Controllerless Networks

Hi all,

 

I was reading through the beacons VRD. From what i understand, in order to come up with a beacon setup, we must have USB powered Beacons or AP 320 (associated with controller) built-in beacon to communicate with battery powered beacons. So in a nutshell, we must have AP 320 and controller both in place for the entire beacon thing to work right ? (please confirm my understanding)

 

Is it possible to have a beacon setup if we are running aruba instant and there is no controller at all ?

#ALE
#LocationServices
#ArubaBeacons

No, this is not correct. You can run beacons without Aruba APs, you just won't have centralized monitoring and management.


Thanks,
Tim

But without APs, how beacons will communicate with meridian in cloud ?

Even if it's not Aruba APs, there should be some AP that will connect beacons (battery powered) to internet so that they may connect to meridian and provide location services ?

Best Regards

Ovais Iqbal

The beacons only need to talk to Meridian for monitoring and management. You can do a full Meridian App deployment without this.


Thanks,
Tim

Sorry Tim, didn't understand. Sorry if I am being dumb but would appreciate if you can guide me here.

When you say beacons need to communicate with Meridian only, how can they communicate unless they are connected to internet ? and how beacons are connected to internet if access points are not there ?

Best Regards

Ovais Iqbal
HP MASE Infrastructure/ CCIE # 37956 (R&S)
Solution Architect
HP Networking
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
M: +92-321-2960496

Beacons simply send out BLE advertisements. They're independent of the network. Meridian cloud simply provides monitoring and centralized configuration management (all optional)


Thanks,
Tim

Ok...

But lets say if we want push notifications and wayfinding, these beacons need to be connected to internet right ?

Best Regards

Ovais Iqbal

No. That's all done via the app on the user's device.


Thanks,
Tim

Ok.. I am sure I am getting there.

Can you help me understand how wayfinding works with beacons (not connected to internet) and User app ?


1. User can download the company's app which shows the floor plan,

2. But then without beacons connected to internet (meridian), how can the user gets his location pinpointed ?

Best Regards

Ovais Iqbal
HP MASE Infrastructure/ CCIE # 37956 (R&S)
Solution Architect
HP Networking
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
M: +92-321-2960496

Beacons simply send out a unique identifier. The app has the beacons on a map. The app on the client device calculates it's location based on signal strength of the beacons.


Thanks,
Tim

One question that I am not sure was answered was whether the monitoring/management of USB beacons can be done with a network of IAPs or only Campus APs...thanks

 

Randy

Currently, campus APs. Instant support is coming very soon.

Thanks Tim...appreciate the expeditious response, one last question if I may on the subject.  Are there any known performance or interfernce issues using USB beacons on AP225 (usb on backside of chasis) vs AP215 (top of chasis).  If so is there any recommendation to use AP215 vs AP225...

 

Thanks again...

 

Randy B.

No. You shouldn't see any interference in either situation.

tim

Thanks Much Tim...

 

Randy