TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

ExtremeCloud SD-WAN

Score9.2 out of 10

14 Reviews and Ratings

What is ExtremeCloud SD-WAN?

Extreme Networks wireless offerings increased following the Enterasys acquisition in 2013 and later, Aerohive. To unify all disparate elements and centralize control of the network all the way to the branch, ExtremeCloud SD-WAN is Extreme Networks' solution for simplicity and control.

Categories & Use Cases

Wireless network with easy cloud management and good user experience.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We had a Wireless network project and used the Aerohive Wireless WAN solution two years ago in our branch. We chose this solution because it is an architecture with cloud management and easy to install, manage and maintain. The Aerohive controller is in a cloud that we can access via the web from anywhere and the access points are installed on the roof of the offices in a plug and play way and connecting to the network via ethernet cable. The ethernet cable itself energizes the equipment and does not require the use of an external power supply. The Aerohive network is excellent, has great performance, good signal coverage and provides a controlled access environment for employees and visitors.

Pros

  • Cloud architecture, easy management
  • Easy installation of access points, plug and play and maintenance.
  • Access control for internal and external users.
  • Possibility to create multiple SSID.
  • 1x.
  • High performance and range.

Cons

  • The management interface on mobile devices sometimes has some graphical bugs.
  • Aerohive needs to improve configuration documentation.

Most Important Features

  • Improved control with cloud management. It controls the RF, eliminates bottlenecks and optimizes performance by selecting the best path.
  • Gigabit ethernet speed.
  • Visibility of application traffic.
  • Possibility to prioritize data and voice traffic.
  • L3 roaming

Return on Investment

  • Wireless network that is controlled and managed in the cloud via the Web and can be accessed wherever you are.
  • Great cost-benefit of technology and price.
  • Modern and compact solution with good design.

A leading solution for Wireless WAN setup and design

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

This product is used within our office and LAB setup, where multiple rooms and open areas are linked via the same Wireless network, as set up through the Aerohive application. The network itself is used for connectivity and support services by Engineers on-site as well as testing, deploying, and configuring devices remotely.

Pros

  • The hardware is well designed and crafted.
  • The software that supports the hardware is user friendly and intuitive.
  • The support by Aerohive is timely and responsive.

Cons

  • The floor plan design aspect of the software has improved recently and can further be enhanced.
  • The software update process for the APs has not always been very straightforward.
  • The initial setup and differentiating between the multiple types of APs was a bit confusing.

Most Important Features

  • The range and power of the APs.
  • The configuration abilities of the router itself that serves the APs
  • The software is robust and offers many different solutions as your needs grow.

Return on Investment

  • The speed of our Wireless network has significantly improved.
  • The range of the network covers our entire user area, simply due to the power and range of the APs as well as the mesh network capabilities.
  • The capability of the software to configure, monitor, and alert based on network traffic and user behavior is almost unmatched.

Other Software Used

Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500), Cisco 5000 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5000), Cisco 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers (ASR 9000)

In a small to medium sized organization Extreme Networks Wireless WAN suits our needs

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Remote work from various devices are a must for our users and they cannot be limited to a LAN-only connection.

Pros

  • Easy to navigate management GUI
  • Intuitive design
  • Helpful troubleshooting tools and logging

Cons

  • More customized reports functionality
  • VLAN probe tool not always accurate in our case
  • Continue to grow features of Companion mobile app

Most Important Features

  • Stability, seamless upgrades and quick performance is key.
  • Having analytics and tools to help resolve issues.

Return on Investment

  • Positively, has saved us money not needing to upgrade access points every 2-3 years
  • Upgrading to Wifi 6/6e is on the horizon for us, so staying on top of technology/security is important.

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)