Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar Reviews

We helped a large University in Brazil install the solution. It helps run:

• BLS Communications
• LinkedIn communications
• Correspondence between University branches.

It has a full view of the organization's network and the Wireless LAN security is on the same screen. It really makes sense to have the whole solution on the same screen. In comparison, other solutions do not do this.

It needs to be faster in order to process and transmit bigger packets. 

It is excellent in terms of stability. 

I call tech support whenever I have an issue and they respond within 24 hours.

It is an easy installation. It takes about two days to install and implement. As long as you plan for the configuration, you are fine.

There is definite ROI with this product. This product creates a baseline of technology that will be a means to grow in five to ten years from now. By using this solution, it is an investment in the installation of that baseline. 

We find the price comparable to other products on the market.

We are familiar with other systems on the market such as: Cisco, Aruba, and Huawei.

When choosing a solution, be sure to run a proof of concept of the products you are considering. If the price is very low, be sure to evaluate why it is a lower-priced product.

We are installing this solution for our enterprise customers for access, applications, mail, and CRM. The product can also be used to provide access for remote workers.

The solution's most valuable aspects include its BYOD features, user network profiles, and unified communication.

The initial setup is pretty straightforward. 

The solution needs to improve access for Mac and iOS devices.

There are occasional OS bugs.

I've been using the solution over the last three or so years. I've used it for a while now.

The product is 80% is stable. The only real issue is when there is an OS bug. Only then will there be an issue. The OEM is doing the OS bugs fixing.

The solution is scalable. It works for any size of company, no matter if it's a small business, enterprise, government, education, hospitality, or any other type of customer.

It's also easy to scale, as it's a soft controller. You just have to add on the licenses. It can scale up to 4,000 access points.

Our company tends to provide technical support to our clients if they need our help.

That said, if there is an OS bug or there is a vulnerability, then OEM needs to be aware the bug needs to be fixed. With regard to that, we contact technical support.

We also use Aruba. We use both simultaneously.

The solution offers a pretty simple setup. It's not overly complex or difficult. A company shouldn't have any issues with the process. However, it does depend on the organizational requirements.

The time it takes to deploy the solution also varies. A smaller setup, for example, may only take about two days. However, a larger setup could take longer.

We are a premium partner of Alcatel-Lucent.

Overall, I would recommend this solution to other users and companies.

I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.

• AAA with Radius and digital certificates
• Voice-over WLAN QoS Features
• Built-in WLAN site-survey and planning tool
• Built-in Guess Access feature

We deployed them in two hospitals, they benefit from the access of users via Guest Portal and the use of VoWLAN Phones for mobile internal communication.

Maybe some features could be made for mobile WLAN corporate access and Access Point survivability when issues with the WLAN Controller and/or communication link issues.

I used this solution for three years, I deployed it for several customers.

Yes, some issues are related to firmware bugs or firmware instability.

Yes, some of them are related to VoWLAN QoS and voice stability.

No, when we need to scale up, we follow the vendor instructions and directions for adding more devices of same type and some configurations in CLI.

9/10 and we have a great relationship with Alcatel-Lucent,

Great 10. They are very commited and helpful.

No, we studied others solutions but none of them were deployed by us.

A little bit complex, because the devices have a big set of caveats that are mandatory to deploy.

No other options evaluated.

Because of the long list of technical caveats, I would strongly advise people to take the official OmmniAcces WLAN course before deployment.

We use this solution in hotels, hospitals, SMB enterprises, large enterprises, gyms, and also in our company. Every scenario is different and requires a different type of WLAN configuration.

Our company is a premium reseller in Portugal of Alcatel-Lucent (in all areas). With the improvement in the range of all Alcatel-Lucent products, our business has grown and we have the ability to acquire small enterprise projects where they have lower IT budgets.

This product can be divided in 3 types of WLAN. 

• OmniAccess WLAN (requires a physical controller)
• IAP WLAN (same as OAW but with a virtual controller, and the VC is exactly the same as OAW – limited by the number of APs)
• AP1101 (with a virtual controller, very simple and easy to use – intended for SMB, also limited to the number of APs).

With these three types, Alcatel-Lucent can give the client a range of solutions within budget of each, and still guarantee the quality of the solution.

The only area this product can grow is the web interface. It could be nicer and easier to use.

I haven’t had any problems with stability with OmniAccess WLAN, only in the new AP1101 with 5Ghz equipment. Alcatel released new firmware correcting this issue.

When you choose the best WLAN option you won’t have problems.

Alcatel has two kinds of support. The first will be from the official partner in your country. The second will be the international service. In the latter case, if a joint intervention is required, it can take some time and be out of operation for hours because this support is in Asia.

Before Alcatel had the new, cheaper solutions, we used D-Link, Tp-Link. Today there is no need for those solutions.

Today the setup is very easy, you can use a web browser and just follow the steps. I remember that in 2009, it was a little complex, but not too hard. You had to start the AP by CLI and choose the language for use (only English, German, and French were available) and select the country where you were using the system. Then all configurations were done by CLI.

The price is in the range of other brands like Cisco, maybe a little cheaper but you get the same features, facilities, and security. 

Licensing is something Alcatel is making changes to. A few years ago you would buy a WLAN solution from Alcatel for half the price of Cisco, but you would spend the same amount on licensing. Today this is different and the licensing is cheaper.

I’d rate this product as an eight out of 10 because it is not accessible to everyone to take 100% advantage of the product. Only those with certification and high-tech experience can get 100% out of it, not the average IT person.

Look at the needs of the client, or your own needs as an IT administrator, and look for an Alcatel reseller or partner with experience to help you with the solution.

• Scalability,
• Centralization
• Redundancy.

These features allows us to control and deploy configuration for all remote OAW allowing centralized management.

We needed a solution to provide internet access for the majority of 317,68 KM square site and assure authentication, authorization and accountability compliance of users. OmniAccess has enabled us to do so.

Simplification of the configuration processes and improvement of the maintenance software OmniVista 3600.

4 years.

Yes, I had bugs when deploying with different Internet Browsers.

No issues encountered.

No. We currently have >100 users and increasing.

5/10

7/10

Yes, I used solutions based on different Access Points, with independent management. I switched to OmniAccess because it is centralized, and has great scalability.

We used the wizard for initial configuration and it was straightforward.

I implemented it myself after doing training with Alcatel.

Our RO`i isn't money related, since it is used to a community service.

We don't have any costs related to this product.

Yes, one solution based on Cisco.

Good planning, before implementing this solution.

I like the Captive Portal and the Spectrum Monitor features. The CLI is also very good.

With the Captive portal to manage the Guest access is very easy, and with the Spectrum Analysis some very difficult radio issues can be solved with very little effort from my side. The CLI is good, it is similar to other vendor's CLI but with enhanced features. 

The GUI is a little bit slow. 

Two years

No issues encountered.

No issues encountered.

No issues encountered.

Straightforward but very simple possibilities.