channels 144 and 165 turned off)

- 6ghz - 12 to 18dBm, 80Mhz channel width

[Andycat]

8 minutes ago, smarties11 said:

 

Oh no 😞 Our experience on the deployment side has been really positive. And it's performing really well. But that's not much use if the whole ecosystem is shelved 😞

 

Is there anything I can help with? Could it be interference - have you scaled back your radio power at all. Redway recommended the following for us (with an AP in each classroom)

- 2.4ghz - 8 to 14dBm, 20Mhz channel width

- 5ghz - 11 to 17dBm, 40Mhz channel width (with channels 144 and 165 turned off)

- 6ghz - 12 to 18dBm, 80Mhz channel width

We'll give it  a try thanks!

[FragglePete]

Looks like some official guidance has come out, but if your using Cambium if you got to get this done before 1st Oct.

 

https://community.cambiumnetworks.com/t/guidance-for-cnmaestro-enterprise-customers-17-sep-2026/108849

 

Pete

[synaesthesia]

Just seen that too, that's something a bit more positive to wake up to today and hopefully means I get a bit of sleep this weekend

Reassuring news that they are planning to release a non-anchored version if any rescue/buyout fails.