802.11ac Wireless Network Solutionssolutionsreview.com/dl/Solutions_Review_802.11ac... · 2016-08-31 · the end of 2013, 802.11ac access points offer several features designed to

802.11ac Wireless Network Solutions Buyer’s Guide

Includes a Category Overview

The Top 10 Questions to Ask

Plus a Capabilities Reference of the Leading 20 Wireless Network

Solution Providers

2016 Buyer’s Guide

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802.11ac Wireless Network Solutions

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Solutions Review | 500 West Cummings Park | Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 | USA

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INTRODUCTION

Solutions Review offers this 2016 Wireless Network Solutions Buyers Guide as a roadmap for the ever-changing virtual

landscape of WLAN and Wi-Fi. We have compiled information from recent industry surveys and whitepapers that will give

you an inside look into what to expect for the future of Wireless Network Solutions, with a special focus in this edition on

Solution Providers’ capabilities in 802.11ac.

Since the initial deployment of the 802.11 standard in 1997, wireless networks have dramatically increased in number,

scale and capability. However, the traffic loads have skyrocketed in recent years and are expected to keep on climbing

Much of the recent increase has been driven by the adoption of mobile devices by both consumers and businesses;

wireless network industry analysts anticipate an increase in mobile device usage for 2016. This increase in mobile device

usage has been and will continue to create increased wireless network traffic.

Several organizations, including college campuses, hospitals, school districts and transportation networks are

transitioning (or already have transitioned) from wired infrastructure to wireless infrastructure as BYOD (Bring Your Own

Device) and BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) practices have emerged to play a substantial role for these enterprises.

Adding to the challenge, ever more bandwidth intensive apps are coming onto the market, such as various video-

streaming services.

Accordingly, pressure to provide high-bandwidth WiFi service is increasing and will continue to increase apace in our

estimation, and enterprises will require new technologies and solutions to keep up.

Officially approved by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) at

the end of 2013, 802.11ac access points offer several features designed to help

enterprises handle high demand for wireless networking from both user numbers

and high-bandwidth applications. The second wave of 802.11ac devices is

currently available and is on pace to be the most shipped wireless standard ever.

Wave 2 is faster than its predecessor standards. The 802.11ac standard has a

function called standardized beam-forming, which allows radio signals to be

transmitted to a specific device, rather than broadcast in all directions. Compared

to its predecessor, the 802.11n, the fifth generation 802.11ac presents four

changes:

1. Uses wider channels; 802.11ac increases channel width from N as a result of using a

higher, less crowded frequency.

2. Increases the number of spatial streams available.

3. Standardizes beam-forming, reducing signal interference and at least partially offsetting

range-reduction from the higher frequency while ensuring compatibility with all devices.

4. Introduces multi-user/Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) – which improves data

throughput.

There are some engineering tradeoffs made here, however. 802.11ac utilizes a higher frequency at 5GHz, versus N’s

2.4GHz. The higher frequency of AC has fewer signals to compete with (for now) and allows for faster data transfer and

more supported users within its range, but at the cost of decreased ranged compared to N. AC’s beam-forming

technology may compensate for this, but whether beam-forming fully makes up for the higher frequency will depend on

the circumstances.

“Wireless AC has fewer

signals to compete

with and allows for

faster data transfer

and more supported

users within its range.”


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Also, in order to take advantage of gigabit speed, you would need an access point with multiple antennas broadcasting to

a laptop or tablet with multiple antennas. The multi-stream technology is what allows AC to break the Gigabit barrier.

Otherwise, where you have just one AC antenna broadcasting to one antenna on your mobile device, expect download

speeds of up to roughly 400 mb/second. This is the speed range that real-world tests will commonly find.

This state of affairs still marks an improvement over what N can usually deliver in the real world, but not by as much as

sometimes advertised. Furthermore, while G and N capable mobile devices are compatible with AC access points, they

will not see a data transfer speed boost. You will need mobile devices built for receiving AC, or AC dongles attached to

older devices, to take advantage of those faster speeds.

Finally, while not quite a trade-off per se, we should remember that demand for a faster wireless connection will be

dependent on the applications that end users want and/or need run on their devices. While multimedia, voice, and other

data intensive applications can make good use of AC’s higher speeds, there are many applications that work fine on N.

Nevertheless, according to data from market research firm NPD, the IEEE 802.11ac

standard will generate a substantial increase of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices.

Shipments of mobile devices are expected to exceed 800 million this year. As new

mobile devices come onto the market configured to 802.11ac, we predict a wide-

spread adoption of 802.11ac solutions by enterprises, such that 2016 will become

the year of 802.11ac.

All new devices from all major manufacturers, Samsung, Apple etc., will be making

all of their new devices AC capable. You will already be behind your competitors if

you haven’t installed 802.11ac access points. Users will begin installing wireless ac

in the home and will expect you to deliver it at work. Consumer and business

demand will only intensify when the next big app comes out that requires AC speeds

to work properly.

Another argument for considering investing in an 802.11ac solution sooner rather than later is based on the lifecycle of

wireless standards. G was certified in 2003, N in 2009, and AC at the end of 2013. The next comparable standard that is

still being debated is projected to be certified in 2019, with widespread adoption likely after another 12-24 months, if

patterns based on G and N hold.

If you purchase a new AC capable wireless network solution in 2016 or early 2017, you will be able rely on it for another 5

to 6 years. If you decide to wait until 2018 or even 2019, you may get only 3 to four years of service for the same or

potentially even higher cost. Therefore, the sooner you upgrade 802.11ac, the longer you will have to amortize the cost of

the system over its lifecycle before the next wave of technology renders what you have obsolete. Still, there may be

scenarios where it makes sense for your business to wait, and below you will find 10 questions, 5 to ask about yourself

and 5 to prospective solution providers that we believe will help guide you to making a sound decision.

Elizabeth O’Dowd

Editor

Solutions Review

[email protected]

+1 (339) 927-924

“If you purchase a

new AC capable

wireless network

solution in 2016 or

early 2017, you will

be able rely on it for

another 5 to 6 years.”

mailto:[email protected]


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5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Selecting an 802.11ac Wireless Solution

QUESTION #1 Does my enterprise really need 802.11ac?

This obvious and to the point question has a less than satisfying answer: it depends. Specifically, it depends

on what applications your end users need and/or demand to be able to run on their mobile devices. If a

mission-critical business application which requires large quantities of data very quickly to work is needed

on mobile devices, then AC makes sense, especially if N is having trouble delivering at the speed you need to

get an edge over your competition. Another good case would be where your customers demand the ability to

access data-intensive multimedia services while on your premises. Or, if your business sees great value in

future proofing against that next big app that also requires lots of data delivered to mobile devices.

QUESTION #2 Can my current infrastructure support the high speeds 802.11ac offers?

So you’ve established a business case for AC. Does that case include the cost of possibly upgrading your

CAT5 cabling, old routers, switches, and other potential data bottlenecks? Does it include the cost of

connecting to the local fiber-optic trunk, if one is even available? If not, then asking your IT department to

identify those bottlenecks at the start of your considerations can give you a better picture of the true costs

of implementation and save you heartbreak down the road.

QUESTION #3 Will it work with the rest of my business and technology environment?

Even if you need AC and your wired infrastructure can handle it, you may face other challenges when you try

to implement it. One may be the very building your business inhabits. Certain architecture can limit the range

of wireless radios, a problem compounded by the shorter range of AC’s higher frequency. Additionally, if

your business environment already has many undirected radios broadcasting in the 5GHz range,

interference might become a large problem. Included in this is consideration for the cost you and your

organization are willing to bear in money, time and people, as well as the opportunity cost for those same

resources being applied to other projects.

QUESTION #4 What are my security needs, and how will a new wireless network solution impact them?

Security must be a top priority. This includes both your business and the end users. So, how sensitive is the

data you plan to be transmitting? Where are your vulnerable points to intrusion? Will current employee (or

even executive-level) behaviors mean that your new wireless AC connection is a superhighway for outside

threats into your network? By answering these questions, which you should be doing anyway, you can plan

for what technology and organizational changes you need to keep 802.11ac safe for your company.

QUESTION #5 What are my support needs?

Do you have the IT resources available to deal with implementation and operation of the new network,

including all the problems that will appear? Is it critical that those problems not appear, or merely

inconvenient if they do? The answers to these questions should clarify how much support you will need from

the vendor, either included in their offer or in addition to what they provide. Also keep in mind that even if

you have a large IT department at your organization, few of those IT assets may actually be available to

babysit implementation and operation. Don’t rule out vendor support options just because you have a large

and sophisticated IT department.


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And 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Potential 802.11ac Wireless Solution Provider

QUESTION #6 What are the vendors’ implementation and post-implementation support offerings?

If you need support, and you probably will in some form, then lining up and comparing several vendors’

support offerings with what your specific support needs are should help you come to a purchasing decision.

It’s all about what your IT department can and is willing to handle. For small businesses, post-

implementation support is a must, but for some enterprises with large IT departments and resources, it’s

more efficient to take care of these things in-house.

QUESTION #7 How will vendors work with my unique business needs and environment?

A great solution on paper may be terrible in reality if it can’t adapt to the local environment. Ask how the

prospective wireless network solution will overcome the unique challenges of your environment such as old

infrastructure and poorly suited architecture. Also, don’t shy away from consulting with an independent IT

expert on the feasibility of vendor claims. Paying a little extra for expertise now can potentially save large

amounts of money wasted on a failed implementation in the future.

QUESTION #8 Does your product require a specialized person to run it?

Because security is so important, understanding what security options the vendor offers, how those options

integrate with the wireless network solution, and how they match up with your security vulnerabilities should

be a top priority and key differentiating factor between different vendors. Just like with post-implementation

support offerings, this really depends on what you want to handle yourself. If you would rather have a

specialized person to run your wireless network, you want to make sure that you are not being charged for a

service you are not utilizing if it does not already come included in the solution.

QUESTION #9 How easily will the vendor work with your organization and vice versa?

Learn more about your prospective vendor’s company culture, as well as the specific personalities that will

have to work together in order to implement successfully and maintain smooth operation of the network.

Poor communication and personality clashes can go a long way to sabotaging what would otherwise be a

successful project. Also remember that responsibility in this area goes both ways, as it does in any

partnership. Partnership potential can also be estimated based on the prospective vendor’s experience

working with companies in your industry vertical, geographic location and size range.

QUESTION #10 What’s the cost… for what they deliver?

A costly solution could be worth it if it delivers an even bigger ROI, and that low sticker price vendor C is

offering may merely hide the huge implementation and support costs. Then again, it could be that vendor C

really does offer the best solution for the best price. Don’t just rely on the sticker price and vendor

marketing, but dig a little deeper to find out about past implementation successes and failures, as well as

what made them so.


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Solution Provider Profiles

Adtran ______________________________________________________________________________________ 7

Aerohive ______________________________________________________________________________________ 7

Alcatel-Lucent ______________________________________________________________________________________ 7

Aruba _____________________________________________________________________________________ 7

Avaya _____________________________________________________________________________________ 8

Brocade _____________________________________________________________________________________ 8

Cisco _____________________________________________________________________________________ 8

D-Link _____________________________________________________________________________________ 8

Extreme Networks _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9

Extricom _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9

Firetide _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9

Fortinet _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9

HP _____________________________________________________________________________________ 10

Juniper Networks _____________________________________________________________________________________ 10

Netgear _____________________________________________________________________________________ 10

Ruckus Wireless _____________________________________________________________________________________ 10

Ubiquiti Networks ____________________________________________________________________________________ 11

Xirrus ____________________________________________________________________________________ 11

Zebra Technologies ____________________________________________________________________________________ 11

Zyxel ____________________________________________________________________________________ 11


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Vendor Wireless 802.11ac Solution From the Company

ADTRAN, Inc.

901 Explorer Boulevard

Huntsville, AL 35806

United States

1-800-923-8726

www.adtran.com

Bluesocket Virtual WLAN (vWLAN)

The Bluesocket 2035 is a high-performance, 3x3:3,

802.11ac indoor Access Point with six external RP-

SMA antenna connectors providing 1.3 Gbps on the

5GHz radio and 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz for a total

of 1.75 Gbps. The 2035 802.11ac AP is designed for

high-density environments and does not include

limits on number of devices per radio. It eliminates

scale limitations, and enables management and

control of Access Points (APs) across multiple

buildings.

“ADTRAN’s vWLAN brings wireless reliability to a

whole new level. In vWLAN, the user data stream or

data plane is separated from the control information

about the data session. This separation of the control

plane and data plane increases reliability. ADTRAN’s

Bluesocket family of high-performance APs is the

perfect fit for enterprises, educational institutions,

hospitality, retail, and healthcare providers who are

looking to move their organizations to a pervasive

mobility environment. They Offer a flexible portfolio of

cloud-managed Wi-Fi solutions.”

Aerohive Networks

330 Gibraltar Drive

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

United States

+1 866-918-9918

www.aerohive.com

Aerohive AP390/370 (802.11ac) The AP370 is an enterprise-grade, high performance

two radio (3x3) three stream MIMO 802.11ac/n

Access Point, targeted at high capacity

environments. A controller-less, cloud-enabled Wi-Fi,

Aerohive’s enterprise network architecture supports

identity-based wireless or wired access. The AP390

is an enterprise-grade, high performance two radio

(3x3) three stream MIMO 802.11ac/n Access Point,

targeted at high capacity best range enterprise

environments with external antenna and extended

temperature option.

“Aerohive helps simplify networking by reducing the

cost and complexity of distributed enterprise

deployments with cloud-enabled networking

solutions. These solutions, based on our unique

distributed intelligence architecture, include

enterprise-class Wi-Fi access points, state-of-the-art

gigabit switches, and easy-to-deploy routers.”

Aerohive's Connected Experience Platform is built on

three core solutions that unlock the potential of

mobility, and make networks easier to design, deploy,

and manage: Cloud Networking, Great Wi-Fi and

Applications & Insights.”

Alcatel-Lucent

3 av. Octave Gréard

75007 Paris,

France

+33 (0) 1 40 76 10 10

www.alcatel-lucent.com

OmniAccess WLAN AP220 and AP270

Offers numerous AC capable access points (APs)

that work with OmniAccess WLAN switches, each

with a different set of features allowing customers to

select what they need for their particular application.

The APs are small, lightweight and can be securely

deployed in a variety of locations including outdoors

for some models. It provides unprecedented control

over the entire wireless environment and enables

advanced adaptive WLAN, identity-based security

and application continuity services.

“OmniAccess base software provides unprecedented

control over the entire wireless environment and

enables advanced adaptive WLAN, identity-based

security and application continuity services. The base

feature set of Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess wireless

LAN base software includes sophisticated

authentication and encryption, protection against

rogue access points (APs), seamless mobility with

fast roaming, RF management and analysis tools,

centralized configuration, location tracking and more.”

Aruba Networks

1344 Crossman Ave.

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

United States

+1 (408) 227-4500

www.arubanetworks.com

Aruba WLAN

Aruba access points (APs) can be centrally managed

by Aruba Mobility Controllers or deployed as

controllerless Aruba Instant™ APs that are managed

in the cloud. In controllerless Aruba Instant mode, a

dynamically elected AP automatically distributes the

network configuration to other Instant APs in the

WLAN. When managed by Mobility Controllers, traffic

from Aruba APs is centralized to simplify

configuration, improve data encryption and provide

fine-grained policy enforcement.

“Aruba Networks (an HP company) designs and

delivers Mobility-Defined Networks. Mobility-Defined

Networks control the dynamic mobility environment

by correlating real-time data about users, devices,

apps and location. Self-optimization functions

dramatically reduce helpdesk tickets and protect

enterprise data. Aruba extends mobility intelligence

across wired and wireless networks all the way to

users, devices and apps. This makes Aruba Mobility-

Defined Networks easy to deploy without any

changes to the existing infrastructure.”


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Avaya, Inc. 211 Mt. Airy Road

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

United States

+1(866) 462-8292

www.avaya.com

Wireless LAN 9100 Series

Avaya offers a wide portfolio of indoor and outdoor

access that caters to different deployment and client

requirements. The portfolio includes 802.11ac APs

(2x2 and 3x3 MIMO options). The 9100 Series offers

eight access points depending on your needs with

the largest supporting up to 240 users. With a

powerful integrated controller, application-level

intelligence, automated provisioning and managed

centrally by the Avaya WLAN Orchestration System.

“Deliver wired like performance and reliability to your

mobile users with a Wireless LAN that puts your

business-critical application needs first. Providing

application-level visibility and control you can help

ensure your wireless network delivers

uncompromised access to the applications and

services your users value most- and is not crippled by

bandwidth-hogging personal applications. Adapt to

changing business requirements and protect

investment against increases in capacity demands. ”

Brocade Communications

Systems, Inc.

130 Holger Way

San Jose, CA 95134

United States

+1 (408) 333-8000

www.brocade.com

Brocade Mobility WLAN Scalable with each controller able to handle over

10,000 geographically dispersed APs and over

240,000 devices. Solution boasts automatic load

balancing and innovative Distributed Access Point

Forwarding, which reduces latency by eliminating the

controller bottleneck. Brocade solutions include, no-

cost security options such as AP-based firewalls,

configurable guest portal, on-board RADIUS, and

integration with LDAP or Active Directory.

“Brocade offers a complete line of APs and controllers

designed to meet the needs of organizations large

and small. Brocade APs deliver intelligence and high

performance while supporting the latest wireless

standards, including 802.11ac. The Brocade line of

cost-efficient wireless controllers, dedicated and

virtual, provides the centralized management and

reporting that organizations need to confidently

monitor and maintain wireless infrastructure.”

Cisco Systems, Inc.

170 West Tasman Dr.

San Jose, CA 95134

United States

+1 (408) 526-4000

www.cisco.com

MR32 and MR34 Meraki Cloud Indoor APs

The Cisco Meraki MR32 is a three–radio, cloud-

managed 2x2 MIMO 802.11ac access point. The

MR34 is a managed 3x3 MIMO 802.11AP. Designed

for general purpose next-generation deployments in

offices, schools, hospitals and hotels, the MR32

provides performance, security, and manageability. The combination of cloud management, 802.11ac,

and full-time RF environment scanning, delivers the

high throughput, reliability, and flexibility required by

the most demanding business applications like voice

and high-definition streaming video.

“Meet bandwidth demands and needs for increased

network speed with the Cisco 802.11ac wireless

solution. Cisco offers the components needed to

efficiently create a highly secure and seamless user

experience across all scenarios. Cisco technology can

empower IT to provide greater business freedom with

high-performance, context-aware solutions. With

Cisco 802.11ac you can fully address many types of

users with different device, security, and business

requirements.”

.

D-Link Systems, Inc.

17595 Mt. Hermann St.

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

United States

+1 (800) 326-1688

www.dlink.com

Unified Wireless Series

D-Link Unified Wireless Access Points are highly

manageable and scalable with high data

transmission speeds, optional support for PoE, and

advanced security features. Up to 256 D-Link Unified

Access Points can be deployed and managed easily

and efficiently. Once the APs are discovered by the

switch/controller, the administrator can push a

specific set of configurations onto them, rather than

having to do so one by one. RF resource

management and security are also managed

centrally

“D-Link wireless networking solutions enable

businesses of all sizes to create highly mobile, highly

productive work environments at a low total cost of

ownership. With products that provide excellent value

across a wide range of scenarios, D-Link wireless

networks are scalable, easy to deploy and manage –

delivering reliable, secure connectivity, in a self-

healing solution. D-Link offers a wide range of robust

wireless Access Points (APs) operating in both the

2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, supporting the

latest wireless standards including 802.11ac and

802.11n.”


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Extreme Networks

3585 Monroe Street

Santa Clara, CA 950510

United States

+1 (408) 579-2800

www.extremenetworks.com

AP3935

The AP3935 is an 802.11ac (Wave 2) and

802.11abgn indoor access point that delivers

enterprise-grade performance and security. The

AP3935 is built on the latest Wi-Fi technology

including 802.11ac Wave 2, dynamic radio

management, and spectrum analysis with

interference classification, beamforming, multi-user

MIMO, self-forming and self-healing. The 4×4:4

platform is capable of delivering up to 2.5 Gbps

over-the-air-performance.

“Extreme Networks delivers software-driven networking

solutions that help IT departments deliver the ultimate

business outcome: stronger connections with

customers, partners and employees. Wired to wireless,

desktop to datacenter, we go to extreme measures for

our 20,000-plus customers in more than 80 countries,

delivering 100% insourced support to organizations

large and small, including some of the world's leading

names in business, education, government.”

Extricom

48 Wall Street

11th Floor

New York, NY 10005

United States

+1 (212) 240-3896

www.extricom.com

The RP-23ac Access Point

The RP-23ac Access Point Uses 80MHz bonded

channels, can be deployed without requiring any

adjustment to the channel plan, or reconfiguration

of other APs. Utilizes Extricom’s unique Channel

Blanket architecture to deploy both of 802.11ac’s

160MHz-wide channels without any co-channel

interference. Extricom’s TrueReuse™ technology

offers channel optimization by enabling

simultaneous downlinks on a channel blanket

“Extricom’s Channel Blanket technology resolves the

limitations of 802.11ac in a WLAN enterprise

environment. Extricom is the only technology immune

to cell-induced problems and variability of MIMO

coverage. In fact, because MIMO improvements are

opportunistic, the Extricom architecture actually

improves MIMO performance by providing the "best"

MIMO path on a packet-by-packet basis to a wireless

client, thus adding robustness and stability to a highly

variable technology.”

A Division of UNICOM

2105 S. Bascom Avenue

Suite 220

Campbell, CA 95008

United States

+1 (408) 399-7771

www.firetide.com

Firetide Mesh Wireless

Firetide offers the HotPoint 5100 for indoor and

5200 for outdoor WLAN. Both are tri-band, dual

radio systems that are 802.11n capable in the

2.4GHz band. Mesh nodes provide the ability to

broadcast Wi-Fi signal without backhaul cabling

while enabling modularity for optimal access point

placement. Working with mesh nodes and network

management software, the Firetide Mobility

Controller delivers high speed infrastructure

mobility and seamless client roaming.

“Firetide product portfolio enables building a high

capacity wireless network that is comparable in

performance and reliability to a fiber. Firetide Mesh

product line, HotPort® series, form the core of the

product offering enabling customers to create a mesh,

PTP or PTMP topology over wireless. Firetide also offer

the HotPoint® wireless access point series providing

cost effective access solution to complement its mesh

backhaul products, an intuitive network management

product HotView Pro™.”

Fortinet, Inc.

1090 Kifer Road

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

United States

+1 (408) 235-7700

www.fortinet.com

FortiAP-S Series Indoor Access Points

The FortiAP-S series are cloud-managed access

points designed for deployment in SMBs and

distributed enterprise remote sites. Managed

through the free FortiCloud provisioning and

management portal, they eliminate the CAPEX and

complexity of deploying WLAN controllers and

management servers. Two models come with 3x3

internal antennas, and two are equipped with

connectors for use with external directional or

panel antennas. They are equipped with extra

memory and a powerful dual-core processor.

“Simplify your Wi-Fi network with a secure cloud

deployment. Fortinet’s cloud Wi-Fi solutions offer

advanced security protection at the edge without the

complexity of installing WLAN controllers and

management servers on-premises. As the industry’s

only integrated next-generation firewall capabilities and

access solution, Fortinet’s controller-less Wi-Fi can be

deployed in minutes and easily managed through

FortiCloud provisioning and management portal. Cloud

Wi-Fi security includes intrusion prevention, L7

application control, antivirus and anti-botnet, and web

filtering.”


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Hewlett-Packard Corp.

3000 Hanover St.

Palp Alto, CA 94304

United States

+1 (640) 857-1501

www.hp.com

HP 560 Dual Radio Access Point Series

The AP3935 is an 802.11ac (Wave 2) and

802.11abgn indoor access point built on the latest

Wi-Fi technology including 802.11ac Wave 2,

dynamic radio management, and spectrum analysis

with interference classification, beamforming,

multi-user MIMO, self-forming and self-healing

meshing, security, role-based authentication,

authorization, and access control. The 4×4:4

platform is capable of delivering up to 2.5 Gbps

over-the-air-performance.

“The FlexNetwork Mobility Solution encompasses the

HP FlexCampus and FlexBranch portfolio of

technologies. For large enterprises, our mobility

solution is supported by HP FlexFabric, a data center

network fabric that simplifies and automates

connectivity for virtualized computer apps, storage, and

cloud services. Through our mobility solutions, laptops,

tablets, desktops, IP phones, servers, and other

endpoint devices can access the network and

associated services, regardless of the connection

method.”

Juniper Networks Inc.

1133 Innovation Way

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

United States

+1 (888) 856-4737

www.juniper.net

Aruba WLAN 802.11ac Series

While Juniper does not offer an 802.11ac solutions

on their own (their WLA Series for the enterprise

still only supports 802.11n) they have been teamed

up with Aruba Networks since 2014 to offer

converged wired and wireless networks by

combining their respective products. Aruba

Airwave and ClearPass simplify management and

policy enforcement across edge access while

Juniper Network Director provides end-to-end user

and application visibility. This allows both partners

to capture more market share.

“Juniper Networks delivers innovation across routing,

switching and security. Juniper’s innovations in

software, silicon and systems transform the experience

and economics of networking. The Juniper Networks

WLM1200 Wireless LAN Management Appliance allows

for full life-cycle management for WLAN infrastructure,

security and mobility services on a single platform.

WLM1200 Wireless LAN Management Appliance is a

scalable, rack mountable management platform for

enterprise WLANs. There are three preconfigured

versions that manage different aspects of wireless

LANs.”

NETGEAR Inc.

350 East Plumeria Dr.

San Jose, CA 95134

United States

+1 (408) 907-8000

www.netgear.com

WAC120 802.11ac Wireless Access Point

While NETGEAR still relies heavily on 802.11n, they

have released the WAC120 and it’s a great access

point for a small office environment. Even though it

covers a smaller area, it provides high throughput

to the entire area and is easy to set up. It supports

up to 1.2 Gbps (867 Mbps at 5GHz and 300 Mbps

at 2.4 GHz) of wireless throughput and has gigabit

wired connectivity to internet gateway routers or

cable modems. It’s dual band concurrent operation

is at both 2.4 and 5GHz frequency range.

“NETGEAR is a global networking company that

delivers products to consumers, businesses and

service providers. Their products are built on a variety

of proven technologies such as wireless (Wi-Fi and

LTE), Ethernet and powerline, with a focus on reliability

and ease-of-use. The product line consists of wired and

wireless devices that enable networking, broadband

access and network connectivity. These products are

available in multiple configurations to address the

needs of the end-users in each geographic region in

which the Company's products are sold.”

Ruckus Wireless Inc.

350 West Java Dr.

Sunnyvale, CA 94089

United States

+1 (650) 265-4200

www.ruckuswireless.com

ZoneFlex Indoor/Outdoor Access Points

Ruckus offers two versions of their ZoneFlex series,

one for indoors and one for outdoors. These duel-

band 802.11ac Wave 2 access points (meshed or

wired) use patented Smart Wi-Fi antenna array

technology, BeamFlex which provides extended

range and adaptive signal steering. The Smart Wi-Fi

access points can also be flexibly deployed without

a Smart WLAN controller. The access points handle

all control traffic and probe requests or responses

as well as the data path between wireless clients.

“Ruckus Wireless is focused on technology innovation,

partnerships and customer service, yielding the best

possible wireless experience for the most challenging

indoor and outdoor environments. Its Smart Wi-

Fi platform delivers scalable, high-performance Wi-Fi

with simplified control and management for on-premise

and cloud-based Wi-Fi deployments, along with secure

on-boarding, policy management, location services and

analytics that enable new business opportunities.”

http://www.ruckuswireless.com/technology

http://www.ruckuswireless.com/technology


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Ubuquiti Networks

2580 Orchard Parkway.

San Jose, CA 95131

United States

+1 (408) 942-3085

www.ubnt.com

Unifi AC Access Points

Available in four models, the new UniFi AC AP

features up to 5x faster speeds to support high-

density Wi-Fi networks. Up to 3x3 MIMO, 802.11ac,

Dual-Concurrent Radio Technology; advanced RF:

spectral analysis, band steering, and airtime

fairness; Android and iOS easy setup mobile

application support; powerful features for

enterprise, hospitality, and education markets. The

design of the Unifi AC Access Points is smaller than

the overage enterprise standard.

“Ubiquiti Networks designs, manufactures and sells

broadband wireless solutions worldwide. They offer

a portfolio of wireless networking products and

solutions, including systems, high performance

radios management tools,and antennas designed for

wireless networking and other applications in the

unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. The Company

offers solutions that incorporate its RF technology,

antenna design and firmware technologies, referred

to as AirTechnologies.”

Xirrus Inc.

2101 Corporate Center Dr.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

United States

+1 (800) 947-7871

www.xirrus.com

Xirrus XR Series

The XR Series includes the XR-2000, XR-4000 and

the XR-6000 with the difference being the max

number of radios, with the XR 2000 doing well in

conference rooms and classrooms, and the XR

6000 suiting arenas and conventions. The XR 6000

also features a 10 GigE uplink option instead of

their standard 2-4 GigE. They each come standard

with 802.11ac Wave 1 but, are all upgradable to

Wave 2. The XR Series also features distributed

intelligence so there is no single point of failure.

“Xirrus’ innovations in Wi-Fi hardware and software

uniquely solve the challenges of ever-growing, ever-

evolving Wi-Fi network demands. Xirrus offers the

only modular, dual-band, multi-radio platform that

features powerful application control, is highly

scalable, future proof and easy to use. Xirrus

solutions deliver affordability with up to 75% less

cabling and equipment than other Wi-Fi solutions,

cloud-managed Wi-Fi that ensures simple

deployment and application control, and flexibility to

grow and add capacity with additional radios.”

Zebra Technologies

3 Overlook Point

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

United States

+1 (847) 634-6700

www.zebra.com

AP 8232

The AP 8232 supports Voice over wireless LAN

(VoWLAN) quality of service (QoS), providing toll-

quality even with many simultaneous calls on a

single access point. In addition, you can leverage

locationing services to locate and track people and

assets, as well as control network and application

access. With advanced security, up to 1.75 Gbps,

tri-radio capable modular AP supports one 802.11n

and one 802.11ac with 3x3 3 stream MIMO. You

can also ensure users are only able to access

authorized networks, sites and applications.

“Support the performance demands of your busy

network with dual radio 802.11ac with channel

agility that maximizes performance to

accommodate a wide range of client devices with

mixed capabilities. Snap-on expandability allows you

to add up to two modules to the base for added

flexibility. Zebra makes businesses as smart and

connected as the world we live in. Zebra tracking

and visibility solutions transform the physical to

digital, creating the data streams enterprises

need to simplify operations and know more about

their businesses.”

ZyXEL Communications Inc.

1130 North Miller St

Anaheim, CA 92806-2001

United States

+1 (714) 632-0882

www.zyxel.com

ZyXEL NWA1120 Series

The ZyXEL NWA1120 Series is a standard-based,

SNMP-managed PoE Access Point (AP) that

includes the NWA1123-AC featuring 802.11ac

technology. This series of access points are small

and their hidden antennas allow them to be

mounted to the celling, making it a good fit for

crowded environments like university common

areas, hotels and other high traffic areas. The

wireless client mode enables printers, faxes, etc., to

be connected to the network without cabling.

“ZyXEL, a pioneer in IP technology for over two

decades, provides a complete portfolio of multi-

service LTE, fiber and DSL broadband gateways,

home connectivity solutions, smart home devices

and enterprise-class Ethernet switches, security and

Wi-Fi equipment for small to mid-size business.

ZyXEL offers integrated, interoperable network

solutions based on open standards. Headquartered

in Anaheim, California, ZyXEL offers its partners

service-rich solutions backed by a domestic team of

logistic, sales, and technical support professionals.”


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About Solutions Review:

Solutions Review is a collection of technology news sites that aggregates, curates and creates the best content

within leading technology categories. Solutions Review mission is connect buyers of enterprise technology with

the best solution sellers.

Over the past three years, Solutions Review has launched ten tech Buyer's Guide sites in categories ranging from

Cybersecurity to Wireless 802.11ac as well as Mobility Management and Business Intelligence, Data Analytics,

Data Integration and Cloud Platforms.

Information for this report was gathered via a meta-analysis of available online materials and reports, conversations with vendor representatives, and examinations of product demonstrations and free trials. Solutions Review does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this publication and does not advise technology users to base their vendor selection entirely on this research. Solutions Review disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, regarding this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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802.11ac Wireless Network Solutionssolutionsreview.com/dl/Solutions_Review_802.11ac... · 2016-08-31 · the end of 2013, 802.11ac access points offer several features designed to