Ruckus Wireless WAN and Fortinet FortiExtender compete in the wireless WAN category. Ruckus tends to have the edge with exceptional performance and user-friendly management, whereas Fortinet excels in SD-WAN integration and interoperability.
Features: Ruckus Wireless WAN is known for its easy deployment, excellent coverage, and reliable connectivity. The solution includes BeamFlex technology, which optimizes coverage and signal quality. Another feature of Ruckus is its robust software infrastructure, contributing to superior performance. Fortinet FortiExtender stands out with its seamless integration with external solutions like 5G LTE, broadband modems, and cellular networks. The solution is noted for its interoperability with Fortinet products and centralized control capabilities. Its integration into an SD-WAN topology adds significant value by minimizing compatibility issues.
Room for Improvement: Ruckus Wireless WAN faces criticism for its high cost, documentation gaps, and the need for better technical support and network access controls. Users also seek customization options for captive portals. Fortinet FortiExtender could enhance its security features, offer more pricing flexibility, and improve interface intuitiveness. A common criticism is that both products could benefit from more competitive pricing strategies, with Fortinet users looking for more affordable 5G models.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Ruckus Wireless WAN offers various deployment models, including hybrid and cloud, and usually receives positive feedback for ease of connectivity. However, recent feedback notes a slight decline in customer service quality. Fortinet FortiExtender operates primarily on-premises, with consistent ease of deployment, though its customer service needs improvement. Ruckus rates higher in connectivity ease, while Fortinet is praised for integrative capabilities.
Pricing and ROI: Ruckus Wireless WAN is perceived as expensive but has competitive pricing and delivers good ROI through extended infrastructure life. Critiques focus on high costs and inconsistent pricing practices. Fortinet FortiExtender is recognized for a straightforward pricing model with perpetually licensed hardware and FortiCare options. Despite not being the most expensive option, Fortinet is generally considered affordable, offering clear value in control and visibility features. Both solutions deliver strong ROI, with Ruckus notable for longevity of equipment.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Ruckus Wireless WAN | 22.0% |
| Fortinet FortiExtender | 7.7% |
| Other | 70.3% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 11 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 1 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 35 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 11 |
| Large Enterprise | 14 |
Fortinet FortiExtender is a cost-effective hardware WAN device that is robust, easily scales, and delivers 5G, LTE, and Ethernet options. FortiExtender is designed using Fortinet’s trademark security-focused networking. The solution enables organizations to have enhanced secure network connectivity with cellular and wired broadband network options.
FortiExtender can be used for secure point of sale (POS) systems to transport fleet communications. The device delivers dependable broadband access to the internet and increases the usefulness of the Fortinet Security Fabric integration to enhance seamless business processes that rely heavily on remote device connectivity to get the job done.
FortiExtender delivers super-fast 5G and LTE wireless to connect and quickly scale any WAN edge. Users get 5G/LTE cellular, out-of-band management (OBM), high availability (HA), and dynamic risk security in one comprehensive, reliable solution.
Fortinet FortiExtender Benefits
Fortinet FortiExtender Features
Reviews from Real Users
“Fortinet FortiExtender helps facilitate Fortinet connectivity. When it comes to cell phone towers, you never know what you'll get with global configurations. We use this solution to mitigate switching cell phone towers. The scalability is limitless based on your cell and your internet or your cloud connectivity. It's similar to any other VPN in terms of how simple it is to set up in a global or extended environment with a large number of clients.” - Clement J., Chief Executive Officer at Clemtech LLC
Ruckus Wireless’s WAN (Wide Area Network) suite of switches and solutions provides companies and organizations with a wide variety of products that enable them to deploy and manage the kinds of WANs that best meet their needs. Ruckus Wireless is a leader in the field of WAN creation, deployment, and management. Their solutions are designed with the user in mind. They are sleek products and solutions that are easy for administrators to use and maintain. This makes it a valuable suite for any and every kind of industry. The level of ease that it provides makes it possible for companies and organizations to reap a high level of benefit from whichever product they choose to use.
Ruckus Wireless WAN Benefits
Some of the benefits of using the Ruckus Wireless WAN suite of switches and solutions include:
Ruckus Wireless WAN Features
Organizations that choose to use the Ruckus Wireless WAN suite of switches and solutions have a large number of capabilities from which they can choose.
Reviews from Real Users
Ruckus Wireless’s WAN suite is a truly versatile selection of solutions that offer users a complete package of capabilities and features. This suite makes it possible for users to meet all of their networking needs. Their wireless access points are the kind that is mostly employed in industries like resorts, which have to cater to large volumes of people over extended periods of time. They provide companies with the highest possible level of coverage. Users working in any number of fields would find Ruckus Wireless to be up to the task of handling their networking needs. This suite is appropriate for large corporations and small businesses alikes.
An information technology project manager at a university writes, “The actual wireless access points themselves are very powerful. We get very good coverage from just one access point. The throughput is very good and the centralized management is excellent. Also, the ease of deployment is very good.”
A video conferencing administrator at a technology services company states, “The solution is suitable for many types of environments, such as small businesses.”
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