RE: enterprise 802.11

[Nathan Eisenberg <nathan () atlasnetworks us>]

Ubiquiti's Unifi products are decent, and have *MUCH* improved since their original release (amazing what you can do 
with better code!).  In the original release, you had to have a management server running on the same L2 network as the 
Aps - they've moved the management to a L3 model so you can put the controller elsewhere.  The big PITA with their 
system is that any change requires 'reprovisioning' the APs, which means rebooting all of them in sequence.  They've 
added VLANs, multiple SSID's/AP, wireless backhaul/chaining, guest portalling, and limiters to balance the # of clients 
/ AP.

In a noisy environment, I've found that they top out at around 30 devices / AP for good performance, and 50 devices / 
AP for 'working/not working'.  In a clean environment, I've seen decent performance with 70 - 100 devices / AP.  Of 
course, if one bad client comes along (with a card that doesn't backoff its TX power, etc), it can wreak havoc with 
higher densities.  You really can't argue with Unifi's price.

If you move up the price scale, Meraki seems to be a good midrange solution, and they have some really sweet reporting 
functionality.  They're more expensive, though.

And then, yes, Cisco is the gold standard, but it will cost you some gold to get it.

Nathan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Lyon [mailto:mike.lyon () gmail com]
> Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 11:54 AM
> To: Meftah Tayeb
> Cc: nanog () nanog org
> Subject: Re: enterprise 802.11
>
> Ubiquity (www.ubnt.com) has their Unifi line of products. It's still pretty new
> in the marketspace and this, working out the bugs. I use their other products
> exclusively for outdoor wireless.
>
> However, in the offices ive done, ive used Cisco's WLC 4402 controller which
> supports 12 access points. They have controllers which support more APs as
> well.
>
> Hit me up offlist if you have any quesrions.
>
> -mike
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 15, 2012, at 11:39, Meftah Tayeb <tayeb.meftah () gmail com> wrote:
>
> > Ubiquity
> > or ubikity, maybe is miss spelled
> > Someone correct the spelling for him please thank you
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken King" <kking () yammer-inc com>
> > To: <nanog () nanog org>
> > Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:30 PM
> > Subject: enterprise 802.11
> >
> >
> > I need to choose a wireless solution for a new office.
> >
> > up to 600 devices will connect.  most devices are mac books and mobile
> phones.
> > we can see hundreds of access points in close proximity to our new office
> space.
> > what are the thoughts these days on the best enterprise solution/vendor?
> >
> > Thanks for your replies.
> >
> >
> > Ken King
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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