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reviewer1002219 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Services Coordinator at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Adaptive antenna arrays allow for excellent performance in challenging environments

What is our primary use case?

  • Wireless platform for user and medical production devices throughout the enterprise
  • Also serves guests wirelessly.

How has it helped my organization?

Better AP capabilities in tough RF environment. We upgraded from a Cisco wireless network and saw a marked improvement. Near flawless VoWiFi using Spectralink phones.

What is most valuable?

Adaptive antenna arrays (and corresponding algorithms) allow for excellent performance in challenging environments.

What needs improvement?

It's always good to have more analytics and reporting right on the controller when possible. However, Ruckus already has pretty good capabilities in that area as well as an excellent big data analytics engine with SmartCell Insight.

Buyer's Guide
Ruckus Wireless
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Ruckus Wireless. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user842955 - PeerSpot reviewer
President at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Reseller
Allows us to deploy systems and not deal as much with support, because it just works
Pros and Cons
    • "I think that Web management, global management, could be improved. Unfortunately, there's not one solution that does everything. There are something like six different solutions, and each of them do something better than the others. Unfortunately, there's not one global solution that does everything."
    • "Mounting options for outdoor access points, I think they could easily improve on that."

    What is our primary use case?

    Mainly for large, residential home automation systems. 

    How has it helped my organization?

    It allows us to deploy systems and not deal as much with support, because it just works.

    What is most valuable?

    • It's reliable.
    • The company is amazing - the support and service are amazing.
    • It outperforms anything else on the market.
    • It's easy to use.

    What needs improvement?

    Mounting options for outdoor access points, I think they could easily improve on that. 

    I think that Web management, global management, could be improved. Unfortunately, there's not one solution that does everything. There are something like six different solutions, and each of them do something better than the others.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    More than five years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Very stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Not at all. Scalability is one of the things that they excel at, beyond everybody else.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    It depends. It's hard for us to say because we have a very close relationship with them, so we have back-channel access to their top people. In fact, we're the first ever gold service partner, so we basically are the support now. For any systems that we sell, we're the direct support for that product. 

    I think if you're a new person starting out, you can get close relationships with the local sales engineers, which is great. When I first started, the first time I even looked at the product, a sales engineer met me out in the field, took some demo gear, put it up, showed me everything. Even within that first year, I had an engineer walk three high-rise courthouses for Miami Dade County; walked every single floor with me. I was a new partner and they did that for me, which is amazing.

    I think the phone support is okay, if you're just a regular partner. And it works. I would say if somebody got to know their local rep, that would be the best way to get help if you really need it in a bind.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We used to use Cisco's enterprise wireless, but I kept hearing about Ruckus and I just couldn't believe that some upstart company was better than Cisco. Once we started using it, we saw that it outperformed Cisco and, on top of that, the difference in configuration between Cisco and Ruckus is night and day. Cisco is a pain to configure, where Ruckus is pretty much already set up out of the box. There are a few tweaks here or there, but the configuration time is 10 times faster with Ruckus versus Cisco.

    An engineer met me out in the field, put some gear up, and it just blew the Cisco away. And it was just so much easier to configure, that it was a no-brainer. It was cheaper. We had better coverage, it was more reliable, it was faster, and it was easier to configure. It's one of the best companies I've ever dealt with in my life. I have nothing but good things to say about them, which is the only reason I'm doing this review, because I think they deserve it.

    How was the initial setup?

    It's very straightforward.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    It's definitely a good value. It's more expensive than some of the other offerings out there, but when you compare it to other enterprise-class gear, it's very well priced. And the beauty of it is, because it has better range because of their patented BeamFlex - which is the way they can send and receive and listen to signals - you can actually use fewer access points. That means that it's a cheaper overall project.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Aruba, Meraki - and this was Meraki before Cisco, at the time. But since then we always look to see what else is out there, see if something's better, and so far we haven't found anything. Once something better comes along, we'll use it because we only want to use the best for our clients.

    What other advice do I have?

    Don't wait, do it now.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Gold service partner.
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Ruckus Wireless
    November 2024
    Learn what your peers think about Ruckus Wireless. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
    816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    it_user841143 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Works at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Give us integrated WiFi client performance tools and advanced user access controls
    Pros and Cons
    • "Key features are integrated WiFi client performance tools, sophisticated user access controls, and easy and understandable controls and interfaces."
    • "APs should be more adaptable to denser client regions and, most important, the logs on the ZoneDirector should be classified into groups, such as type of logs and alerts."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are using Ruckus Wireless in different Zomato corporate offices (restaurant search and discovery service). We are using ZoneDirector 1200 and ZoneDirector 3000 with ruckus APs (R600, R700, R300).

    How has it helped my organization?

    Before Ruckus we had to buy additional devices for client performance and monitoring, but now we can do all such monitoring and improve our client performance.

    What is most valuable?

    • Integrated WiFi client performance tools
    • Sophisticated user access controls
    • Easy and understandable controls and interfaces

    What needs improvement?

    APs should be more adaptable to denser client regions and, most important, the logs on the ZoneDirector should be classified into groups, such as type of logs and alerts.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    One to three years.
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1377378 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Analyst Programmer at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Top 20
    Robust technology that's easy to configure and user-friendly
    Pros and Cons
    • "Easy to configure and user-friendly."
    • "Lacks some analytics features in the control itself."

    What is our primary use case?

    Our use case is for public Wifi. I'm a system integrator. 

    What is most valuable?

    The product is easy to configure and user-friendly. The technology is very robust. 

    What needs improvement?

    I'd like to see some analytics features in the control itself. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using this solution for 10 years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution is scalable. If one controller is not sufficient, you can add another.

    How are customer service and support?

    We have access to technical support and they are generally quite good. 

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was very easy, it's just a matter of configuring the access point. 
    It's recognized by the controller, and when you onboard it on the wireless network everything is done automatically. One access point takes about 10 minutes to deploy. Other than for the software, there is no maintenance required. 

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Licensing costs are reasonable and we can pay extra for additional support. 

    What other advice do I have?

    I highly recommend this solution and rate it nine out of 10. 

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1802343 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Solutions Architect at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Excellent cloud connectivity, with a single console that can be monitored and managed from any location in the world.
    Pros and Cons
    • "All IPs can be managed and monitored by the customer from a single console."
    • "We would like to see a better licensing model for our customers."

    What is our primary use case?

    We recently proposed a Ruckus solution using Cisco switches, in our local area. We have a local network for Cisco switches that we can help implement, as well as wireless connectivity that we are proposing. For a better wifi experience, we proposed a Ruckus solution.

    What is most valuable?

    It has great features. 

    It also has cloud connectivity. All IPs can be managed and monitored by the customer from a single console. They will also manage and share the various regions' IPs and locations all over the world. However, a single console can be monitored and managed from anywhere in the world.

    What needs improvement?

    We would like to see a better licensing model for our customers.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been providing Ruckus Wireless for a couple of months.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Ruckus Wireless is scalable.

    We have three or four clients who currently use Ruckus Wireless.

    How are customer service and support?

    Technical support is fine.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We also provide Cisco Catalyst Switches, and Alcatel switches for customers. We are gold partners with Alcatel which is why we work with Alcatel products such as PBX, network switches, and WiFi.

    How was the initial setup?

    The installation is straightforward.

    I can take a week to install.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Commercially Ruckus for its features, its pricing is expensive for the customer. Customers go back and forth with the pricing, but we convince them that it is beneficial to include features.

    Licensing is subscription-based.

    What other advice do I have?

    This solution is provided by a team of three engineers at the upper and management levels.

    I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it.

    I would rateRuckus Wireless an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Joshy Varghese - PeerSpot reviewer
    Managing Director at Evenor Info Solutions Pvt Ltd
    Real User
    Top 10
    Stable, great in interior and exterior environments, and offers a strong signal
    Pros and Cons
    • "The initial setup is very simple."
    • "The pricing of the product can be a bit expensive. They should work on making pricing more competitive."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use the solution internally and also help clients set up the product for their companies.

    It's a frequency. They will provide the tool and stable wireless frequencies. 

    How has it helped my organization?

    The throughput has been excellent.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution does not disconnect, which is extremely helpful, especially when you are working from home. 

    The signal, strength-wise, is its most valuable aspect. These frequencies pass through touch one to 200 voltage. The distortion will not affect this product. That's why we suggest it to our clients.

    The initial setup is very simple.

    We have found the solution to be very stable. It's great in interior and exterior environments.

    The scalability is great.

    What needs improvement?

    The pricing of the product can be a bit expensive. They should work on making pricing more competitive. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution since 2015.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is a stable product. The product is very good and very reliable and functions well in indoor and outdoor settings.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability of the product is quite good.

    In my organization, right now, we have 35 workers and we are planning to move our office. There will be 5,200 people there.

    We do plan to increase usage.

    How are customer service and support?

    Technical support could be better. They should also have it so that it's included and you should not have to pay extra for it. 

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I'm also familiar with Aruba. Compared to Aruba, the frequency will not disconnect.

    We tried Cisco, also, however, we heard that it's not a good product. Price-wise, they're really cheap, however, they are not a better product.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is extremely simple and straightforward. It's not overly complex or difficult. Typically, one access point can be deployed in 15 minutes. 

    The solution doesn't really need much maintenance. We have used it for seven or eight years without incident. 

    What about the implementation team?

    Our engineers are able to implement the solution for our clients. We can implement it for ourselves in-house using our team. We can easily mount the materials. 

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The product is very expensive. Technical support should also be included in the pricing. 

    We tend to deal with yearly licensing renewal fees. We buy packages in bundles and then, every year, we need to pay to renew. 

    What other advice do I have?

    We are Ruckus partners. We are systems integrators.

    I'm not sure which version of the solution we're using at this time. 

    I'd rate the solution at a nine 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.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1307619 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Ing Preventa (Sales Engineer IBW) at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees
    Reseller
    High capacity, good stability, good scalability, and good support
    Pros and Cons
    • "Its high capacity is the most valuable. It is also very stable. It is way more stable than other platforms."
    • "Its security can be improved. It doesn't use Wireless IPS. Therefore, we have to combine WatchGuard that uses a Wireless IPS but is a separate solution. These two solutions work in conjunction. We are using the WatchGuard as a sensor and Wireless IPS, and Ruckus is like a platform that is used for the connectivity of the network."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are a reseller and integrator. We use this solution when our clients have a lot of users or devices that need to be connected to one IP. We use it for a high capacity of connections.

    What is most valuable?

    Its high capacity is the most valuable. It is also very stable. It is way more stable than other platforms.

    What needs improvement?

    Its security can be improved. It doesn't use Wireless IPS. Therefore, we have to combine WatchGuard that uses a Wireless IPS but is a separate solution. These two solutions work in conjunction. We are using the WatchGuard as a sensor and Wireless IPS, and Ruckus is like a platform that is used for the connectivity of the network.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for the last ten years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Its stability is very good. We use the switches, and the switches have more stability than the wireless.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It has good scalability. We can use ten appliances with an AP. We can migrate to the SmartZone or Cloud. You can use the same appliance initially when you are a small business, and you can keep on using it as your business grows. Its scalability is very dynamic as compared to Aruba Instant On, where you have to use different appliances when your company starts to grow. 

    Most of our clients who are using this solution are small and medium companies. We have a few clients who are large companies.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Their technical support is very good. I was recently trying the Zone demonstration of cloud, and they responded to and answered my questions. Their support was agile. They have documentation, manuals, and videos on YouTube.

    How was the initial setup?

    Its initial setup was easy. If we are using a common line, it is not difficult to deploy Ruckus Wireless.

    The deployment duration depends on the size of the company. For a small company, we can deploy this in minutes. For a large company, it can take a lot more time.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Ubiquiti and Aruba Instant On are good for small businesses in terms of cost than Ruckus Wireless.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Our clients evaluate Ubiquiti and Aruba Instant On. Both these solutions are designed for small businesses. They are good for small businesses in terms of cost and capabilities. They have very few capabilities as compared to Ruckus Wireless, but they are very good for small businesses. Ruckus Wireless also has a better connection capacity than other brands. Ruckus Wireless is suitable for medium or large companies, and Ubiquiti and Aruba Instant On are suitable for small companies.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution depending on the needs and the size of the company. For a higher connection capacity, I would recommend Ruckus Wireless. If you don't require a higher capacity, I would recommend Aruba Instant On or Ubiquiti. Ruckus Wireless is suitable for medium or large companies, and Ubiquiti and Aruba Instant On are suitable for small companies.

    I would rate Ruckus Wireless a nine 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: Reseller
    PeerSpot user
    Senior Technician at Imply IT
    Reseller
    Top 20
    Quick installation, stable, and scalable
    Pros and Cons
    • "The solution manages and updates itself."
    • "The price has room for improvement."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use the solution for our wireless network services.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution manages and updates itself.

    What needs improvement?

    The price has room for improvement.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using the solution for ten years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I give Ruckus Wireless's stability a ten out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I give Ruckus Wireless's scalability a ten out of ten. We can install 100 APs before installing more, which is enough for a small business.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We also use MikroTik as a cheaper option for customers that can't afford Ruckus. 

    Configuring MikroTik is more complex compared to Ruckus, where we only need to create an SSID, and the rest is automatically handled in the background.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward. I give the setup a ten out of ten. The deployment takes up to 15 minutes to complete.

    What about the implementation team?

    The implementation was completed in-house.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price is high and I give the price a four out of ten.

    What other advice do I have?

    I give the solution a nine out of ten.

    The solution is for small and medium clients.

    For customers that can afford Ruckus, it is a great product and I recommend it.

    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:
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Ruckus Wireless Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: November 2024
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