With limited budgets and minimal IT staff, educational institutions need a new approach to deploying a ubiquitous Wi-Fi network. Ruckus Wireless Smart Wi-Fi is the first wireless technology to give schools a robust and centrally-managed Wi-Fi infrastructure, complete coverage and consistent performance at the lowest total cost of ownership. A fraction of the cost of alternatives, the Ruckus ZoneFlex Smart WLAN system uses patented signal steering and smart wireless meshing to change the economic model for WLAN deployment. Now school districts can build reliable Wi-Fi networks using fewer access points, fewer Ethernet drops and fewer dollars.
Each Ruckus ZoneFlex Access Point (AP) integrates a high-gain, directional smart antenna array that automatically steers signals around interference to keep packet loss low and performance high. Wi-Fi signals are focused only where needed to provide unprecedented range. Our patented BeamFlex™ technology directs signals toward associated clients, picking the best performing path and constantly routing signals around interference as it is encountered. This ensures the Ruckus unprecedented reliability not offered by any other Wi-Fi system.
The Ruckus ZoneFlex system is the only “eco-friendly” Wi-Fi solution that makes efficient use of the unlicensed spectrum by not broadcasting Wi-Fi signals in all directions. Adaptive signal technology directs Wi-Fi signals only toward users requesting Wi-Fi service and away from others. This eliminates needless interference with neighbours and allows a safer environment.
Universities, colleges, primary, and secondary schools often encompass large properties with many buildings. Getting good Wi-Fi coverage to every nook and cranny of each facility without deploying a huge number of access points has been a real challenge. The Ruckus ZoneFlex family of products delivers the best possible Wi-Fi coverage using state-of-the-art, highgain directional antenna arrays. ZoneFlex delivers two to four times the coverage using fewer APs. Schools can now take Wi-Fi to places where it’s never been before — simply and easily.
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For many educational institutions, Ethernet is not ubiquitous. What about portables, cafeterias, auditoriums, and assembly halls? Unlike other WLAN solutions, the Ruckus ZoneFlex system employs smart meshing networking, allowing schools to easily add Wi-Fi by simply plugging them in to a power outlet. This eliminates Ethernet cabling and expense.
Educational organizations want strong security that is easy to administer and manage. Now they have it. In addition to supporting standard 802.1x, WPA (PSK) and WPA-2 (AES) security, the patent-pending Ruckus Dynamic Pre-Shared Key technology automates the process of configuring wireless settings and encryption keys on every laptop. Upon successful authentication to the wired network, the ZoneDirector automatically generates a unique 63-byte encryption key and installs this key and the requisite wireless setting on each end device. This unique encryption key can be set to expire at a certain time for that specific laptop.
Configuring and deploying new Wi-Fi equipment in a school can be highly disruptive. IT staff can’t be expected to understand how building materials, landscaping, obstacles and other hostile RF sources will affect the performance of their network, and dictate where APs must be deployed. ZoneFlex addresses these problems with ground-breaking new technologies like smart meshing and adaptive beam steering. Install fewer APs virtually anywhere with less cabling. There’s no need to continually perform costly and cumbersome site surveys: IT staff can easily configure the entire WLAN by clicking through a few screens. Wireless LAN deployment in hours, not days.
Schools have many different constituents — from faculty to administrative staff, and students to visitors — each of which has their own Wi-Fi needs. All ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi APs support up to eight discrete SSIDs, while the ZoneDirector controller supports up to 32 WLANs, each of which can be configured with a discrete set of user parameters and security settings (e.g., encryption or user thresholds). From a single management point, IT administrators can easily add SSIDs across the entire system to support specific traffic types (e.g., voice, video, etc.) or user groups. The result is a single, robust WLAN acting as a ubiquitous utility for everyone. |
