Do I need a zone director?

[jason_sparrow]

Hi all,

I am just about to install 2 X r600 aps in my house and was wondering if I needed to buy a done director console to fine tune the aps?

They will be used in a soho environment, however I would like to ensure roaming etc is fine tuned and I can get the best out of them.

If so, would I be able to use a single licence version as this is quite cheap?

http://www.wifigear.co.uk/ruckus-zone...

Would I need to renew the licence each year?

I'm new to the ruckus fold and so I have no clue as to what I need.

Thanks in advance.

[seanmuir]

I have smart-roam configured on my home network (ZD1200, 1 x r710 and 1 x r700) and it works just fine. If anything the use off smart-roam increases the potential throughput to the client. I suppose it's each to their own 🙂

[neil_neil_67001]

Hi Sean.

 Jason is a novice asking about two stand-alone access points, and just needs simple advice.

There is no justification for suggesting use of a ZoneDirector.

There's a lot of technical claims being made here that just aren't relevant.

Keep it simple !

[seanmuir]

I have never suggested the need for the use of a ZD - the title of the thread is "Do I need a zone director".

I was only answering his question and pointing out the reason why he may need one, but I also highlighted that an element of roaming can be configured on stand alone AP's

This is a forum where people come to get questions answered and I fully understand that people have their own opinions, but surely the person that has started the thread, can make their own mind up about what they do or dont want to do based on the information that has been given, without the assistance of poeple putting down what other people are recommending.

[neil_neil_67001]

Hi Sean, 

It's good to be able to discuss these points. We also need to keep perspective. There may be occasions where advanced settings may be tweaked, however the rules are always 1) Know exactly what you are doing first 2) TEST TEST TEST.

Jason is asking a simple question about home AP's - so the correct advice is to keep it simple and stick with defaults - I would suggest that sticking with defaults is always the right advice to a novice.

If there is a case for advanced tweaking, it's not here.

Why don't you open a new thread with you so we can discuss your technical proposals ? 

State the changes you would make to tune a standalone AP network, state your justification for making the changes and describe how the clients would behave differently as a result of those changes. Then we have a starting point and we can get into the technical details.

We'd then have information that people can use to decide for themselves if they want to make the changes.

We learn a lot from discussing experiences.

Neil

[seanmuir]

Hi Neil,

I have a few points:

1. Jason is asking questions about whether he needs a ZD or not.
2. I have stated the differences between having and not having a ZD.
3. I have given some advice that highlights what you can do in regards to the config of stand alone AP's in relationship to that of the key roaming benefit that you get from using a ZD.

I agree that sometimes keeping things simple is the best approach, but keeping things simple with a carrier grade product means that you're not really taking advantage of the product that you've bought.