Side By Side Installation to avoid downtime

[Simmons]

All,

We're ripping out a vendor's equipment and going with Ruckus.   That's obvious 🙂

Background:
We have a different vendor, a stand alone controller, and switches in several IDFS.  We will remove the vendors equipment and engage a Ruckus solution:  WLC and switches.   

Question. 

I have never executed a side-by-side installation with a Ruckus cloud controller. I have completed many with standalone controllers. Is it feasible to conduct a side-by-side installation using the cloud controller? I am aware of the answer but would appreciate input from other engineers.

Thank you for reading

[Amith]

Hello @Simmons, 

Thank you for writing to us. 

You can run the standalone and cloud controller side-by-side only if the APs are split between them.
For example, some APs remain on the standalone controller while others are provisioned to the cloud controller. This would help us minimise the downtime and help with migration.
For Client Experience:
Since APs are managed by different controllers, roaming between APs on different controllers is not going to be seamless until all the APs are migrated to the Cloud controller.

Thank you!
Amith 

[Simmons]

The installation functions in the same way as utilizing two separate stand alone WLCs. That's what I expected.

Thank you Amith