ExtremeCloud IQ Reviews

ExtremeCloud IQ is a little bit similar to cloud solutions that don't need controllers on-premises in terms of deployment. Some small offices with multiple branches across the world have a high SLA infrastructure with 10 to 28 pieces. ExtremeCloud IQ is one of the best cloud-based wireless solutions that can be used to manage all those APs in a single point or single pane of glass. We can manage all the APs from a single dashboard across multiple locations. So ExtremeCloud IQ is the best solution for companies who want to manage multiple branches in a single pane of glass. The solution provides simple management for all the processes.

In traditional controller-based operations, people locally managing the APs face certain difficulties in managing every location because they need to log in to each individual controller for that specific location. So they don't know exactly where these APs are in the floor plan. We can't do all such things in the WLC unless we have a separate monitoring platform like AirWave in Aruba.

ExtremeCloud IQ is one solution where you can manage all these APs in a single glass and move from one location to another within the tabs with just a few mouse clicks. Also, you can place the AP positions, upload the floor planning to the ExtremeCloud IQ, and plan the heat map. You can manage and monitor information like which AP is broadcasting the signal in the floor plan, where that actual AP is positioned, how many clients are connected to the AP, the channel utilization, and the interference surrounding the AP.

So along with that, you can manage users, see the user statistics, see how many users are connected to the specific access point, the traffic they are passing, how much data they have consumed, and what websites they're accessing. The solution gives you a complete device-level and user-level 360-degree view. The solution is integrated with AI and ML. It offers some things in automation and the back end with the machine learning algorithm. It provides complete user statistics as well as device statistics.

Planning is a valuable feature of ExtremeCloud IQ. Before deploying access points, you can upload your floor plan, draw all your interiors, and place the APs. Before purchasing an AP, you don't know in real-time how the AP will go with some specific antenna and how much signal strength it is radiating. Specific tools like Ekahau or AirMagnet are needed for such information.

ExtremeCloud IQ is integrated with the Ekahau tool so that you can log in to the ExtremeCloud IQ portal, upload the cloud plans, draw all the interiors, and plan the APs with the real-time AP position. This gives the exact signal, strength, and coverage details in the floor plan. The solution also gives some user-level and device-level 360-degree views with reliable information.

ExtremeCloud IQ’s user interface needs to be improved, and its current bugs need to be fixed. Sometimes, AP details, like the AP firmware and the AP hostname, are not updating properly because of a few bugs in the current version, which they might fix in the next version. Compared to the central and other cloud solutions, a couple of bugs still running on these portals need to be rectified.

For ExtremeCloud IQ's next releases, I expect to get all the users and the events alerts. Also, if any AP goes down, I should be able to do some scheduled reports specific to the site because it is currently in beta.

If any AP goes offline, that's an event. If you want to do the filter for a specific site event, we don't have that filter option. I expect specific site-level and category-level events and alert filters to get reports.

I have been working with ExtremeCloud IQ for one year.

ExtremeCloud IQ is a highly scalable solution because it's a cloud-based solution, and we don't have a restriction on how many APs we can connect to the cloud. Whenever you have an AP, just purchase your licenses, and connect to the cloud. We don't have any limitations in terms of scalability. Approximately 2000 plus users are currently using the solution in our organization. ExtremeCloud IQ is currently being used 24/7 and to its maximum potential in our organization.

I rate ExtremeCloud IQ ten out of ten for scalability.

ExtremeCloud IQ's technical support is good, and they provide good support across all the regions.

Positive

ExtremeCloud IQ is easy to set up.

I rate ExtremeCloud IQ an eight out of ten for its ease of setup.

ExtremeCloud IQ's deployment takes 20 to 30 minutes per site.

Mostly, we do ExtremeCloud IQ's deployment ourselves. Initially, we took some help from our partner, who provided these APs for at least one site. Later, we started doing the configuration for the rest of the sites.

We have to allow some ports, specifically towards the cloud from the firewall side, to communicate APs with their respective regional data center or particular cloud platform of ExtremeCloud IQ. So we have to allow some ports, and we need to do the configuration of the basic AP and provide an internet connection for the AP to communicate with a particular cloud controller. Once it reaches the global cloud control center, then it will be assigned to the respective country we are located in. Every country has its local DR application, which allows less latency and faster communication between APs.

We need to allow some ports and provide an internet connection, and then the people automatically will start communicating with the respective controller. We need to add this AP serial number into the cloud portal as a claim so that this AP is part of my organization and identified based on that serial number.

Two people are required for the deployment of the solution. Their job is to identify the AP positions, verify if internet ports are available on the site and ensure that everything is done according to the checklist we provided. Later, they connect the connections.

One person is enough for the maintenance of the solution. This person validates the AP position, checks for new fixes in that area, verifies the antenna placements, and checks for the broken state to verify the AP's on-site validation. He also pushes the software remotely and ensures the hardware works properly.

We have seen a return on investment with ExtremeCloud IQ. If we go for traditional controllers, we have to invest in some people with good technical knowledge to manage their entire controllers and APs. You need a separate monitoring platform to manage all these APs or controllers. You also need to invest some amount for this setup.

For example, you started with a medium-scale company, but later because of good sales, you expanded the business to other states or locations. In that case, again, you would have to purchase a new controller or AP and additional licenses that need to be connected to your existing local controller. However, if it does not support that many APs, you have to replace the existing controller with a newer, higher model again. So every time your business expands, you must keep investing an amount towards the products

However, with ExtremeCloud IQ, you don't need that much investment. Since it's like an AP, you are not investing any amount in the controller. You are just investing the amount on the AP and license. So whenever you expand, purchase the rest of the APs you require along with the license and connect it to the cloud. Since it's subscription-based, we have to renew its subscription every year or every three years to utilize the services. It provides 99.99 % SLA that the devices are up and running. With ExtremeCloud IQ, no business-critical apps will be affected.

ExtremeCloud IQ's pricing is medium, but its support contract costs more. The solution's technical support is not free, and you have to pay additionally for technical support. I rate the solution a six out of ten for pricing.

ExtremeCloud IQ is not the only cloud solution in the market. So we have other cloud solutions like Cisco Meraki and Aruba Central. So there is a lot of competition for ExtremeCloud IQ. Compared to the other solutions, ExtremeCloud IQ needs to improve with respect to its user interface and current bugs.

You can use AP models 460 and 410, which are indoor and outdoor AP models for indoor-related, warehouse-related, or temperature-related mesh. These are industry-standard APs that you can use.

Overall, I rate ExtremeCloud IQ an eight out of ten.