Mist AI and Cloud Reviews

I declined an offer because last year we had a discussion about AI. I declined because I am Juniper. I work at Juniper SC for Juniper distributor in the Middle East, based in Dubai. That's the reason I already have experience in all this technology. For the past twelve years, I have been involved with AI, specifically Mist, using Juniper Technology products for the distributor.

I am a certified Mist engineer. I have worked on Mist and conducted many proofs of concept as well as delivered knowledge transfer sessions to my partners. Mist is a really good tool that provides essential AI information from an operational point of view, covering both wireless and switching. 

The AI-driven automation, like Mist, assists the network manager and operation manager in troubleshooting the wireless network by identifying signal issues and offering timely assistance. This solution helps customers save time and fix problems proactively.

We manage a sizable building that houses our office workspaces, comprising approximately six hundred offices. Our primary requirement is to deploy WiFi access across these offices. This serves as the initial use case.

The second use case arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting us to explore solutions for crowd control. Juniper Apes was considered for its beneficial features, including BLA (location awareness), although it is acknowledged to be a relatively expensive option. The need for effective crowd control during the pandemic, coupled with my involvement in the event industry where crowd management is crucial, further emphasizes the importance of having a solution like SAP for a global perspective on the location of individuals and event details.

Regarding opportunities for improvement, it is notable for its robust cloud portal and integration of artificial intelligence into various services, creating a highly efficient environment for work. However, a drawback lies in the cost associated with its WiFi offerings. With a pricing range of twelve hundred to fifteen hundred dollars for a single Access Point, exclusive of the subscription, it is acknowledged as a relatively expensive solution in the realm of WiFi services. Despite this drawback, the positive attributes of Mist make it a noteworthy option.

I use the solution to manage Layer 3 and Layer 2 suites and access points.

AI-driven automation helps implement the solution quickly. We have Python templates. It helps us to implement very fast.

We predominantly utilize these functionalities in scenarios requiring additional intelligence, particularly in the end markets. This is especially true when we need location awareness to identify people's positions within a building or event space. We employ SAP, for precise tracking of individuals through the network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented this solution in some areas, such as meeting rooms, to ensure compliance with occupancy limits and maintain control over crowd management.

The most valuable aspect is that they operate on small microservices, offering numerous open APIs that enhance the value of our Wi-Fi network. This flexibility allows us to optimize various aspects such as workforce planning and occupancy management. 

The platform is highly open in the market, providing robust APIs for seamless integration with other tools. Currently, we leverage these capabilities at a building site, incorporating IoT sensors to gather data. The collected data is stored in a centralized location, and we plan to use AI for analysis. This analysis will include insights into peak activity times, humidity levels, temperature variations, and other relevant metrics within the building.

Regarding features, the solution seems to be very intuitive.

The solution lacks documentation. So, it is an area that can be improved. When you are at the beginning phase and don't have full access to the portal, I don't know if there's a lot of documentation on how to use Mist that can help you evaluate it and explain what it does and how to do certain things without actually having a Mist account.

The AI deployment process involves adding access points and placing them in the designated area. The AI system automatically adjusts channel selection and transmission power without any issues with stability or throughput. It has improved network performance. 

Mist AI and Cloud need to improve the configuration speed. 

We are using it in our university, which is an engineering institution. Therefore, we employ this cloud networking solution for our university's needs.

It is used to provide Wi-Fi access to all the students, faculty members, and staff.

Mist AI and Cloud have definitely improved the functioning of our organization. The access to the Internet, including its speed and reliability, has significantly improved. Moreover, managing the network through cloud controllers has become much easier.