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Hello all! I’m hoping to get some input and advice on a service that I’ve had a few requests for from customers lately needing a flexible wireless network system that we can set up, install, and also monitor and manage remotely.

In the past few years we have done several wireless network installs for small businesses including some small hotels, public library, etc. and have always used Ubiquiti UniFi access points (and occasionally their routers and switches as well) and have been very pleased with them. However, as we are getting more and more requests for a little more features, I’m looking for some suggestions on how to improve our usual setup. For example, several places are wanting to put up a captive portal page for their open network, or do content filtering or gateway antivirus. For this I’ve been researching Untangled as well as pfSense.

I also need to be able to monitor the networks completely from my own offices, so if a switch or access point goes down, I’m able to see that outage on my side and know how to address the outage accordingly. Obviously since these systems will be rolled out to small businesses, cost is the biggest factor, so it can’t be an expensive solution or they simply will not go for something like this.

Do you have any suggestions or ideas for a solution like this? Again, I’ve had some experience with UniFi and like their products, but I’m looking for something that can be fully remotely monitored as well. Thanks in advance!

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Meraki!!! All cloud based.

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I had a chance to play with Meraki cloud based management devices and it was awesome.

If you’re interested to play with one of them just go to Cisco Meraki Webinars and sign up for a webinar and they’ll send you a FREE device with 3yrs license for FREE.

Arasham

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Cisco Meraki is an interesting product line, and it does do what I am looking at doing. I will have a more thorough look through their offerings and have signed up for a webinar, but honestly their cost puts them far out of what customers I work with would even consider. Do they have good quality products? Sure. Do they have great features and capabilities? Of course, and I really like what I have read so far. But with the prices I’m seeing there, I know taking it to any clients I’ve worked with around here I’d be laughed out the door. That is my only concern with the Cisco Meraki solution.

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