topic Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing? in Access Points - Indoor and Outdoor

Will R500/R600 support meshing?

john_d — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 08:09:36 GMT

I've noticed that SmartMesh support is curiously lacking from the R500/R600 data sheets. Am I reading too far between the lines that unlike the T300's and R700's, the R500/R600 will not support meshing?

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_brado — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:45:16 GMT

SmartMesh is not found on the R300 platform, but will be supported in an upcoming release for R700 model APs (some time in 9.9.x). I couldn't find the new product
introduction manager or a PM to get the answer on R500/R600, but will report back
shortly.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

john_d — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:47:34 GMT

Thanks Michael! I'm really curious about the R500/R600. They are priced a lot more appealingly for SMB and even high-end SOHO wackos like me, and they tend to be the folks that have the "sparse space, not a ton of clients" problem where meshing can be more cost-effective than running ethernet through all the walls.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_brado — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 01:31:13 GMT

Update from Product Line Marketing, indicates that R300 will also (eventually) have
SmartMesh support. The target date for the software release is still pending how-
ever.

Yes, Mesh is a future feature for R500 and R600.

Mesh is planned to be supported on all our current 11ac APs (R500, R600, R700, T300-series) in release 9.10.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

john_d — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 03:38:13 GMT

That's really helpful to know, Michael. Thanks!

I guess since 9.9 isn't even out the door yet, 9.10 is still a bit of a ways out? Probably next year's time frame?

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_brado — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:34:58 GMT

Maybe, but probably just. The powers that be have decided to rename what would have been "9.9.1" maintenance release to "9.10" digits. This is a deviation from previous numbering schemes.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

lukas_josuhn — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:26:31 GMT

Any (very rough) timeschedule for the release?

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_cooper_ — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:05:34 GMT

Does the R700 support SmartMesh now? I tried about 8 months ago, but no love. Curious if I missed the notification that it does mesh at this point?

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

john_d — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:08:39 GMT

Not yet, as of 9.9.0.0.205/212.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_cooper_ — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:10:05 GMT

Copy that - for our business it's critical, and clients are starting to expect AC support from us. Thanks John

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

john_d — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:13:16 GMT

Yep, I totally understand. I've got one property that's still staying on 7982's because of how amazingly well SmartMesh is working. Before SmartMesh, I tried a million hacks for non-ethernet (including various consumer-grade WDS solutions, and powerline ethernet adapters of varying types), and they all resulted in intermittent connectivity issues that were a pain to diagnose. The SmartMesh has been completely set-it-and-forget-it, and it's amazing what the range is for a Ruckus AP talking to another Ruckus AP.

I really look forward too to 802.11ac meshing.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_cooper_ — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:15:35 GMT

Me too. I'm consistently surprised what the 7982, and the 7962 before it can do. Sometimes I forget exactly how powerful they are.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

jay_files — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:23:25 GMT

Just FYI, the new 11ac APs will also mesh with 11n APs like the 7982, when 11ac mesh is launched.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

peter_corley — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:51:06 GMT

Any updates on the R600 utilizing mesh? I was given a couple of 7982's to demo and loved the mesh feature, along with the ZoneDirector it sold me over the Aruba (which my other candidate). I went ahead and placed my order for 85 R600's, as I was told that they were the same except the addition of AC, however I am now very concerned that this one major selling point may be a let down...

I am hoping there is already an update, or a fixed date for an update release, that will take care of this - I will really need the mesh, as I have some area's where running Ethernet will not be an option, I would hate to think I made the wrong choice and will end up with some major dead spots on campus.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

peter_corley — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:51:06 GMT

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

rahul_koul — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 01:03:27 GMT

Hello Peter,

Mesh feature is available for all 11ac APs in 9.10 release. So R600 can also be used to mesh from version 9.10. This release was made public few days ago and the Image files are available on the Support website.

Sorry that you had to wait!

-Rahul

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_kroon — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:40:54 GMT

Hi

Is Smartmeshing for R300's supported as yet? I'm quite stuffed without this feature. New to ruckus, come straight off the ubiquiti unifi bat. Not enjoying the experience of Ruckus so far.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

peter_corley — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:07:52 GMT

Michael, mine was simply an update issue and since that update the system had been amazing. I switched from a Xirrus covered campus to Ruckus and couldn't be happier, the performance and simplicity weren't matched with any other competitor I tested.

My understanding was that the R300 doesn't support meshing, at least at the time I purchased the system, which was my reasoning behind the R600 units - That may have changed since then however.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_brado — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 16:46:32 GMT

Hi Peter,
Product Marketing has no plans for Mesh in the entry-level positioned 802.11n 2x2:2 R300 model AP.
Mesh is supported in above level models, R500 802.11ac 2x2:2, and R600 802.11ac 3x3:3 stream models,
and higher platform R700 (802.11ac wave 1), R710 (802.11ac wave 2) 4x4:4 stream APs.

Re: Will R500/R600 support meshing?

michael_kroon — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 18:50:59 GMT

Thanks for the updates. I was misled by my supplier regarding the meshing capabilities of the R300. I'll have to upgrade to R600's. Thanks