Our team handles the Aruba controller. We have four senior and two junior engineers.
Founder and Managing Partner at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
It's a reliable, affordable solution for small and medium-sized companies
Pros and Cons
- "AirWave is a valuable feature."
- "We're using the Aruba Sensor, but sometimes the sensor isn't talking to AirWave or the AP. If something happens, we need to receive an email directly from the sensor, but the controller doesn't know. If there's something like the high channel utilization from the sensor we send to the controller, the controller can change the channel because they're all in the same environment."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
AirWave is a valuable feature.
What needs improvement?
We're using the Aruba Sensor, but sometimes the sensor isn't talking to AirWave or the AP. If something happens, we need to receive an email directly from the sensor, but the controller doesn't know. If there's something like the high channel utilization from the sensor we send to the controller, the controller can change the channel because they're all in the same environment.
Also, the controller can not do active/standby mode. It only works in active/active. I haven't seen any option for active/standby because we want to put one in the backup center. However, with the active/active mode, the traffic must go to the primary and the backup center.
I would like it if Aruba had a mobile app so I wouldn't need to log in on my laptop. They should also simplify the solution, so there aren't so many layers. It would be nice if the solution double-checked your configurations. For example, it could warn you if a configuration change in one layer conflicts with your current settings.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Aruba Wireless since 2018.
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Aruba Wireless
December 2024
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Aruba is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Aruba is pretty scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I've called Aruba support directly for several tickets. It is quite good most of the time.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I work with Cisco and Aruba. We are more familiar with Cisco because we've been using it for more than 15 years. It is stable and available in active/standby. We can put one in the backup dial center and one in the primary dial center.
Cisco's controller is also stable, and they're using DNA to monitor. It sends us an alert if something happens and tells us what caused the problem. It can identify the root cause and solution.
How was the initial setup?
Deploying Aruba is somewhat complex. There are many layers. It's easy to make mistakes because the same setting will appear in different layers. Various parts of large buildings can have different settings.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We don't like the subscription model. We need to adjust our budget every time we renew the license.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Aruba Wireless eight out of 10. I would recommend it to a small or medium-sized company. It depends on your budget because Aruba is slightly cheaper than Cisco.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Cisco Network Engineer at a pharma/biotech company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Simple to install, easy to use, and cost-effective
Pros and Cons
- "The web-based GUI is much simpler to use than similar products by Cisco."
- "Because it's cloud-based, it takes time for the floor maps and the heat map to load."
What is our primary use case?
Aruba is part our our network infrastructure.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are ease of use, a simple management interface, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and simple installation.
The web-based GUI is much simpler to use than similar products by Cisco.
What needs improvement?
Because it's cloud-based, it takes time for the floor maps and the heat map to load. I understand the reason for this but it would be nice if once you click on the flop map, instead of waiting sometimes 20 or 30 seconds, it would come up a lot quicker.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the Aruba Wireless cloud service for between a year and eighteen months. It's fairly new but I work on it every day.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is the most stable wireless product that we have had.
We have only had similar products by Cisco but we've had a lot of problems with them. Our partners have come out to look at them, as well as remote services, and they've told us that "everything is fine". However, we have to reboot APs here and there at all of our sites.
Once we implemented the Aruba solution, we've not had those problems since.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have nine remote sites right now, around the world, with multiple access points per site. Some sites have two or three access points, whereas others have between 25 and 30, depending on how large the site is. In total, we have 147 access points.
We have a data network that we use, and we also have a guest network. ADF authentication logs into the data network and the guest network is open. It's pretty simple to scale.
We had a building and a site that we decommissioned, so we have between nine and eleven spare APs floating around. All you have to do is plug them into the network using the right port, give them a name, and they come online. After that, you assign a foundation license to them and overall, it couldn't be simpler.
With the spares and backups we have, should we need to scale, and we always do, it's easy.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good. They know what they're doing although the biggest problem that I have with them is their accents.
You open up a ticket and I have nothing against the people, but it always routes to India. We open a support case and they're very difficult to understand. Not all of them, but a lot of them are. As such, we've had some problems communicating and we've had to use text messages to compensate for the accents.
Otherwise, their technical skills are top-notch.
Another thing that I'll say about their tech support is that it's easy to get in and have a ticket assigned, which gets the ball rolling when we have a problem. With Cisco, it sometimes took days to get an engineer assigned.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also have experience with Cisco wireless LAN controllers and a little bit with the Meraki line of networking equipment.
We were primarily running Cisco products at one time. However, we pulled out the Cisco devices because they were too complicated and too expensive.
We bought out another company that is currently using Aruba wireless LAN controllers. However, we're getting rid of that system and moving them to the cloud.
The reliability of Aruba products is better and the technical support from Aruba is more responsive.
Cisco is good but there's much better competition out there.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy.
Once the cloud is set up, you assign each AP a license through the web portal. You plug it in, make sure it's in a port that's configured for our Wi-Fi network, and it works. It's a three or four-step process and it's very simple to do.
What about the implementation team?
Maintenance, such as deploying updates, can be done using a single person. I do all of it for our company and we have 147 access points, worldwide.
Doing an upgrade involves two clicks, and it can be done within 15 minutes.
This can be compared to Cisco, where you had to pre-stage everything. It was painful and it took me four hours to complete.
What was our ROI?
This is by far the best investment that we've made in a long time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Aruba Wireless is much cheaper than our previous solution by Cisco. It is a significant saving, measured in thousands of dollars per year.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We looked at Fortinet, Aruba, and several other vendors. Ultimately, we found that Aruba was by far the best.
What other advice do I have?
We authenticate through Aruba ClearPass, which is the TACACS server that we use.
This is a product that I recommend and especially if you're with Cisco, I suggest switching. Cisco just makes things complex. They are simplifying things with Meraki, which is something that I understand because I've been in the IT industry for a long time. With the company scaling back, I'm doing the job of three or four people and with this in mind, it's important to go with simplicity. Cisco, for some odd reason, just cannot keep it simple. It has to be complicated, even when it comes to their documentation.
I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Aruba Wireless
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Aruba Wireless. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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Telecommunication Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Well-known in its market, has no problems with stability, and has good pricing for large-scale businesses
Pros and Cons
- "The feature I found most valuable to customers in Aruba Wireless is not a technical feature. It's more of its image, trademark, or brand as the product is very well-known in the market, and that's a good point to offer to customers. My customers just ask about the basic features of the product, and usually, when asking about Aruba products, customers don't pay too much attention to any specific feature as long as the product is solid and sure, and that you can change or modify it, as what you can get from Aruba Wireless."
- "One area for improvement in Aruba Wireless is its dashboard or interface because in some cases, it's not as easy to use as it should be, but overall, it's okay. Pricing for the product is also on the higher side. Another area for improvement in Aruba Wireless is technical support because it's hard to reach when issues arise and the speed of answer could be faster. Other areas for improvement in the product include integration and configuration."
What is most valuable?
The feature I found most valuable to customers in Aruba Wireless is not a technical feature. It's more of its image, trademark, or brand as the product is very well-known in the market, and that's a good point to offer to customers.
My customers just ask about the basic features of the product, and usually, when asking about Aruba products, customers don't pay too much attention to any specific feature as long as the product is solid and sure, and that you can change or modify it, as what you can get from Aruba Wireless.
What needs improvement?
One area for improvement in Aruba Wireless is its dashboard or interface because in some cases, it's not as easy to use as it should be, but overall, it's okay.
Pricing for the product is also on the higher side.
Another area for improvement in Aruba Wireless is technical support because it's hard to reach when issues arise and the speed of answer could be faster.
Other areas for improvement in the product include integration and configuration.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used Aruba Wireless within the last twelve months for some of our customers. We act as sellers and integrators of Aruba Wireless. We don't use the product, but our customers use it if needed and if it is a requisite for our customers. We've been dealing with Aruba Wireless for two years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Aruba Wireless is a stable product. I didn't notice any problems with its stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Aruba Wireless, in terms of scalability, is okay.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support for Aruba Wireless needs improvement in terms of providing better support and being more reachable when problems appear. Support also needs to improve its speed in answering customer issues.
How was the initial setup?
In terms of setting up Aruba Wireless, if everything goes well, usually there's no problem, but sometimes if you need something specific, it becomes very tricky, particularly in terms of finding the right support for your setup issue. It's not easy. As for how long the deployment of Aruba Wireless takes, it didn't take too much time, though I can't give an exact timeframe.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
In terms of pricing, the pricing for Aruba Wireless is not bad for large-sized companies, but for medium-sized companies, it's on the higher end, but because Aruba has a good company image, medium-sized companies still go with Aruba Wireless.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others looking into using Aruba Wireless for business is that Aruba is a well-known brand. When you buy the product, you should know what you're purchasing. As long as you have all the information you need before the purchase, you have complete knowledge of Aruba Wireless, and you know what to expect from the product and what to do with the product, then go for it.
I would rate Aruba Wireless eight out of ten, overall. I only give a rating of ten when everything goes okay, and that's almost impossible. There could be room for improvement in the pricing, and in any business relationship, there's always an issue that could arise, so it's very rare for me to give a ten out of ten to any product or company.
My company has a business relationship with Aruba Wireless as an integrator.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Head of IT Department at B9 Beverages Pvt. Ltd.
Constantly delivers the necessary bandwidth, even when there are suddenly more users
Pros and Cons
- "It delivers constantly, there is no break in the internet using these devices. It also automatically gets connected when the internet comes back. Failure is very low."
- "What I would like to have with these kinds of devices is the most enhanced security. For example, if I could apply security from wireless devices, that would be great. I would also like more enhanced reports on user adoption, who is getting what bandwidth."
What is our primary use case?
The primary use is for distributing internet bandwidth. The performance is good.
How has it helped my organization?
The benefit is the constant delivery of internet bandwidth. Everybody is getting internet access properly. When 40 - 50 people are sitting in a small area it is capable of delivering internet to them constantly.
What is most valuable?
It delivers constantly, there is no break in the internet using these devices. It also automatically gets connected when the internet comes back. Failure is very low.
What needs improvement?
What I would like to have with these kinds of devices is the most enhanced security. For example, if I could apply security from wireless devices, that would be great.
I would also like more enhanced reports on user adoption, who is getting what bandwidth. That is the kind of report I should be getting.
For how long have I used the solution?
Less than one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's completely stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is good. Suppose there are 20 people in a room and suddenly 10 more people come into the room. It automatically scales up and provides the internet.
How are customer service and technical support?
A situation where we have had to contact technical support has never happened in the last year. It has been really constant in the distribution of the bandwidth.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I wanted experience using more products. We were already using another product but I thought, "Okay, let's try Aruba this time and see what the feedback is like." I thought Aruba would give me better performance, after looking at the performance of the existing devices.
When selecting a vendor, the most important factor is that support has to be there. I would look for constant support from any vendor. It can't be that the product is sold and after that there is no support. There has to be constant and quick support from the vendor.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is straightforward, it's not complex. Things are quite easy with Aruba.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We were looking at different products for our new premises. Aruba was known to me so I compared Aruba with Ruckus.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend Aruba devices.
I rate Aruba Wireless at nine out of 10 because of the performance and stability of the product. It's not a 10 because it needs enhanced security and a more granular level of reporting. If these kinds of things were provided it could be a 10.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
System Engineer at Trends and Technologies, Inc
Intuitive, easy to install, and simple to maintain
Pros and Cons
- "The network strength is good."
- "I need more access. I only install the hardware and the software part for the client. However, there are no admin privileges, which is an issue. You need to contact them and make a special request."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for wireless access, for using WiFi and the network, the internet.
How has it helped my organization?
It's very popular. We've ordered more than 150 units.
What is most valuable?
It's a really good product. It's really easy to maintain.
The AP preconfig with the USB console cable and everything is easy and really useful for the company.
The installation is simple.
Users have been very pleased with the solution as it offers such a high-speed connection. The network strength is good.
It is more intuitive and user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
I don't have any access in the Aruba dashboard. I need more access. I only install the hardware and the software part for the client. However, there are no admin privileges, which is an issue. You need to contact them and make a special request. They should allow everybody to fiddle with their settings if they bought the solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for the past six months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We haven't had any performance issues. The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is pretty good. You can expand it by using Aruba Switches.
We have about 700 users on the solution at this point.
How are customer service and support?
I've never had any reason to reach out to technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used Meraki. Aruba has better network speed. Also, in Meraki, when we make changes, we need to refresh the dashboard. With Aruba, it's one click and we can regulate and refresh the dashboard. It's much easier.
How was the initial setup?
The solution is simple to install. It's not overly difficult or complex. For half of the preconfig process, it might only take 15 minutes.
Then, there might be one and a half hours for testing, to fix the access IDs and other access points to match everything in the data center.
We only need two people to install and set up the solution.
What about the implementation team?
I deploy the solution for our clients.
What was our ROI?
We have seen a positive ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't handle the licensing aspect of the solution. It is likely more expensive than Meraki since Meraki just has a dashboard. Aruba has a little bit more on offer.
You do have to purchase the software and hardware separately.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We did not consider any other options before choosing Aruba.
What other advice do I have?
We have a partnership with Aruba.
Overall, it's a good solution, and we are happy with it.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
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:
C.T.O at Sastra Network Solution Inc. Pvt. Ltd.
Enhances network visibility, easy to implement and manage, good reporting
Pros and Cons
- "The Airwave is the best feature for a single management point for all APs in the environment."
- "The Help option within the GUI needs to be improved."
What is our primary use case?
This solution has been deployed for an enterprise environment with 105 Apps and controllers in HA for a government entity handling the user capacity of 1500 people.
Multiple SSIDs have been broadcasted with independent VLANs and user policy has been implemented.
The controllers are in HA. Both indoor and outdoor APs have been used in the environment.
The solution has been differentiated for Guests, Employees, and an unrestricted group. The APs have been deployed across 10 multistory buildings in high interference zones.
How has it helped my organization?
Aruba Wireless has succeeded in facilitating the implementation of a centralized wireless network to the client, covering multiple buildings expanding across the area of 58000 square meters.
There are no blind spots and users enjoy uninterrupted Wi-Fi. This has given the users complete mobility and the Quality of Service with the necessary security imposed.
It has met the customer expectations and is ready to scale for growing business demand. It has offered visibility into the network and enhanced the troubleshooting experience.
What is most valuable?
It is easy to implement and manage through a web GUI.
The adding of APs simply involves configuring a network port on the appropriate VLAN and plugging in the AP. The controller pushes the config out to the new AP.
The Airwave is the best feature for a single management point for all APs in the environment.
It offers many reporting features as well as visual RF maps displaying heatmaps of the AP signals and client positioning.
The addition of the APs on the existing swarm is plug and play to the desired VLAN.
What needs improvement?
The Help option within the GUI needs to be improved. It would be perfect to have it more descriptive about the functions and features it has.
The online documentation resources could be made more readily available for troubleshooting than to be engaged with the support through email and calls.
During the shipments, the firmware versions on the shipped outdoor APs, indoor APs, and controllers could be matched so that adaptation for the APs is easy.
They should add more features available on Aruba Airwave to the GUI.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been suing Aruba Wireless for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability is guaranteed.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This is a very scalable product.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is excellent. They are more willing to help and be there for the customer.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not switch products. Rather, our choice is based on customer requirements. It's the best-recommended product listed by Gartner on this segment.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is absolutely straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
Our in-house team is responsible for deployment.
What was our ROI?
The access points are more cost-effective over some other providers, both in cost per AP and the option of a controller-less environment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's comparatively priced; it's a bit expensive compared to competitors but worth the investment because of the performance, stability, and ease of deployment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We had been working with vendors like Cisco and Ruckus.
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: We are partner and SI.
Network Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Straightforward to set up, good stability, and the client match feature is helpful
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is the client match."
- "Improvements to the GUI, such as being able to search in the Mobility Master, would be nice."
What is our primary use case?
I am a system integrator and Aruba Wireless is one of the network infrastructure products that I have experience with. We have customers using versions all the way from AP-100 to AP-535.
We have these devices in many industries, with a focus on educational institutions.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the client match. This feature continually monitors the client and provides automatic load-balancing, as well as other advanced features.
What needs improvement?
Improvements to the GUI, such as being able to search in the Mobility Master, would be nice. It is hard to find and provision APs when you have a substantial install base.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Aruba Wireless since 2007.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability has been great.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We haven't had any trouble with scalability. 75% of our clients are using Aruba Wireless.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have a lot of experience with wireless networking products from Aruba and Juniper. I also have some experience with Ruckus.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward and the deployment is quick. With our experience, it is pretty easy to do.
What about the implementation team?
We integrate Aruba Wireless and other devices for our customers.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for anybody who is considering Aruba Wireless is to try it. If you try it then you're going to like it.
I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.
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: Integrator
Deputy Director Infrastructure Delivery (acting) at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
It's allowed us to be SDN-enabled with networking thrust re-route or pick-ups at the switch edges.
Valuable Features
Four years ago, our network was incapable of handling our anticipated throughput. We knew we had issues in our network, so we made sure our switches and infrastructure were OpenFlow-enabled. We originally planned for three devices per student, but now we're seeing four or five and sometimes more with wearable devices. Now, with Aruba Wireless, we're SDN-enabled with networking thrust re-route or pick-ups at the switch edges.
Improvements to My Organization
Aruba Wireless allows us to integrate our network with different HP technologies. We want to have a single vendor with a rapid-enough life-cycle. HP isn't held back by the workload or lowest common denominator, or by the fact that we have locations in Australia, Vietnam, and other places on that side of the globe. We can use Aruba Wireless everywhere and manage it effectively. It is doing everything we need it to do and it's giving me the flexibility to go where I want to go.
Room for Improvement
It could always be improved to be a better risk-related investment. We need to maximum our investment and to have it work to its fullest potential for us. I'd like to see it get to the point where SDN works well with HP Net Protector.
Deployment Issues
We've had no issues with deployment.
Stability Issues
We had lots of issues on the network routers until about 12 months ago, having to do with the architecture. We had too much load at the core by allowing too many wireless users.
Scalability Issues
We run two-and-a-half gigabytes through the wireless system. We're looking for even greater throughput, and I think it'll scale to accommodate this.
Customer Service and Technical Support
Technical support has been good. We have a support contract with HP and access to the right people when we need them. However, HP's presence in Australia is a little light.
Other Advice
Definitely look at SDN to take some costs out of your network. If you can, go with HP ConvergedSystem because it's the simplest, fastest way to virtualize your networks.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Learn More: Questions:
- What is the best high-performance Wireless LAN device?
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Aruba is the only vendor besides Cisco with the level of granularity to fine-tune RF with such granularity.