Wireless network recommendation

[sacabonos]

I'm about to decide on which brand to go with for our wireless solution. But I would like to know which system would you implement if you were in my situation as I would like to compare between those systems, maybe I've missed something. I hope you guys can help me.

 

Aruba Solution:

Controller:

Aruba 3400 Controller

Acess Points (mix of the following APs):

Aruba 105 Wireless Access Point (Dual Radio)

Aruba 125 Wireless Access Point (802.11a/n + b/g/n)

 

Ruckus Solution:

Controller:

Zone Director 1050

Acess Points:

ZoneFlex 7363 dual-band

 

Juniper Solution:

Controller:

Wireless LAN Controller WLC800R

Access Points:

WLA522 AP with dual radios 802.11a/b/g/n 2x2 MIMO

 

cisco Solution:

Controller:

Cisco 5508 Wireless LAN Controller

Access Points:

Cisco 1261 Lightweight Indoor Wireless Access Point

Edited November 16, 2011 by sacabonos
cisco offer added

[featured_spectre]

Meru is also one to consider...the 1 channel system works very well for the Meru system and works well in a lot of schools.

[steveg]

I've used Ruckus managed, Netgear managed and Netgear unmanged solutions in schools. I wouldnt hesitate to deploy another Ruckus solution - even the teachers have commented on how reliable the wireless is now - it quite simply does not fail anymore (well unless someone turns the wireless off on a laptop!). We've had it in for over a year.

 

I'm not saying the other solutions you have proposed wont be as good, I can only comment from my own experience.

 

Steve

[Millgate]

I would also recommend Meru like @Nephilim.

 

Really good quality and the support is brilliant. Let me know if you need further details

 

Thanks

[adamchapman]

We've got a Netgear managed system in here, no problem at all. good coverage with few access points.

[sacabonos]

Thank you guys for the input, I would like to get more of a comparative opinion and if you've used these controllers or access points what was the strength and weakness that you've found?

[jamesreedersmith]

Look at Ubuiquiti- excellent product and an excellent price.

[Soulfish]

I've used Ruckus and Aerohive. Both are excellent systems. Currently got an Aerohive system here with 80 dual-band APs for site-wide wireless (idea being it has to support around 2-3k devices) working very well .

[Tallwood_6]

Used hp unmanaged, Aruba and now have ruckus which is excellent. Nothing wrong with Aruba but got much better coverage with ruckus in testing. The zoneflex 7363 AP's are really good but I'd probably want one of the new 1100 zonedirectors.

[john]

I've had Ruckus managed wireless in my schools that I have worked in and its been very successful and highly recommended, we are about 15% covered on our current site with the Ruckus we have, with us having full coverage on both sites by Sept 2012.

[bossman]

I've used Ruckus and Aerohive. Both are excellent systems. Currently got an Aerohive system here with 80 dual-band APs for site-wide wireless (idea being it has to support around 2-3k devices) working very well .

 

I was just going to recommend Network Access Points, Routers, and Cloud-enabled Management Software and Services | Aerohive Networks have had good reports and am currently researching at the moment.

 

Will PM you for details

[CyberNerd]

Meru has been great for us. Can walk from one side of the site to the other without dropping a ping.

[ricki]

Hi

 

Can I ask approximately how must you have paid for a decent wifi system would cost for a secondry school 1000 students and 120 staff. Its one big building.

 

I know this is very general.

 

Richard

[sacabonos]

I'd probably want one of the new 1100 zonedirectors.

 

noted.

 

I have a policy in the school which not allow teachers to bring thier own WiMAX/WIFI routers, which of thoses systems I mentioned can help me locate rouge access points better.

[Tallwood_6]

We have it setup so the zonedirector notifies us when it detects a rougue device and if you setup the map view it will try and show you where the device is positioned. It gives you information such as MAC Address, Channel Radio Type, Encryption, SSID, and Last Detected Date as well.

[craigg]

Meru +10000

[sacabonos]

Can Ruckus ZoneDirector 1100 (or any controller for that matter) prioritize user/SSID traffic per client down to each application session running on the client machine? Let’s say a user is on a video conference call and at the same time transferring a huge file to the file server, will I be able to give the video conference traffic a higher priority so his call won't drop?

[Tallwood_6]

I dont think Ruckus can offer than kind of QoS, i know download and upload data rates can be set per client per SSID. You can allow/ deny traffic per SSID down to application layer and you can set basic high of low traffic priority on each SSID.

[m25man]

Meru +10000

is that + £10000 over what ever figure you first thought of?

[snoerre]

What do you want to pay?

 

Let´s look at the HP (ex colubris) series:

- 1x HP 5406-44G-PoE+-4G v2 zl plus 1x HP MSM765 zl Mobility Controller (incl. 40 licenses): ~6000,-€ plus VAT.

- 1x HP MSM460 Dual Radio 802.11n AP (HP MSM430 Dual Radio 802.11n AP (dual radio, 3x3:3 MIMO, 802.11a/b/g/n): ~440,-€ plus VAT.

- 1x HP MSM430 Dual Radio 802.11n AP (dual radio, 2x2:2 MIMO, 802.11a/b/g/n): ~300,-€ plus VAT.

- 1x HP 5 years software carepack (UQ611E): ~2900,-€ plus VAT.

Edited November 27, 2011 by snoerre