By PRADIPJOSHI -
February 21, 2025
Pricing competitiveness and remote management have enhanced network flexibility
What is our primary use case?
Currently, my primary focus is on Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technology. However, when it comes to wireless LAN access points, I specifically work with Instant On Access Points, models AP11 and AP21, from HP Aruba. I primarily recommend Aruba access points to small banking sectors, healthcare, and the SME segment, particularly SOHO and small and medium enterprises.
What is most valuable?
One of the most valued aspects of Aruba access points is their price competitiveness; they are available at half the price of Juniper access points.
Additionally, they do not require any kind of license for implementation. Despite this, many customers have their own firewall, and they can control everything from their firewall, ensuring flexibility.
Furthermore, the ease of management with Aruba access points enables customers to connect them directly to their network via a PoE switch and manage them remotely from mobile devices.
What needs improvement?
I would like Aruba to provide integration capabilities for Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Directory, or other identity verification engines like Okta, Google Identity, or Ping Identity. It is important that the access points come with cloud identity engines to improve integration with network infrastructures.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Aruba access points for the last year.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
People tend to purchase no more than five access points per entity. Despite this limitation, Aruba access points integrate well with existing networks via PoE switches.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support for Aruba access points in India is very good. For technical support alone, I would give them a score of nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I usually prefer HP Aruba or Cambium Networks when it comes to wireless solutions due to their pricing. For switches, I am dedicated to using Juniper.
What about the implementation team?
I have not sold any Aruba Central management solutions to customers. The customers we work with use basic access points such as the Instant On series and not the high-end series.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Due to its pricing, Aruba access points provide good value. They are priced at half the rate of Juniper access points for basic models.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Besides Juniper, I also engage with Aruba and HP solutions.
What other advice do I have?
Regarding overall satisfaction, while I am content with the support received and the product's affordability, the capability to integrate with identity providers like Microsoft Azure Directory or Azure Entra ID is still desired.
Therefore, I rate the Aruba access points, particularly the Instant On series, eight out of ten. Currently, I am focused on Aruba and Juniper solutions.
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
What is our primary use case?
Currently, my primary focus is on Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technology. However, when it comes to wireless LAN access points, I specifically work with Instant On Access Points, models AP11 and AP21, from HP Aruba. I primarily recommend Aruba access points to small banking s
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By Ahmed El Bardissy -
November 12, 2024
Reliable access with supportive service and cost advantages
What is our primary use case?
Our customers are hotels, and the company I worked for provides turnkey solutions for these hotels. Our work starts with infrastructure, implementing passive and copper cabling, followed by active components like switches and controllers.
On top of that, we provide hospitality solutions, including Opera and Materials Control, primarily focusing on Opera.
How has it helped my organization?
We provide a full range of applications that operate the hotel, like front office applications, back office applications, and interfaces between systems.
What is most valuable?
It is a reliable solution with good coverage. We receive support from Aruba, with assistance from the country manager in providing better quotations and support for projects.
We did not face any critical problems with the hardware or any of the devices. It is very reliable, and the cost of the hardware is not much compared to Cisco and other products.
What needs improvement?
Some customers comment that the shape and size of the access point is a little big, especially the one installed in the guest room. Other than that, nothing specific in terms of improvements comes to mind.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Aruba Access Points for four or five years, with the most recent experience being six months ago.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a very reliable solution. I didn't face any serious issues while handing over projects to customers.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
While scaling up to five hundred users, it may cause some performance issues.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is available through companies in Egypt, providing varying degrees of support. A company called ACT is very good at support. Aruba's country manager is very responsive and supportive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I do not have experience working with other wireless LAN products apart from Aruba. I have researched Huawei for a friend, comparing costs with Aruba.
How was the initial setup?
The setup of access points takes minor time in the overall project. Most of the effort is in extending UDP and fiber cables. Configuration is done through a controller, taking about five minutes for each access point.
What about the implementation team?
We manage the project, and I have a technical team that goes into deep technical details.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Here, many owners look at the lump sum figure of the deal, comparing overall costs. Our company contacts Aruba's country manager for extra discounts to secure deals. The pricing is reasonable and lower than competitors.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I researched Huawei to compare with Aruba upon request. The comparison was based on reducing project costs.
What other advice do I have?
Aruba Access Points are reliable and easy to implement. Support from Aruba is quick, unlike Ruckus or Cisco, which take more time.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
What is our primary use case?
Our customers are hotels, and the company I worked for provides turnkey solutions for these hotels. Our work starts with infrastructure, implementing passive and copper cabling, followed by active components like switches and controllers.
On top of that, we provide hospitality so
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By Shin Lee -
October 22, 2024
Efficient provisioning with remote access control and an easy setup
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is to provide public Wi-Fi services initiated by the government. This includes deploying the solution in both indoor and outdoor venues. We demonstrate the use and speed of Wi-Fi 6E access points as part of this initiative.
What is most valuable?
The controller software, which can control multiple access points remotely, is very convenient. It makes the provisioning process simple and efficient. The controller comes in two models: a local controller and a cloud-based one.
What needs improvement?
There should be enhancements to support open Wi-Fi technology for seamless authentication across different access points.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the Aruba Access Points is quite high. I would rate it at a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the Aruba Access Points is excellent. I would also rate it at a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is generally good. However, it depends on whether it is handled by the company's engineer or the agent engineer. I would rate the support as eight.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before Aruba Access Points, we used Lucas APs. Currently, we use both Aruba and Lucas, with the majority being Lucas. We sought out Aruba for their latest Wi-Fi 6E version.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is straightforward and user-friendly. I would rate it almost as a nine, indicating it's fairly easy.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We considered Lucas and domestic products alongside Aruba.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.customer
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is to provide public Wi-Fi services initiated by the government. This includes deploying the solution in both indoor and outdoor venues. We demonstrate the use and speed of Wi-Fi 6E access points as part of this initiative.
What is most valuable?
The control
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By Umer Uzair -
October 16, 2024
Enhanced connectivity with robust security and seamless integration
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for Aruba Access Points is WiFi connectivity, including 802.1x authentication, guest authentication, and security posture assessment for endpoints.
How has it helped my organization?
We found that with Aruba, we can operate more efficiently, achieving good results in terms of HR and time savings.
What is most valuable?
We appreciate the guest authentication, guest portal, and 802.1x authentication. The integration with robust network switches is valuable. The solution is robust and stable, and we do not experience any downtime.
What needs improvement?
Since we are in health care, it would be beneficial to have enhanced security features around medical devices and IoT, especially for improving the visibility of medical devices within the WiFi network.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Aruba for three or four years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable, and we do not experience any downtimes.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable since it is cloud-based, and scalability is not a concern.
How are customer service and support?
We are happy with the support level, both with the on-ground teams and the service provided by HP.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used other solutions as well, such as Cisco Meraki and some Chinese OEMs.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward, and time-wise, it is convenient.
What about the implementation team?
Our in-house teams are capable enough, and they handle the maintenance effectively.
What was our ROI?
We achieved good results in operation efficiency, particularly in terms of HR and time savings. However, it has not been exactly quantified in terms of ROI or TCO.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is not cheap per se, yet the overall value proposition is moderate. It is not very expensive or very cheap.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated solutions like Cisco Meraki and products from Chinese OEMs.
What other advice do I have?
We recommend enhancements in security features, particularly for medical devices and IoT within healthcare facilities.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for Aruba Access Points is WiFi connectivity, including 802.1x authentication, guest authentication, and security posture assessment for endpoints.
How has it helped my organization?
We found that with Aruba, we can operate more efficiently, achieving good r
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By JoaoCavaco -
June 24, 2024
Provides secure and transparent access points for all users, and our company experiences excellent coverage across the premises
What is our primary use case?
The solution is used in our offices, and we are a state department in our country's education ministry.
What is most valuable?
Aruba Access Points provides secure and transparent access points for all users, and our company experiences excellent coverage across the premises. Our organization is content with the solution's ability to provide visibility into our company's infrastructure.
What needs improvement?
Our company has encountered a few issues with the product versions, firmware and the APs, but it was solved later on. Presently our company wants to integrate Aruba Access Points with ClearPass, which we need to purchase separately.
The solution should provide features to integrate audio and video devices in presentation rooms, for example, TV sets and audio sets. Our company team has faced a few challenges with guest authentication; sometimes, the guests don't receive the feedback or password in their email at all or on time while using Aruba Access Points, and we need to manually intervene to identify the issue.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Aruba Access Points for three months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is highly stable, and our company hasn't faced any issues. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten. The tool exhibits outstanding scalability. There are more than 200 users of Aruba Access Points in our company. For now, our company has its premises covered and we believe our existing infrastructure will be stable for the next two years, thus we are not planning to increase the usage of Aruba Access Points.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the tech support a ten out of ten. The solution offers excellent tech support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past, I have used other solutions from Cisco and Fortinet. Our company chose Aruba Access Points because of the internal public agenda, and the solution was the most suitable for the company's needs.
How was the initial setup?
I would rate the initial setup a ten out of ten. Aruba Access Points can be setup effortlessly. The solution's deployment took a day for each site at our organization.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool is available in the market at a reasonable price.
What other advice do I have?
The solution through authentication has enhanced the security of our organization's network, but we still don't have endpoint management solutions such as XDR, which we hope to deploy. Our company is pleased with Aruba Access Points.
It's extremely easy to manage Aruba Access Points. Our company uses the tool to monitor and deploy solutions. In our company, we haven't faced any integration issues with Aruba Access Points, we had also deployed the solution in integration with Aruba Switches, we installed a complete solution. I would advise others that Aruba Access Points is a reliable solution and it operates seamlessly with multiple interesting features. I would overall rate the product a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
The solution is used in our offices, and we are a state department in our country's education ministry.
What is most valuable?
Aruba Access Points provides secure and transparent access points for all users, and our company experiences excellent coverage across the premises. Our
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By Mohamed_Rumaiz -
May 16, 2024
Most of our clients prefer this solution to others
What is our primary use case?
Aruba is a very popular brand, running from Access, and they have very competitive pricing. When compared to Cisco, they have a very good range. Most of the clients also prefer Aruba in India. It's the working environment.
What is most valuable?
The interest funds are valuable.
What needs improvement?
The pricing can be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Aruba Access Points for a year and a half.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. We have ten users.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
Aruba is a very popular brand, running from Access, and they have very competitive pricing. When compared to Cisco, they have a very good range. Most of the clients also prefer Aruba in India. It's the working environment.
What is most valuable?
The interest funds are valuable.
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By Ahmad Abdullah -
April 26, 2024
Offers good features in areas like power adapters and high-efficiency
What is our primary use case?
It is a tool that provides wireless Wi-Fi services in different locations, specifically in corporate locations. It has many features, such as power adapters and high efficiency.
What needs improvement?
The integration capabilities of the product with the tools from other vendors is an area of concern where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have experience with Aruba Access Points.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution.
The product can be used to provide service to around 50 users.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's technical support is very active.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase is very easy due to Aruba Instant Mode.
The solution can be deployed in less than five minutes.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is cheap, in my opinion, since I don't have to buy a hardware controller with it.
There is a need to pay the licensing charges for the product. If I consider the market prices, then I won't say it is an expensive tool, but I feel that it is a moderately priced tool that is available at a price higher than Cisco and Huawei.
What other advice do I have?
The tool can manage IoT devices like Aruba Meridian, which are mostly used in hospitals and airports.
The high throughput and high efficiency offered by the product are its most powerful features. The product doesn't need a controller since it already has a virtual one. I don't need to apply a hardware controller to the product. In Aruba Access Points, there is a built-in virtual controller.
In terms of the product's security features, I would say that it has all types of authentication, including enterprise authentication, which depends on AAA authentication. It can integrate with Aruba RADIUS server and ClearPass. The product can also integrate with an AAA server. The tool has interference protection, along with protection of Layer-1 and Layer-2 networking areas.
The management software simplifies your network administration tasks as it is integrated with the TACACS+ Server. The product's privilege mode option can also be used. It has a basic feature, and it can be enabled when integrated with a mobility controller. The network traffic control is encrypted, which is a powerful security feature.
The tool has all the features that are accessible in the mobility controller, and the same features exist in Aruba Instant APs.
The AI-powered insight feature offered by the product is something that is too early to discuss right now.
When starting with the networking part, it is good to go with Aruba. The portfolio offered by Aruba is good which consists of switches under Aruba Instant On.
I rate the tool a nine out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
It is a tool that provides wireless Wi-Fi services in different locations, specifically in corporate locations. It has many features, such as power adapters and high efficiency.
What needs improvement?
The integration capabilities of the product with the tools from other vendors
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By reviewer2061732 -
April 24, 2024
A wireless network solution with sustainable pricing and excellent support
What is our primary use case?
We have an academic focus. We are a medical technology company—MedTech, specifically. All of our academic programs operate on the Aruba platform. In addition to our internal systems, all users, whether an enterprise or any other category, use Aruba wireless technology.
How has it helped my organization?
We have an open space with no disturbances. Aruba is the right product because additional costs may arise if you opt for alternatives. From a security standpoint, we have adopted it, and each part of the network is secure. Currently, it is comfortable for us.
What is most valuable?
We have additional security. We are using fabric technology for Extreme switches.
What needs improvement?
Since we manufacture medical devices, we must adhere to pharmaceutical guidelines. According to these guidelines, our rooms are categorized as 'head type' and thus require network connectivity. However, installing high-end APs in every room may not be feasible. Alternatives such as Cisco Meraki or Ruckus may be suitable for lower-end EPE or in areas where high-end APs aren't necessary. These brands offer smaller, in-system devices that can be installed to cover areas effectively. Installing one to two users per AP is acceptable for administrative purposes.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Aruba Access Points since 2010.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is excellent. I need to email them since it is a mandatory requirement. Under the contract, we are entitled to support. First, we need to log a call. Then, within a four-hour timeframe, they will provide a set time for addressing and resolving the issue. We are satisfied with the support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used Cisco since 2006. We were initially a small company. Now, we have a global presence in software, and every investment in software is connected to a central location via a controller. Everything works fine for remote installations. During 2010-2011, we considered opting for a better product. Therefore, we switched to Aruba Access Points.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product’s pricing is sustainable.
What other advice do I have?
Ethernet throughput is much better. From a security standpoint, it is good. We face a challenge in wireless connectivity, but we can resolve it by ensuring that every device, including routers, is configured correctly for wireless connectivity. We need to ensure these features are installed everywhere. Additionally, we should review the RRP and other performance metrics for further improvement.
Aruba is easy to manage. UI is good. Endpoints present a bottleneck. We need to be concerned about the AP. We need to insert it into my network and ensure it is updated.
Regarding policy enforcement, we may only need to control the controller. From an operational and maintenance standpoint, we require local support from OEMs. Whether a sensor is connected to a switch or not, it's a one-time setup. We have a mobility controller for centralized management, and the compression provides a really good experience.
Aruba Access points easily integrate with existing network infrastructure.
I recommend the solution.
In India, we're operating on the 5 Ghz band. Additionally, we're looking to use the 6 GHz band as part of a trial bundle. We're confident in our ability to support 2.5 and 5 gigahertz frequencies, but we're closely monitoring the situation. We are a robot manufacturing company whose operations rely on the six gigahertz spectrum. While the Indian government hasn't yet opened up the 6 GHz band, it may change within the next two to three months.
Overall, I rate the solution a 9 out of 10.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
We have an academic focus. We are a medical technology company—MedTech, specifically. All of our academic programs operate on the Aruba platform. In addition to our internal systems, all users, whether an enterprise or any other category, use Aruba wireless technology.
How has it
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