Posted by Heidi Schwartz
Ruckus Wireless, Inc. has introduced its new SmartZone™ software platform, a carrier-grade solution for demanding enterprise customers. This network option addresses the growing challenges that enterprises and service providers face in delivering high-performance, reliable WiFi, while also providing them with a clear path to meet constantly increasing technical infrastructure performance and service requirements.
The Ruckus SmartZone software platform provides unified software architecture across wireless LAN (WLAN) controllers, for appliance, virtualized, and cloud environments offering the ultimate in deployment flexibility. This new WiFi software scales up to 300,000 devices, offering single and multi-tenancy, as well as “WiFi-as-you-grow”—the capability for networks to expand with—and adapt to—the changing needs of business.
The new SmartZone software incorporates and supports all Ruckus ZoneFlex™ indoor and outdoor access points (APs), managed by a family of Ruckus physical and virtual appliance controllers, including:
- Ruckus SmartZone 100 wireless LAN (WLAN) controller;
- Ruckus virtual SmartZone (vSZ) virtualized WLAN controller;
- Ruckus virtual Data Plane with vSZ-D; and
- Ruckus SmartCell™ Gateway (SCG) 200.
The SmartZone software platform provides carrier-class performance, form factor flexibility, and high-performance WiFi that can scale as an enterprise or service provider grows. Enterprises and service providers can choose between multiple physical and virtual products to best suit their needs, with data tunneling or local breakout for maximum flexibility.
Ruckus SmartZone software platform provides the following features:
- Resiliency;
- Innovation;
- Manageability;
- Capacity Based Client Admission Control; and
- Service Provider WiFi Gateway Functionality.
“Enterprises and service providers that are providing WiFi are under the stress of increasing mobile device proliferation and constantly escalating availability requirements of business-critical applications,” said Greg Beach, vice president of product management, Ruckus Wireless. “As applications evolve and more devices get connected, both of them need to invest in a high performance and high availability network to overcome these challenges today, while investing for their future WiFi needs.”
The new SmartZone family of Ruckus physical and virtual appliance controllers is available now worldwide from authorized Ruckus BiG DOGs partners. The vSZ-D will be available next quarter. The new Ruckus SmartZone 100 controller starts with an MSRP of $4,995 (USD), plus $100 (USD) per access point license. The Ruckus virtual SmartZone (vSZ) pricing is $995 (USD) per instance, plus $100 (USD) per access point license. For Ruckus SmartCell Gateway (SCG) 200 or vSZ-D pricing, contact Ruckus Wireless.
