I inherited a single-site network with nine Aruba AP-535 access points, currently managed through HPE Aruba/GreenLake. The foundation subscription is expiring, and I may be able to extend it for another year. However, since we only operate one site and aren't managing multiple customers, I'm questioning whether centralized Aruba management is worth continuing.
The oldest access points are a little over seven years old. We also have a FortiGate firewall that is co-managed by our connectivity provider, although I would prefer not to make the wireless network dependent on that provider if possible.
Should I keep the existing Aruba APs and renew their management subscription? Is there a way to move them to a local Instant-style cluster instead? Or would it make more sense to replace them, and if so, what platforms would be good alternatives?
3 Answers
I would be cautious about choosing FortiAP just because you already have a FortiGate. Some administrators find FortiAP deployments require considerable tuning before the wireless experience is consistent. Keeping the wireless platform independent of the provider-managed firewall may also give you more flexibility later. If you do replace the Aruba gear, UniFi is a reasonable budget-conscious option, while staying with Aruba is the lower-risk path if the existing coverage and configuration are working well.
I wouldn't replace the Aruba units solely because the subscription is expiring. Depending on their current software and licensing state, you may be able to move them from the cloud-managed setup to an Aruba Instant-style local cluster, with one AP acting as the virtual controller. Check the exact AP-535 support and licensing requirements before making that decision. At seven years old, though, it is reasonable to start planning a replacement if you need newer Wi-Fi capabilities or want to avoid aging hardware.
What matters most is why you want to replace them. If they're stable, meeting coverage and capacity requirements, and still receiving appropriate software support, nine APs at one site is not automatically a reason to change platforms. Nearly every current vendor offers some form of centralized management, even for small deployments. I would first verify the subscription impact, support status, and whether local management is available for your exact models.
They're AP-535s, and the oldest units are just over seven years old. There isn't a major performance problem right now; the main concern is the expiring management subscription and the age of the hardware.