Some really great thoughts here. Thanks everyone! Keep it coming if anyone has more input. Also, for those running 802.11ac(both APs and clients), what speed are you seeing?
Just to reply to some of the questions and comments: >Two strikes, and Meraki is out. >They have the ability to shut down your infrastructure. >They host the web site that controls your infrastructure. I agree, that does bother me. >Doesn't Meraki automatically update units, without any real reporting behind >it? One thing that bothers me about auto-firmware updates is what if someone hacked Meraki, planted 'special' firmware and set APs to upgrade to it. Is that not possible? From a hackers point of view, they hack 1 company and then get access to 10's of thousands of companies. In the traditional world, if someone hacked Cisco and uploaded some bad ios images, they might get 50 guys upgrading that day who don't already have the code downloaded. But if all Meraki APs call home every day? I'm sure it's extremely unlikely though. >What are the features that you're looking for? #1 is security. I want something that's as secure as wireless can be. I'm thinking it will at a minimum tie into Radius with AD authentication and certificates. I'm still learning wireless security(have AD/Radius/PKI setup in the lab right now), so any insight is more than welcome. #2 is speed. Most of our apps are written to be used on high speed LANs(bandwidth hogs), so the faster the better. Related to that, about 1/3rd of end-user laptops will be 802.11ac this year, and 100% within 2 years. >Take a look at Ubiquiti https://www.ubnt.com/enterprise/ >We are replacing Cisco at %dayjob% with this. I have used this elsewhere as >well with good results. Looks like a lot of people are saying to try Ubiquiti. Are there any features missing in Ubiquiti that you had with Cisco? >I have experience with Ruckus, Cisco, and HP – Ruckus does its job very well >at a good price point, it has a lot of features, and easy to use. Cisco is >absolutely rock solid (you could stake your job on its reliability) but you do >pay for it up front and with SmartNET. >I’d recommend getting some demo equipment, play with it, see what you like and >what you don’t. Some like it more technical, others more point-and-click easy. Thanks, that's good to hear. I had never heard of Ruckus until yesterday. Seems like almost no one has heard of them which makes me nervous. Speaking of demo gear, I’m collecting it now. I just got a demo Ruckus AP and controller in the mail today and I have a Meraki M34 on its way. We'll see… Thanks everyone, Jon [cid:[email protected]] Jon Derrenbacker | CISSP | Sr. Systems Engineer | Manager | Keiter 4401 Dominion Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Glen Allen, VA 23060 phone: 804-273-6221 | fax: 804-747-3632 | keitercpa.com<http://www.keitercpa.com/> Encrypted File Upload<https://keitercpa.sharefile.com/r/rff820ebe11a43e38> Experience | Knowledge | Relationships | Insight Unless the above message (“this message”) expressly provides that the statements contained therein and in any attachments thereto (“the statements”) are intended to constitute written tax advice within the meaning of IRS Circular 230 § 10.37, the sender intends by this message to communicate general information for discussion purposes only, and you should not, therefore, interpret the statements to be written tax advice or rely on the statements for any purpose. The sender will conclude that you have understood and acknowledged this important cautionary notice unless you communicate to the sender any questions you may have in a direct electronic reply to this message. Note: This communication, including any attachments, may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe you have received this communication in error, do not print, copy, retransmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information contained within. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
