Controllerless Networks

Hi all, we run about 550 Aruba AP 65/105s around various schools its. We have two 3400 controllers in our main office. (over capacity!)

 

We are going to another internet provider and going private, so we need to cost up any further expansion or upgrades to switches.

 

We are exploring the possibility of schools subscribing to pay for our mobility controllers.

 

How would the Cloud and Instant fit in? With the Aruba Central do you not need a controller? Can you use your existing APs with it? Where does Instant fit in to this?

 

Hope you can all help, I have printed out the blurb and reading it all. Ideally we are maybe looking at removing our switches and using the cloud to manage our existing APs and future ones.

 

Thanks.

You can only use Central with Instant APs (and mobility access switches). You cannot use your existing campus based APs with central.

Ok, so lets say a new site puts in an order for wireless, we quote them for Aruba Instant APs and the cloud subscription. Do we then need to purchase a cloud mobility switch?

No you don't need a mobility access switch if you have existing infrastructure but it does compliment Instant nicely.

Ok, so my next question is can Instant be used with our existing controllers? Not that I can see any advantage really.

You can convert an Instant AP to a campus AP and then it behaves like a standard AP with the controller until you hard reset it.

Ok thanks!