I'm looking for the best way to oversee our WiFi networks from a single dashboard across different office locations. I want to ensure the network is operational, see which devices are connected, and have remote access. The WiFi networks are separate from our internal infrastructure and only support guests, mobile devices, and laptops. Currently, we only learn about outages when someone reports a problem. We have various routers and wireless ISPs at different offices, and while the ISPs can't be changed due to location constraints, we can upgrade the routers and access points (APs). I'm considering whether using different ISPs but the same APs at each site could allow for central management. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
It really depends on how big your company is. I initially used Ubiquiti for years but transitioned to Meraki recently. Meraki has a nicer interface but it's also more expensive. Worth considering your budget here!
You might also want to look into SD-WAN solutions. They often come with centralized management and can work with various devices, including routers, switches, and APs. Cisco Meraki, HP Aruba, and Ubiquity Unifi are all good options to check out.
I suggest checking out Ubiquiti or Aruba Instant On. They both are user-friendly and reliable options that can help you manage your networks without much hassle.
I completely agree! I've used both and they work great without needing much maintenance.
I've only worked with Unifi systems, but they fit your needs well, such as multi-site management and remote monitoring. We get email alerts for device downtimes, which has saved us more than a few times, but you'd need to switch to their APs, as you can't manage other brands through their system easily.
Make sure to clarify if your internet connections are totally separate from your business networks or just isolated logically. If they're separate ISPs, you might want to look at network systems that give you a unified view, like Unifi, Meraki, or Aruba. Budget will definitely play a big role here! If you can monitor static IPs externally, that would help with alerts too.
Yes, our wired network is completely separate from the WiFi. We have multiple APs, mainly D-Links, Eeros, and Orbi, but I’m still figuring out the budget for this upgrade.
We have 18 offices, and while most have 5-10 users, two locations have over 30. So I’ll need something that's scalable!