Aruba Access Points Reviews

Its client match feature is crucial as it helps ensure that devices are optimally connected to the network. It enhances the quality of service by prioritizing media traffic and reducing potential disruptions. The roaming features are also essential and primarily managed through the MCC technology. It focuses on maintaining the quality of service during media traffic, ensuring a seamless user experience. When connecting multiple Access Points, users can independently select their feature controller technology. This simplifies management and deployment, as you only need to configure one AP, and it can then replicate settings to others. Another valuable aspect is integration with other technologies, as it can be incredibly useful when replacing or upgrading systems.

We encountered some challenges when deploying different models of access points, particularly as our network expanded. Initially, using smaller models like the 200 or 300 series worked well, but as the network grew, issues related to signal strength and coverage became noticeable. The newer models, such as those supporting Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, had stronger standards but suffered from slower signal penetration, which resulted in dead spots. Another concern is that when clients wish to migrate to higher-end models, it necessitates running additional cables to address these coverage gaps, mainly due to the higher models having less penetration. I would appreciate for the higher-end models to offer the same signal strength as the older, smaller models, even while maintaining the latest standards, as this would enhance the overall network performance and coverage. There was an issue with equipment delivery where a different model was received, resulting in signal coverage gaps due to differences in signal strength compared to what was initially tested. Having stronger signal strength in the higher-end models, similar to the lower-end models, would be a valuable improvement.

We have been working with it for three years now.

It provides exceptional stability and reliability. I would rate it ten out of ten.

The scalability is highly satisfactory and it is a straightforward process to expand the network. If you're using a centralized mobility conductor architecture and you have ten thousand clients, and you want to add another ten thousand, it's as simple as adding another mobility conductor. You can set up this new conductor as a multiple instance, ensuring active redundancy, and then you add additional controllers and access points. The key benefit here is that you only need to configure one mobility conductor initially, so adding new ones is relatively painless. You can migrate configurations and add more control planes to accommodate the growing network seamlessly.

They provide good customer support.

Positive

I have experience working with both Cisco and Aruba, and I noticed some key differences, particularly in the context of client deployments and the flexibility of the two systems. With Cisco, the deployments are typically smaller, involving just a few access points. One noticeable difference is that Cisco requires additional licensing for features like security and DTC encryptions, and to fully utilize the capabilities of a Cisco switch, you often have to purchase separate performance licenses, which could be somewhat complex, especially when dealing with high-performance switches. Aruba's approach is more straightforward and flexible and the licensing is more user-friendly. It's a one-time purchase, and there's no need for additional licensing for various features.

The initial setup is straightforward.

When it comes to configuring virtual instances, the difference in time efficiency between using a mobility controller and a mobility connector is significant. With a mobility controller, the process takes longer because you need to configure the controller first, and then provision the access points individually. This step can be time-consuming, as you have to configure the controller and then proceed with the provisioning of each access point. With a feature controller, you save a significant amount of time, as you only need to configure the first access point as the feature controller, and the subsequent access points are provisioned automatically. This streamlined approach means that setting up the feature controller typically takes less than an hour, making it a much quicker option for deployment. For monitoring the access points and switches, there are typically two phases: configuration and ongoing monitoring. Self-configuration can be quite efficient while monitoring ongoing operations can be managed effectively. In situations where you're deploying a substantial number of access points, having multiple team members working in parallel, perhaps as many as ten people for more than five hundred access points, can expedite the process further.

The pricing has been quite favorable. As partners, we often engage in negotiations with Aruba, which enables us to secure discounts, making the pricing even more attractive. Overall, I would say the pricing is reasonable and meets our expectations.

It offers remarkable client-handling capacity. Specifically, the Aruba 505 can accommodate up to 266 clients, which is a significant advantage. The speed and performance of these access points are highly commendable, making them well-suited for various applications, including educational institutions such as schools. Additionally, Aruba has introduced gateway technologies, which are handy for multiple branches. By deploying gateways in these branches, you can use technologies like SD-WAN to efficiently manage and route traffic over the Internet while being centrally managed from the headquarters. This enhances scalability and flexibility, ensuring that the network can easily adapt to expanding requirements.

We use the solution for official purposes.

Aruba is a controller-based solution. We have some multi-story buildings. We only need to maintain one controller, and we can manage it from a single IP address.

The solution’s updates and firmware are complicated to upgrade.

I have been using Aruba Access Points as a customer for five to seven years.

The product is stable.

The solution’s scalability is good. 70-80 users are using this solution in our organization.

The technical support is good, and there is no issue.

Positive

We have used Cisco and D-link. We chose Aruba since they provide a lifetime warranty with zero maintenance and can be managed easily.

The initial setup is easy, and one person is enough to deploy within five hours. It's plug-and-play only. We can buy it on the access phone and install it on our network. It will automatically take an IP address, then we can use it.

The product is costly and comes with a lifetime license. There is neither renewal nor subscription. It is a one-time solution.

The solution is easy to maintain.

We don't have any issues with the network. I recommend this solution if someone asks me what to choose.

Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

The solution is used for medium to high-enterprise businesses and the government sector.

I find AI Insights valuable.

The product should improve its integration and the grouping of the features and functions.

I've worked with Aruba access points for about five years.

The product's stability is great.

I rate the scalability eight to nine out of ten. We have more than 10,000 users using Aruba access points. We plan to increase the number.

We still have one case running about Aruba 203, the microbranch. The issue is about the uplink. We couldn't do a file transfer. Last time, we needed to migrate through the OSM. We cannot change the uplink to traffic. Their last answer was that they would upgrade the platform, Aruba Central, sometime by the end of this year.

The initial setup is easy. It's faster with the RS10 than the RS8. But it can still be improved. It took about ten to 25 minutes to deploy from onboarding to the stable installation.

When deploying the solution, we configure and test all the devices before deploying them at the customer's side, where the solution should then be plug and play. Then, there is further testing, such as the users and the bandwidth.

We need 11 staff members to deploy the product. They are the delivery team, and their main jobs are to do the configuration, the assessment, and the deployment.

From a return-on-investment point of view, the solution is worth it.

We have to pay for a license for Aruba Central, the platform for Aruba access points. It is an annual license. The price compared to other brands is slightly higher.

In our company, we are using a number of products from Aruba, such as access points, Gateways, switches and so on.

I rate Aruba access points eight to nine out of ten. The solution has great features, and we are exploring IPS and IDS. Some companies have already begun asking about those features.

We use Aruba Access Points mainly for wireless connection.

Aruba Access Points is an economical solution.

The solution's technical support and the quality of the new releases need to be improved because we have seen a lot of bugs in the solution's new releases.

I have been working with Aruba Access Points for more than five years.

Aruba Access Points is a stable solution for the short term. However, it is not stable in the long term. For example, it won't be stable in an environment where the Wi-Fi needs to be up 24/7 and 365 days.

If I turn on my access points today, I will not face any issues for the next six or seven months. However, after eight to nine months, or after one year, I'll start facing a lot of issues directly connected to what we call maximum tolerable uptime.

The solution's scalability is good. We have one of the largest Wi-Fi infrastructures in terms of the number of access points, and we have never faced any limitations or issues related to capacity or scalability.

I rate Aruba Access Points an eight or nine out of ten for scalability.

The solution's technical support team can fix minor issues. However, when it comes to resolving complicated or complex issues, they either lack expertise, are not routing it through the proper channel, or are not engaging the right people. We are yet to receive solutions for the complex and unique problems we highlighted to them around two years ago.

Neutral

Cisco has an edge over Aruba in terms of stability and support.

We are getting the expected return on investment with Aruba Access Points.

Although not cheap, Aruba Access Points is a reasonably priced solution.

Users should insist on checking the SLAs in an environment where they need to run the solution 24/7 and 365 days without any break, planned maintenance window, or outage window. They should insist on defining strict SLAs right at the beginning of the project for support and resolution. We call it response time and resolution in terms of SLA.

The solution is scalable, easy to deploy, and easy to maintain.

Overall, I rate Aruba Access Points an eight out of ten.

We use the solution to present the data sheet and explain product offers. We offer multiple modules as per the requirement.

Aruba has multiple IP ranges. There are sections also available in Aruba where you can distribute different subnets. Also, the configuration is very simple.

The solution’s pricing could be improved.

I have been using Aruba Access Points as a partner for one and a half years.

The product is moderately stable.

I rate the solution’s stability a seven or eight out of ten.

We cater the solution to medium-sized businesses.

I rate the solution’s scalability a seven or eight out of ten.

We had a very great experience with the technical team.

Neutral

The initial setup is easy. It depends on the kind of project it is. If it has a very large deployment, then it would take days. If the project is small, then it would take hours.

I rate the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

We achieved ROI.

The solution’s pricing is not so cheap, not so expensive.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

We use Aruba Access Points in our office environment. 

The solution gives good visibility into access points. 

I am not able to integrate Aruba Access Points in Azure AD. It is also quite expensive. 

I have been using the product for two years. 

Some users have reported low latency but I am not sure if it is because of the solution. I would rate the product a seven out of ten. 

We have 700-800 users for the product. 

I would rate the product an eight out of ten. 

We use Aruba access points for enterprise and guest wireless.

We like the flexibility and the security, and the product is very easy to use.

I am not sure if it is a weakness, but Aruba sometimes redesigns Aruba Central and the web interface, which is sometimes an annoyance because you have to check everything all over again because the settings would have been placed somewhere else in the graphical interface, for example.

I have been using Aruba access points for eight years now.

The product is stable because sometimes security fixes are sent over email.

Everyone at our company uses Aruba access points. The product works for small, medium, and enterprise companies.

I have worked with Cisco, though not Cisco Meraki. I had no problems with that solution. My current company uses Aruba access points. Aruba access points are easier to deploy, and their pricing is on par with competing solutions. Moreover, you have more choices in the "flavors" of access points with Aruba, which is a plus point.

The solution is easy to deploy, and it normally takes three to five days. Of course, it depends on the customer's setup. Some customers need just five access points, while others require 14 switches and 50 access points.

It takes about a year before I get a return on investment because you need to place them. You get a return on investment when it comes to troubleshooting because you don't need to do as much troubleshooting on Aruba Central. If there are 50 sites, you do not need to check all of them. You have a larger return on investment over a longer period because it is easier to manage everything.

Aruba Central is a bit overpriced for some customers. It is expensive because you need to buy the hardware as well as the license. The license includes maintenance and support.

Before choosing Aruba access points, you should seek someone who is qualified or has done an introductory course to be able to use it. You will need to have some idea of how you want to arrange everything. Cisco Meraki has an introductory course, though I don't know if Aruba Central has one.

Though Aruba access points are priced the same as competitors, they should have discounts for more devices. If you have five devices, you pay the amount for five devices, but if you have 100 devices, it starts to get expensive.

I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

I use the solution in my company, considering that I deal with retail customers. Nowadays, the tool is connected to a handheld scanner. The tool is mostly used for the scanner and price tag, and being connected to Wi-Fi helps update the price.

Aruba Access Points can configure the virtual controller to manage multiple IPs, so our company doesn't have to set up a physical controller to manage it. Yeah. The tool has virtual controller features.

The product fails to provide better and extended coverage, making it in an area where improvements are required in the tool.

I have been using Aruba Access Points for five years.

Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

The new firmware is not always stable. Sometimes, Aruba releases new firmware, but they may have some issues.

It is a scalable solution.

More than ten of our company's customers use Aruba Access Points. I think the tool has 1,000 users.

The technical support for the solution has been good so far. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

If I consider the response time of the support team, then I would rate it a seven out of ten.

Positive

I use AP Wizard to help me with the deployment process. The deployment process is straightforward.

The solution is deployed on the cloud and on an on-premises model.

The solution can be deployed in fifteen minutes.

One engineer is required to deploy the product.

The tool's ROI is quite good.

It is a reasonably priced tool.

The solution improved IoT device connectivity and management in my company by providing a wide coverage. Some of the models of Aruba Access Points come with no antennas, and some models cannot operate in a minus degree environment, like for the products kept in the freezer, and I know this because my customer runs a supermarket. Mostly, Aruba Access Points cannot be installed in extreme environments.

The performance of the product is okay.

The product has simplified my company's network administration tasks because it has a centralized management feature, so through a single platform, the management team can manage multiple IPs.

The product is easy to deploy and manage. The price is also reasonable. You can also get support for the product on time.

I rate the tool a nine out of ten.