Item: Aruba Networks Wireless WAN
Rating: 10
Author: Chris Hein

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use it across our entire office. This was primarily installed for large conferences we have onsite, but then we started us[ing] it for employees as well. It solved the problem of 50-100 devices being used at the same time on 1 network. Previously, our WiFi would come crashing down when we fired up a bunch of laptops at the same time.

Pros and Cons

Reliable
Easy to administer
Great uptime

Admin UI is a little clunky, but not bad

Most Important Features

Reliability
Speed
How fast you can connect to SSID

Return on Investment

Great impact. We no longer have to worry about troubleshooting WiFi.
Better customer satisfaction.
Can have large meetings with no worries.

Alternatives Considered

I like it compared to Meraki because it doesn't require a constant license.

Key Insights

Do you think Aruba Networks Wireless WAN delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Aruba Networks Wireless WAN's feature set?

Yes

Did Aruba Networks Wireless WAN live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Aruba Networks Wireless WAN go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Aruba Networks Wireless WAN again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, GoToMeeting, Windows Server, VMware vCenter Server

Likelihood to Recommend

It is well suited for business applications where you have a large group using it all at once. It is very reliable when using it as the primary WiFi for your business. The coverage is fantastic and you can move about the office while staying connected very well. It may not be appropriate for larger areas. We use the IAPs, so you may need to upgrade to their models that require a controller for that situation.

Products Replaced

Yes - We previously used consumer type products including Apple Airport.

Key Differentiators

Price
Product Features
Product Usability
Product Reputation

Reliability and ability to handle lots of connections.

Evaluation Lessons Learned

No change. Very happy with my choice.

Aruba WiFi - Works great with little to no hassle or maintenance

Overall Satisfaction with Aruba Networks Wireless WAN