I use Aruba Remote Access Point for remote work.
Network Administrator at a government with 5,001-10,000 employees
Provide the same network remotely as on-site
Pros and Cons
- "It is a very stable tool."
- "There is room for improvement in terms of pricing. If they can be more competitive."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
We have that ability to extend the same networks we have on-site not only for remote work, but also to support users and testing purposes.
What is most valuable?
The possibility that you have the same network that we have on-site remotely, that's a great feature.
What needs improvement?
There is room for improvement in terms of pricing. If they can be more competitive.
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Remote Access Points
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Aruba Remote Access Points. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
I´ve been using this solution for the last six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a very stable tool.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good. I think all over the equipment, they scale very well.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup up was pretty easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cost of hardware is similar to other vendors and licensing depends on which deployment model you intend to use. The last evaluation we performed indicated that cloud management and configuration licensing was a little bit more expensive, but was worth it due to gain in funcionality.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There was a public process for buying that equipment in which Cysco and other players were also considered. However, Aruba gained the part mostly due to the features and overall cost of the product.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Sep 18, 2024
Flag as inappropriateSimple to scale, but complicated payment structure
Pros and Cons
- "The product is very flexible. So far the stability of the solution has been good."
- "Our difficulty with Aruba is that the product and the license are two different items. So, if we are adding an access point, we have to pay for two items. We have to pay to add the access point in the controller and we have to pay for the license."
What is our primary use case?
My company uses this solution for endpoint protection.
What is most valuable?
The product is very flexible.
What needs improvement?
Our difficulty with Aruba is that the product and the license are two different items. So, if we are adding an access point, we have to pay for two items. We have to pay to add the access point in the controller and we have to pay for the license.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for about three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
So far the stability of the solution has been good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We set up Aruba with six access points and we have scaled up to twelve access points. It is quite simple to scale.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used Ruijie before I switched to Aruba. I chose Aruba because it is known for being a good brand and a good choice.
What about the implementation team?
The solution was deployed by a vendor team of three engineers and it took about three weeks. I'm currently configuring it and handling the maintenance myself and the level of difficulty is medium.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Remote Access Points
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Aruba Remote Access Points. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Technical lead at Atlas
Great authentication features and assists us in deploying security access networks
Pros and Cons
- "The authentication features are valuable."
- "It could have better monitoring features."
What is our primary use case?
We have many government colleges here and provide a wireless network to all students, faculty, and teachers. So we have deployed their security access network and firewall security. We use Aruba Remote Access Points for wireless connectivity. Our clients are colleges and universities.
What is most valuable?
The authentication features are valuable.
What needs improvement?
It could have better monitoring features. Not all features are available on the monitoring dashboard.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for one and a half years, and it is deployed on-premises.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable, with about 1,000 to 1,500 users per campus, and we plan to increase it. We have 319 colleges, and we have about 35 employees.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good. I rate them a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
It is easy to set up.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I do not have details about the pricing because I work on the implementation team.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have not used other solutions.
What other advice do I have?
I rate this solution a nine out of ten. I would recommend this solution to others.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Implementer
Networks and Security Engineer at MUNISYS
Stable product with an advanced filtering feature
Pros and Cons
- "The platform has the most valuable advanced filtering feature."
- "The product needs an increased level of security for the end user."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product to manage and provide remote access to our branches and HQ.
What is most valuable?
The platform has the most valuable advanced filtering feature.
What needs improvement?
The product needs an increased level of security for the end user.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Aruba Remote Access Points for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the platform’s stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the product’s scalability an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support team is helpful.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We prefer Aruba Remote Access Points for their stability and performance.
How was the initial setup?
The installation process is complex and needs two days to complete. It requires five engineers to work on the maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are no other expenses than standard licenses for the product.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Aruba Remote Access Points an eight out of ten. It has a complex process for integration, router configuration, and troubleshooting.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Executive Vice President at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Straightforward setup, beneficial IP protection, and highly reliable
Pros and Cons
- "Aruba Remote Access Points provide a level of protection for our IPs."
What is our primary use case?
We use Aruba Remote Access Points as a VPN.
What is most valuable?
Aruba Remote Access Points provide a level of protection for our IPs.
For how long have I used the solution?
I used Aruba Remote Access Points within the last 12 months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of Aruba Remote Access Points is great.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I am impressed with the scalability of Aruba Remote Access Points.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation of the solution is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team that is implementing the Aruba Remote Access Points.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of Aruba Remote Access Points could be better. It is a little expensive.
I rate the price of Aruba Remote Access Points a two out of five.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Aruba Remote Access Points an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Director at seamlessinfotech.com
Centralized authentication system means that we get the same experience regardless of login location
Pros and Cons
- "It provides good Spectrum Analysis and troubleshooting."
- "It would help if the remote APs had some kind of SoHo environment with built-in firewall features. That way it could connect directly in a client-to-site type of environment, or a site-to-site VPN environment. That way users could have a complete office setup without coming to the private cloud."
What is our primary use case?
We are a systems integrator in India where we work with multiple customers, understanding their requirements and proposing solutions.
Aruba Remote Access Points is deployed on a private cloud. There is a centralized controller and the APs are deployed at the remote location and have connectivity with the controller through the proprietary protocol from Aruba.
What is most valuable?
- It's easy to manage.
- The centralized authentication system makes it such that when you log in from a branch you get the same access as you get from any of the locations.
- It provides good Spectrum Analysis and troubleshooting.
- The distributed model and determining what Aruba is using are good. It provides the local internet break-out, directly from the AP.
What needs improvement?
It would help if the remote APs had some kind of SoHo environment with built-in firewall features. That way it could connect directly in a client-to-site type of environment, or a site-to-site VPN environment. That way users could have a complete office setup without coming to the private cloud. It could connect to the central site directly from the internet and get logged on to the controller.
I would also like to see a more open security consolidation. And the monitoring part should be in a single controller.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with wireless solutions for almost 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There is a major dependency on only once circuit reaching the controller. But the stability is there as long as the connectivity is up. If the connectivity goes down, only the stations that have already been established will work. New stations will not be connected. The gateway becomes the termination point for small offices and you can end up with something more reliable in comparison to the competitive vendors.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have contacted Aruba for RMA support and version upgrades. They are good. The L-1 support is okay but L-2 and L-3 support are good.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is straightforward. There's not much to it. The first level of configuration is key, but as soon as one center is up, it is very straightforward. You just upload the IP details and the LAN details and the APs start communicating.
The whole thing takes less than an hour. There is also the mounting and cabling that take time, but the configuration and testing of the scenarios hardly take half an hour.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing depends on the OEM, but everyone goes for a perpetual license or annual-renewal licensing. Renewal licenses costs depend on the vendor. Some charge 100 percent renewal on subscription, like Cisco. They have a support model which is a percentage of the cost.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We work with multiple solutions. On a gateway level we work with FortiGate and Cisco ASA. In switching infrastructure we work with Juniper, Cisco, and HP. For cloud WiFi solutions, we work with Cisco Meraki.
It depends on the requirements, like if the customer needs a VPN solution from their FortiGate or a Cisco ASA. All of them have different fortes depending on the requirements of the customer. If it's a pure VPN or a client-to-site VPN, Fortinet works as a good solution with a combination of a symmetric and an asymmetric approach. Cisco is also good for more active VPNs using AnyConnect, which makes use of pre-authentication of remote devices before logging in. That is something that is unique to Cisco. And the F5 solution can bind the machine, a feature that nobody else offers.
What other advice do I have?
With next-generation WiFi, everyone is talking about a hybrid scenario and the need to support cloud and controller-based access. Aruba is one of the products whose hardware supports both versions. But the hardware needs to be revamped when we compare the Meraki solution. Meraki's hardware architecture has the security built into the radio, whereas Aruba does not. So the features and configuration of Aruba are good, but there is a hardware revamp that needs to be developed.
I would rate Aruba Remote Access Points at eight out of 10. The cloud part is not as exciting as it is with Meraki.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Aruba Remote Access Points Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: November 2024
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