topic Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture in ZoneDirector

Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

michael_brado — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 22:57:18 GMT

Ruckus Wireless today announces release of a new product line, Ruckus Unleashed.

Custom designed for small to medium sized businesses, Unleashed provides a controller-less

AP network of up to 25 APs, with simple setup and administration thru a new WebUI.

http://www.ruckuswireless.com/press/releases/20151006-ruckus-wireless-simplifies-wi-fi-small-business-launches-new-controller-less

With initial support for R500 / R600 802.11ac model APs, Ruckus has automated firmware

upgrades and connectivity, and provides many of the same advanced features of a

ZoneDirector managed wireless network including Guest Access, WiSPr/HotSpot, Zero-IT,

Dynamic PSK, L2-L4 Access lists, client isolation, Application recognition and control,

and RF management (BeamFlex, Client load-balancing, Background Scanning, Band

balancing, ChannelFly).

Visit the Ruckus Unleashed product page, which contains links to Training Videos,

Release Notes, AP firmware, and Quick Start Guides.

https://support.ruckuswireless.com/product_families/19-unleashed

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

h_kan_n_slund — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:22:05 GMT

Just tried it out on a R500... Missing snmp configuration. Will that be added later on, or is it just me having a hard time finding it...?

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

michael_brado — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:40:23 GMT

Correct that there's no SNMP, and not sure if it's on the Unleashed roadmap.

No SmartMesh and SmartRoam in initial release, but these features are expected in upcoming updates.

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

wipawee_paiboon — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 01:52:00 GMT

I know it support maximum upto 25 AP but how many number of ap do you recommend ??
and AP Unleashed can converse to controller-based like some vendor?

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

jason_sparrow — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 06:06:50 GMT

Excuse my ignorance, but is this a new firmware for our existing R500 & R600 AP's or is this a new product entirely?

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

h_kan_n_slund — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 08:51:36 GMT

Does it support dynamic VLAN from a radius server?

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

john_d — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 15:10:39 GMT

Looks like it's firmware for existing R500/R600: https://support.ruckuswireless.com/software/832-unleashed-ap-software-200-0-9-9-608-for-r600

"Applying this code to a ZoneFlex or SmartZone managed AP will convert it's function to Unleashed.
"

This is pretty sweet, and I bet you're feeling pretty happy you didn't buy a controller yet 😉

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

jason_sparrow — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 16:19:47 GMT

Indeed!!

Although according to this video at 3.10, there are specific unleashed AP's that have a different SKU?

However, it does say that the standard R500 &R600 can be 'converted' to unleashed, although i am guessing the converted AP's wont have the full technical functions of the specific models?

Im confused! :))

https://ruckus-training.s3.amazonaws.com/Unleashed/1_Unleashed_Controllerless_Product_Overveiw_v10.m...

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

john_d — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 16:22:10 GMT

I think it's the opposite. The SKUs for Unleashed AP's is cheaper than buying them standalone. I am guessing they might restrict Unleashed only AP's from working with ZoneDirector / SCG. You probably bought the fully unlocked AP's so to speak, capable of functioning in any of these modes.

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

jason_sparrow — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 16:25:07 GMT

Ah, ok thanks.

So, has anyone been brave enough to try it yet?!

😄

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

michael_brado — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 16:39:28 GMT

Hello, I'll setup a Ruckus Unleashed Forum for all interested parties, and I'm glad to get your initial feedback.

Yes, Ruckus Unleashed is a NEW WiFi networking platform, and the first configured AP will be a Master AP
with controller-like WebUI management of itself and all other Unleashed APs, up to 25 total, 512 clients max.

We will offer new SKU ordering part numbers, for customers to receive APs with Unleashed firmware installed.

You CAN factory default a ZoneFlex AP (R500/R600 presently), and load the Unleashed 200.0.9.9.608 image,
and the AP will NO LONGER recognize/utilize DHCP option 43 or DNS pointers to ZoneDirector or SmartZone
controllers, but will automatically look for an Internet connection to be sure it has the latest Unleashed firmware,
then for an existing Master AP on the LAN (L2 only). If found, the AP connects. If it's the second Unleashed AP,
it takes Standby Master AP role, otherwise after a Master AP and Standby Master AP are chosen, they are called
Member APs.

We've posted the Release Notes, Quick Start Guides, Online Help user guide, Videos for you who don't like
reading (See Video #2, a 6 1/2 minute Installing Unleashed/Master AP), and KBA-5106 with pointers to these on
our Support site.

We hope that an autonomous R500/R600 wireless network can provide a good platform for most small and
medium sized businesses, who can use the many WLAN advanced features mentioned above, within the
scope of 25 or less APs deployed.

Not to toot our own horn, but a rather well respected WiFi Guru just gave us a big thumb's up.
http://divdyn.net/ruckus-is-officially-off-the-leash/

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

jason_sparrow — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 17:08:00 GMT

Thanks for the info!

Looks like a great way of managing a few AP's in one place now, rather than logging into each one individually to check/alter settings etc, (for us SOHO users), although from what i understand is that once the UL firmware is installed, there is no going back to stock AP firmware? (not that there would be a reason to.)

Im also interested in what the SmartRoam feature achieves as and when it becomes available.

🙂

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

michael_brado — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 17:44:46 GMT

You can still factory default an Unleashed AP to it's 192.168.0.1 IP address, and install ZoneFlex/Unleashed/Standalone images to convert them for your intended purposes.

SmartRoam was designed to help "sticky" clients that would not let go of the first AP they learned an SSID from, until a very weak RF signal. We can recognize these clients and when they have a stronger signal AP to choose from, and selectively ignore their probe requests/association requests to the weaker signal AP we want to help them to move from.

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

jason_sparrow — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 18:30:44 GMT

Ok thanks.

I do like the sound of the SmartRoam feature as I have a couple of Apple ac devices that like to hop around a bit, have a couple of aps that are not ideally spaced distance wise.

Specifically the iPhone 6 that for some reason will quite often join the upstairs ap when I come home, rather than the one that is in full view when I enter the house! Strangely, the iPhone 5s that we have (which is n) will join the aps and roam between them without an issue.

Any idea when this feature will be added?

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

nat_nat — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:02:02 GMT

Yes, SNMP is on the roadmap for near term delivery (before the end of the year)

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

nat_nat — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:10:27 GMT

The price for standard AP or Unleashed AP are identical. So, if you want to deploy Unleashed solution it is better to buy Unleashed AP as the AP would come with Unleashed software already loaded.

If you simply want to play with some of your existing APs then you could download the Unleashed software and load it on to the standard AP. Once loaded with Unleashed software it will not join either ZD or SZ or SCG controllers. However, you can convert it back to controller managed AP by loading the "standalone" software on to the Unleashed AP.

Hope it alleviates your confusion!

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

monnat_systems — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 10:05:38 GMT

does it supports mesh?

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

jason_sparrow — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 15:49:57 GMT

Looking at the release notes, listing the known issues, i am going to leave the UL path for now.

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

michael_brado — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:17:35 GMT

SmartMesh and SmartRoam are not yet implemented, but planned.

Re: Announcement: Ruckus Unleashed controller-less WiFi architecture

michael_brado — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:19:47 GMT

Hi Unleashed folks,

Please Join/Follow the Unleashed Forum group:

https://forums.ruckuswireless.com/ruckuswireless/categories/ruckuswireless_ruckus_unleashed

And let's create new Questions/Posts so we can discuss issues separately.
Thanks!