What Is Ruckus Unleashed?
Are you a small business owner looking to deploy a secure, high-speed WiFi network without hiring an expensive IT team to maintain it? Ruckus Unleashed is a series of controller-less WLAN solutions that checks all the boxes on a small business owners’ checklist: it’s affordable, easy to install, and simplified management means just about anyone can deploy their own reliable WiFi network in a few minutes. No experts required.
Since Ruckus Unleashed is a controller-less WiFi solution you won’t need to buy a separate hardware controller to utilize the full benefits of your wireless network. This translates to a much lower upfront cost without sacrificing features and benefits you would get with a dedicated controller.
How Does It Work?
Wireless access points operate on two distinct “planes” of data: the control plane and the data plane. The data plane makes up the majority of wireless signal activity and includes all of the actual traffic from web usage, client requests, and browser data. The control plane is a second, smaller dataset containing commands to direct how access points prioritize, segment, and transfer information across the data plane. Think of a controller as the “manager” and the access points as its employees.
Ruckus Unleashed eliminates the need for a controller by empowering each access point to assume a manager, or “Master AP,” role as needed. Not only does a Master AP fulfill its normal function serving WiFi clients, but it also performs control functions and pushes them out to other Member APs on the network. Member APs automatically join the same subnet as their Master AP and will not attempt to join other controllers introduced to the network. If a Master AP goes offline, a Member AP will automatically step in to fill its role. This is built-in high availability, so wireless network downtime is a relic of the past.
What’s In It For Me?
A Ruckus Unleashed Master AP can manage a network of up to 50 access points without the assistance of a controller. Comparable WLAN controllers with capacity for 50 access points can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 and often require supplemental purchases of licenses and services. Since traditional wireless networks cannot operate sans controller, this expense goes straight to the front of the line as massive upfront CapEx. By eliminating the need for separate hardware to manage your network, Ruckus Unleashed gets your network up and running for a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.
If the CapEx savings aren’t enough to start you drooling, then you’ll surely salivate over potential OpEx savings. Ruckus Unleashed was built with the small business in mind. Simple management and ease of install removes the need for IT staff. Small environments such as retail stores, hotels, and property managers may not always have a networking expert on their payroll and calling in premium support can drain the budget. Ruckus built the Unleashed series so that anyone, no matter their level of expertise, can deploy and manage their own wireless network without outside help. They even provide a Youtube guide demonstrating how to deploy a Ruckus Unleashed network in under a minute.
Where Can I Learn More About Ruckus Unleashed?
We recently added Ruckus Wireless products to our catalog, and we included all the tech specs, datasheets, and documentation that you’ve come to expect from Firewalls.com. However, if you want a truly expert opinion before making a decision—as any smart small business owner would—then our certified network security experts are available via email at sales@firewalls.com, telephone at 317-225-4117, or live chat to help you find the perfect fit for your organization.
Your customers have come to expect fast, secure WiFi and your employees likely can’t operate without it. Ruckus Wireless provides easy answers to some of the most complex questions in wireless networking.