Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points?
Thanks for that Todd. By the way the latest maintenance release of 7.0 is posted to CCO, you may want to consider an upgrade, there are lots of bug fixes. You will see two new versions, 7.0.98.218 is the bug fix version the 7.0.116 is the new feature release which also has bug fixes. On 4/16/11 2:26 PM, "Todd Gould" wrote: >Here at Williams College, after months or re-evaluating the leading unified > wireless leaders, we decided to stay with Cisco's solution. At the tail end of > our decision, Cisco announced the 3500 series CleanAir access points. After > research and testing these units, we took the leap of faith (not really, but > moving from lwapp v.4x to capwap v.7x made me nervous) and replaced all 820 > lwapp 1000, 1242, 1252 and 1300 series ap, with the 3500 series. There was > much to consider interms of design, but I would be delighted to talk offline. > I can tell you this, we haven't had a single complaint and have been thrilled > with the decision. It's been rock solid for us. > > Todd Gould > Networks & Systems Administrator > Office for Information Technology > Williams College > Email: todd.m.go...@williams.edu > > > > Subject:Re: Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access > points? > From:"Voll, Toivo" > Reply-To:The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv > Date:Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:55:46 -0500 > > We switched over to the Cisco 3500 series from the 1142 series pretty much as > soon as they were available. The added cost vs. the ability to troubleshoot > wireless issues, especially in areas into which we can't just physically go, > such as residence halls, is well worth it. There could definitely be WCS > improvements in presenting the information and logging it, but even so the new > details on microwave ovens, cordless phones etc. is very cool when someone > calls and complains about wireless being slow/down/spotty. > > We have 321 3500s in service today and no problems (that we haven't seen with > the other models.) > > Toivo Voll > Network Administrator > Information Technology Communications > University of South Florida > > > > > -Original Message- > From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[log in > to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barron Hulver > Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 14:18 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir > access points? > > Does anyone have any experiences with the Cisco 3500-series CleanAir > access points? We have a small project (about 40 access points) coming > up and I'm thinking about deploying these as a pilot instead of the > 1142s that we would normally deploy. I've discussed this will one of my > people who handles our wireless deployments (Art Ripley) and he thinks > we should. > > For background, we have most of the campus covered in wireless and a > couple of years ago we started deploying for performance instead of > coverage (more access points per square foot). We have nine Cisco WLCs > (a mix of 4404-100s and 5508s) and a mix of 1131 and 1142 access points. >We do not use WCS. Instead, we (Nathan Broome and I) have developed > our own wireless management software. This has worked well for us but > I'm wondering if I should move to an off-the-shelf package when > deploying the 3500s. Any thoughts on this? > > I've arranged a meeting with our local Cisco sales office next week and > this will be one of the topics I want to discuss. > > Thanks, > > Barron > > Barron Hulver > Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems > Center for Information Technology > Oberlin College > 148 West College Street > Oberlin, OH 44074 > 440-775-8798 > http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ > > > ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
Re: Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points?
Here at Williams College, after months or re-evaluating the leading unified wireless leaders, we decided to stay with Cisco's solution. At the tail end of our decision, Cisco announced the 3500 series CleanAir access points. After research and testing these units, we took the leap of faith (not really, but moving from lwapp v.4x to capwap v.7x made me nervous) and replaced all 820 lwapp 1000, 1242, 1252 and 1300 series ap, with the 3500 series. There was much to consider interms of design, but I would be delighted to talk offline. I can tell you this, we haven't had a single complaint and have been thrilled with the decision. It's been rock solid for us. Todd Gould Networks & Systems Administrator Office for Information Technology Williams College Email:todd.m.go...@williams.edu <mailto:todd.m.go...@williams.edu> Subject: Re: Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? From:"Voll, Toivo" Reply-To:The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv Date:Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:55:46 -0500 We switched over to the Cisco 3500 series from the 1142 series pretty much as soon as they were available. The added cost vs. the ability to troubleshoot wireless issues, especially in areas into which we can't just physically go, such as residence halls, is well worth it. There could definitely be WCS improvements in presenting the information and logging it, but even so the new details on microwave ovens, cordless phones etc. is very cool when someone calls and complains about wireless being slow/down/spotty. We have 321 3500s in service today and no problems (that we haven't seen with the other models.) Toivo Voll Network Administrator Information Technology Communications University of South Florida -Original Message- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barron Hulver Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 14:18 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? Does anyone have any experiences with the Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? We have a small project (about 40 access points) coming up and I'm thinking about deploying these as a pilot instead of the 1142s that we would normally deploy. I've discussed this will one of my people who handles our wireless deployments (Art Ripley) and he thinks we should. For background, we have most of the campus covered in wireless and a couple of years ago we started deploying for performance instead of coverage (more access points per square foot). We have nine Cisco WLCs (a mix of 4404-100s and 5508s) and a mix of 1131 and 1142 access points. We do not use WCS. Instead, we (Nathan Broome and I) have developed our own wireless management software. This has worked well for us but I'm wondering if I should move to an off-the-shelf package when deploying the 3500s. Any thoughts on this? I've arranged a meeting with our local Cisco sales office next week and this will be one of the topics I want to discuss. Thanks, Barron Barron Hulver Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems Center for Information Technology Oberlin College 148 West College Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8798 http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
RE: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points?
We switched over to the Cisco 3500 series from the 1142 series pretty much as soon as they were available. The added cost vs. the ability to troubleshoot wireless issues, especially in areas into which we can't just physically go, such as residence halls, is well worth it. There could definitely be WCS improvements in presenting the information and logging it, but even so the new details on microwave ovens, cordless phones etc. is very cool when someone calls and complains about wireless being slow/down/spotty. We have 321 3500s in service today and no problems (that we haven't seen with the other models.) Toivo Voll Network Administrator Information Technology Communications University of South Florida -Original Message- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Barron Hulver Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 14:18 To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? Does anyone have any experiences with the Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? We have a small project (about 40 access points) coming up and I'm thinking about deploying these as a pilot instead of the 1142s that we would normally deploy. I've discussed this will one of my people who handles our wireless deployments (Art Ripley) and he thinks we should. For background, we have most of the campus covered in wireless and a couple of years ago we started deploying for performance instead of coverage (more access points per square foot). We have nine Cisco WLCs (a mix of 4404-100s and 5508s) and a mix of 1131 and 1142 access points. We do not use WCS. Instead, we (Nathan Broome and I) have developed our own wireless management software. This has worked well for us but I'm wondering if I should move to an off-the-shelf package when deploying the 3500s. Any thoughts on this? I've arranged a meeting with our local Cisco sales office next week and this will be one of the topics I want to discuss. Thanks, Barron Barron Hulver Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems Center for Information Technology Oberlin College 148 West College Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8798 http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points?
I see the CleanAir technology as another tool in the toolbox, and it offers a significant increase in the amount of information you can access about your RF space. Given the complexities around wireless and the growing expectation that it be up to the same tasks as the wired infrastructure, having access to the kinds of data CleanAir provides will likely become a necessity. Do you want to send a tech out to an area with a spectrum analyzer, or look at a real-time report of what's happening in any given space? CleanAir is a win in my book. Our standard has moved from the 1250/1140 Cisco AP's to the 3500 series, and although I still have a rather small deployment of the new 3500 APs, I'm pretty impressed by the capability of the them to expose more of what's happening within the spectrum. It's actually surprising to see the number of DECT phones, bluetooth devices, etc. floating around our campus, and the ability for example, to report on "Worst air quality APs" and find that you've got one that's being hammered with half a dozen "Interferers" is pretty amazing. WCS is a must... Jeff >>> Barron Hulver 2/18/2011 11:17 AM >>> Does anyone have any experiences with the Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? We have a small project (about 40 access points) coming up and I'm thinking about deploying these as a pilot instead of the 1142s that we would normally deploy. I've discussed this will one of my people who handles our wireless deployments (Art Ripley) and he thinks we should. For background, we have most of the campus covered in wireless and a couple of years ago we started deploying for performance instead of coverage (more access points per square foot). We have nine Cisco WLCs (a mix of 4404-100s and 5508s) and a mix of 1131 and 1142 access points. We do not use WCS. Instead, we (Nathan Broome and I) have developed our own wireless management software. This has worked well for us but I'm wondering if I should move to an off-the-shelf package when deploying the 3500s. Any thoughts on this? I've arranged a meeting with our local Cisco sales office next week and this will be one of the topics I want to discuss. Thanks, Barron Barron Hulver Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems Center for Information Technology Oberlin College 148 West College Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8798 http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
RE: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points?
I've deployed 20 of the Cisco 3500i access points so far for testing and my early experience was mixed with them, but it's starting to look up. The first issue is that you have to run version 7 code, since I'm running WiSMs this mean moving two (for redundancy) 150 AP controllers over to the code. I initially upgraded some 1142s to the new code level as well to get full use out of the controller. However, within about a month I ran into an issue where the management port became unresponsive. I had this occur another two times (almost always 4 weeks into it) before TAC nailed it down to a bug which occurs when using webauth for authentication. Now I'm running an ES release with a fix until MR1 comes out next month, and for the time being I only have the 3500i APs on the controller, I moved the others back to a version 6 controller. With that said I've been running the ES code for 10 weeks with no problems now. I find that the CleanAccess spectrum analysis is very useful in dorms where there's lots of RF interference from devices the students bring in and it has helped save time with troubleshooting issues, however I haven't found it as useful in academic buildings where the environment is more controlled. Another thing with CleanAccess is that to fully utilize it you really need to have a MSE appliance, the reporting in WCS is anemic without one to store historical and detailed data. However, with the combination of WCS and MSE I really like the solution. As long as my test with the MR1 of WLC 7 code goes well our plan is to upgrade all our dorms from 1131s to 3500is this summer. Josh Robertson Network Systems Senior Engineer Old Dominion University Office of Computing & Communications Services (757)683-5046 j2rob...@odu.edu http://occs.odu.edu/ -Original Message- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Barron Hulver Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 2:18 PM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? Does anyone have any experiences with the Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? We have a small project (about 40 access points) coming up and I'm thinking about deploying these as a pilot instead of the 1142s that we would normally deploy. I've discussed this will one of my people who handles our wireless deployments (Art Ripley) and he thinks we should. For background, we have most of the campus covered in wireless and a couple of years ago we started deploying for performance instead of coverage (more access points per square foot). We have nine Cisco WLCs (a mix of 4404-100s and 5508s) and a mix of 1131 and 1142 access points. We do not use WCS. Instead, we (Nathan Broome and I) have developed our own wireless management software. This has worked well for us but I'm wondering if I should move to an off-the-shelf package when deploying the 3500s. Any thoughts on this? I've arranged a meeting with our local Cisco sales office next week and this will be one of the topics I want to discuss. Thanks, Barron Barron Hulver Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems Center for Information Technology Oberlin College 148 West College Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8798 http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. -- BEGIN-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS -- Teach CanIt if this mail (ID 447776807) is spam: Spam: https://www.spamtrap.odu.edu/b.php?i=447776807&m=20d0a7995158&t=20110218&c=s Not spam: https://www.spamtrap.odu.edu/b.php?i=447776807&m=20d0a7995158&t=20110218&c=n Forget vote: https://www.spamtrap.odu.edu/b.php?i=447776807&m=20d0a7995158&t=20110218&c=f -- END-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
Any experiences with Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points?
Does anyone have any experiences with the Cisco 3500-series CleanAir access points? We have a small project (about 40 access points) coming up and I'm thinking about deploying these as a pilot instead of the 1142s that we would normally deploy. I've discussed this will one of my people who handles our wireless deployments (Art Ripley) and he thinks we should. For background, we have most of the campus covered in wireless and a couple of years ago we started deploying for performance instead of coverage (more access points per square foot). We have nine Cisco WLCs (a mix of 4404-100s and 5508s) and a mix of 1131 and 1142 access points. We do not use WCS. Instead, we (Nathan Broome and I) have developed our own wireless management software. This has worked well for us but I'm wondering if I should move to an off-the-shelf package when deploying the 3500s. Any thoughts on this? I've arranged a meeting with our local Cisco sales office next week and this will be one of the topics I want to discuss. Thanks, Barron Barron Hulver Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems Center for Information Technology Oberlin College 148 West College Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8798 http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ ** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
