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Aerohive Networks SR2024P - switch - 28 ports - managed - rack-mountable

Mfg # AH-SR-2024P CDW # 3205041 | UNSPSC 43222612

Quick tech specs

  • Switch
  • 24 x 10/100/1000 (PoE+) + 4 x SFP
  • rack-mountable
  • managed
  • desktop
  • PoE+ (195 W)
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Know your gear

The SR2024P platform is a 24-port Gigabit Ethernet access switch with 4 additional 1 gigabit SFP ports. 24 Ethernet ports support high-power PoE (Power over Ethernet), and the entire device supports the feature-rich capabilities of HiveOS, including RADIUS, 802.1X security, and cloud-based management.

This item was discontinued on July 02, 2019

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Aerohive Networks SR2024P - switch - 28 ports - managed - rack-mountable is rated4.73 out of5 by49.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from I like the ability to connect unconfigured Branch Routers to the internet and they find there way back to our system so we can set them up.What is most valuable?The ability to connect unconfigured Branch Routers to the internet and they find there way back to our system so we can set them up. The way Access points work together to hand users off when moving around building so they never lose connectionHow has it helped my organization?With the Branch Router able to be factory reset and still able to be connected to internet and it finds its way to our system allows us to get sites back online with out having to configure a new device and ship it to them for longer down times.What needs improvement?The web UI could be designed for more organization for the administrators and maybe a more customization for the views.For how long have I used the solution?I have been working with Aerohive for over 5 years while the company I work for has had it for longer.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?Was not here when deployed for the first time. When we deployed at other sites we recently acquired we had no issues.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We have run into some stability with older firmware on Access Points but that is very rare usually there is a update that fixes it or we roll back if it an update issue.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?So far no issues have come up with scalability. we have installed these in around 40 nursing homes and they are working great.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: 3 out of 5, depending on the technician you get some want to troubleshoot over email other will actually call or ask you to call them.Technical Support: 3 out of 5, majority of the issues we report they want us to factory reset which was already done and o the basic troubleshooting which I have already done.Which solutions did we use previously?I came onboard with company using this system so we have not even looked at any other systems or even had another system at the timeHow was the initial setup?Setup seems to be pretty straightforward, I was not here for initial setup that was handle by other techs. Setups I have done have been very simple and straight forward.What about the implementation team?I was not here when this was implemented for the first time. have not worked with a vendor team or in house team. When troubleshooting issues been working with Aerohive directly.What was our ROI?That I am not sure about our ROI, but these devices have held up very well and with how old some of these devices are (4 or more years old) they're still working.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?I don't handle pricing or licensing. Some of the devices seem pricey but quality seems to be top notch because we don't have devices coming back to be returned all the time.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Was not apart of team that was choosing wireless options at the time. Have not even heard or seen any other wireless system that was before this.What other advice do I have?This system has been very decent system and has held up through the 5 years I have been here. I believe we will continue to use Aerohive when we go to upgrade.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-03-31T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The ability to manage the wifi from the cloud and not needing to have an on premise controller is great.What is most valuable?The ability to manage the wifi from the cloud and not needing to have an on premise controller is great. Great support as well.How has it helped my organization?With our previous wifi system it was on premise and end of life. We were unable to get any more updates for it and with Cloud wifi there are no hardware limits and we also were able to expand mac authentication to 500 users vs. 125 with our existing system.What needs improvement?There could be better alerts setup for the access points. I also wish there was a way to track users roaming from access point to access point. It would also be great to have better interference assistance.For how long have I used the solution?We have been using it for 6 months.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?We did run into an issue where there was a lot of interference when we launched the new APs. We ended up also with issues that were compounded by firmware that was having issues as well. After working with support and an SE we were able to get the APs stable and working properly.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We haven't had any stability issues yet. The access points have been running smoothly since the initial deployment issues we had which has been great.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We had to tweak some power for some of our APs so they would not pick up the access points from our lower floors after we launched. After tweaking that we didnt have any issues scaling.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service has been great. Any issues I have had were answered quickly and we were able to resolve things quickly. The demo we were setup with was long enough to meet our testing needs and we were given enough APs to test with.Technical Support: Support was great to work with. Each tech I have worked with was very knowledgeable and easy to get ahold of. They were quick to escalate if our issues needed the next level of support. They would keep in contact.Which solutions did we use previously?We previously used Ruckus. We switched due to our equipment being end of life and we wanted to move to a cloud solution. Aerohive was able to meet both of those needs. We also wanted something that worked good with our noisy environment and was able to provide a stable connection with a lot of interference.How was the initial setup?The initial setup was pretty easy. We did run into some issues due to some of our access points were initially registered to the HiveManager and not NG. Once I contacted support, they were able to get everything switched and I was up and running. The network profiles were a little difficult to setup to use Mac authentication.What about the implementation team?We purchased through a vendor but didn't use them to implement the solution. They were very helpful with the trial and working with Aerohive on pricing and things. They are continuing to be helpful with a hardware switch out we are doing for different country access points.What was our ROI?Our return on investment so far has been more stable wifi that is future proof and faster than our old system. We don't have to worry about a controller going end of life and have the ability to manage the whole company from one central dashboard.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?The pricing and licensing is a great structure and fairly priced. We looked at a few different solutions and they were right in line with competitors and cheaper. There is no per user license which is nice.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We evaluated Aruba and Meraki. Meraki was not our choice due to not being able to get a stable Wifi connection due to it being unable to handle the interference here in our office. Aruba was nice and the pricing was similar to Aerohive but I felt their cloud interface wasn't as user friendly.What other advice do I have?I think this is a great solution and as more and more technology changes come out it should only get better. They are priced right and fairly user friendly to setup for someone with not much wifi experience.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-01-11T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We have been able to run State Assessment testing on laptops and iPads this year where in the past this was not even a consideration.Improvements to My OrganizationWe have been able to run State Assessment testing on laptops and iPads this year where in the past this was not even a consideration.Room for ImprovementWe had to negotiate over the price. Otherwise, the product has no issues.Use of Solution1 yearDeployment IssuesNone at all.Stability IssuesAbsolutely none a very stable system.Scalability IssuesNoCustomer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Great customer service have not had a single issue with them.Technical Support: Great support for their product.Previous SolutionsYes, the company was no longer developing their product.Initial SetupVery straightforward, in that all you have to do is had someone an AP plug it into the network and HiveManager finds it and sets it up.Implementation TeamAll in-house.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingAlways negotiate on the price and have more then one solution to choose from.Other Solutions ConsideredYes, Aruba, Meraki and Ruckus were also evaluated.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-04-18T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from HiveManager is extremely easy to use for anyone with little network experienceWhat is our primary use case?WLAN deployment for girls' hostels of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. It has four hostel complexes for in-house undergraduates. Our University has the largest WLAN deployment in Sri Lanka. Now, we are expanding it to cover all rooms in the hostels. This time, we are seeking a cloud-based system with BYOD.How has it helped my organization?This is an implementation stage for Aerohive Wireless. We are still in a PoC with Dell Sri Lanka. HiveManager is extremely easy to use for anyone with little network experience.What is most valuable?The cloud-based controller through HiveManager is its most valuable feature. I can manage and configure changes to my access points from anywhere.What needs improvement?Browser load time for the cloud is long and needs improvement.For how long have I used the solution?Still implementing.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We chose to evaluate Aerohive and Cisco Meraki for this project. Price-wise Aerohive is the lowest competitive bidder for this WLAN project.What other advice do I have?The cloud interface is decent. It has a smooth dashboard.Aerohive has been the perfect fit for a University like us. I am the Senior Network Administrator of the University. I am thrilled that I have no worries about our wireless network.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2018-08-20T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The controller-less device management, built-in captive web portal, and reporting are the most valuable features.Valuable Features:The controller-less device management, built-in captive web portal, and reporting.Improvements to My Organization:We moved from 6 individual consumer-grade APs to the Aerohives. Keeping the devices up to date and obtaining usage info from them was a never ending ordeal. I didn't have 1 controller to deal with I had 6.Room for Improvement:The reporting, while a great improvement, is limited, at least in my experience, to the preconfigured charts and templates for those charts. Obtaining raw data from the Aerohive units for use in other applications requires Tech Support intervention.The Charts are nice for the circumstances for which they are developed. We just happen to be slightly outside of that so we have to hand write the data to enter elsewhere.To start with I work at a Library watching and running reports on clients is not really in our best interest. So many of the charts don’t help much at all and only if we are making a presentation to the board or something like that. Which doesn’t happen very often.We are really just after usage numbers to justify the money being spent. To be very specific all we need is the number of unique clients we get per day totaled up for the month. There is one report that gives us a bar graph showing unique clients each day of the month. However, since we can’t get those numbers in any other form we have to total them up by hand to get the total for the month.Not very difficult I admit. However, we need to do this every month for 7 different libraries. It would save us several minutes on the first of each month if we could just pull a report that could sum up those numbers for us or transfer the numbers into a preconfigured spreadsheet and then just send that to each library. The first of the month is typically so busy every extra minute helps.I can also imagine where some places would not want graphs or charts at all, just the raw data. They could then use the data they need in reports or other applications that they already use.The way it is now is still do-able and much better than it was. That was merely the only gripe I really had about Aerohive for which I have yet to find a resolution.Deployment Issues:We've had no issues with deployment.Stability Issues:We've had no issues with stability.Scalability Issues:We've had no issues with scalability.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-04-26T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Built in mapping ability, built in survey ability, Client Classification Policy (to be able to move clients to the appropriate VLAN), and PPSK are the most valuable features.Valuable FeaturesBuilt in mapping ability, built in survey ability, Client Classification Policy (to be able to move clients to the appropriate VLAN), and PPSK are the most valuable features.Improvements to My OrganizationIt gives us the ability to make guest connections to our wireless network easier. We don't have to worry about issues with getting 802.1x authentication set up, which can be tricky depending on Cert chains, virus scanners, and 3rd party hardware software that controls the wireless settings. Also give our residents the ability to have a better gaming experience with their gaming consoles, the Client Classification Policies let us move their gaming console to a less restrictive VLAN so they can make connections to do online gaming better.Room for ImprovementIt would be nice if they could get better from separating an XBOX One console from a regular windows machine.I think their bandwidth steering could use some tweaking, in a high density deployment with a lot of 2.4Ghz only clients it causes problems and we had to turn it off in those areas.Maybe give the ability to turn off the newest HiveOS for the devices. When you go to push out a complete config to the wireless APs you have to be carful and uncheck the box to push out the latest OS. It would be easy to do on accident if you were in a hurry and were not paying close enough attentionUse of Solution9 MonthsDeployment IssuesNo, once the local Hive Manager VM was set up it was pretty simple to get the APs going. If you haven't ever had experience with an enterprise wireless system though, you would defiantly want training first.Stability IssuesJust some problems with bandwidth steering and 2.4Ghz only clients being able to connect regularly.Scalability IssuesNo.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: 8Technical Support: 7Previous SolutionsYes we used Extreme/Enterasys. They were starting to charge to much for their product, also some of the features that are included out of the box with Aerohive cost big $$$ with Extreme.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-04-18T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It's more robust, reliable and easier to mange than our last solution. The initial setup was complex, though no more complex than a similar wireless solution.Valuable FeaturesI have found user profiles and auto provisioning to be the two most valuable features.Improvements to My OrganizationAerohive is significantly more robust, reliable and easier to mange (from anywhere) than our last solution.Room for ImprovementThe initial setup was complex, but no more complex than a similar wireless solution.Use of SolutionWe have used this solution for 3 years.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Our VAR/customer service is very responsive and always goes the extra mile.Technical Support: Tech support is excellent. We used our "trial" period to not only trial the solution, but to also trial tech support. If the support had not been excellent, I would have never purchased the product no matter how good it was.Initial SetupThe initial setup was complex, but no more complex than a similar wireless solution. Honestly, hanging the APs and running cable was way more of a pain than the planning and deployment of the Aerohive system.Other Solutions ConsideredWe evaluated Ruckus, Cisco and Aruba before selecting Aerohive.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from In our environment, we set it up with the L3 roaming feature, and it all seems to work fine.Valuable Features:The Aerohive HiveManager configuration environment is pretty straightforward and intuitive.In our environment, we set it up with the L3 roaming feature, and it all seems to work fine.The User Manager is a handy tool for non-IT skilled employees needing to create guest accounts.One of the most fancy nice-to-have are the BR routers, allowing to work from home as if you were at the office. Employees are very enthusiastic about it.Room for Improvement:A nice-to-have would be the possibility to set an expiry date for guest users in the User Manager.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-13T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Valuable: ?Cloud-based controller and L3 roaming. I would like automatic channel assignment algorithms improved.What is most valuable?* Cloud-based controller* L3 roamingWhat needs improvement?* Admin UI and Automatic channel assignment algorithms.* An recurring example, would be where their support engineer would be given remote access to full project documentation, surveys, and planning as well as to the Hive Manager and not find anything wrong. However after much heartache and user frustration, we would find the solution to some major issues was to simply recheck one checkbox that a previous support person had suggested to uncheck.For how long have I used the solution?4 yearsWhat was my experience with deployment of the solution?Sizing and deployment documentation was geared towards selling hardware rather than a balanced solution. Regional support and training was nearly non-existent and overseas support was always a hot potato with no commitment to solving any issues.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Automatic channel assignment algorithms were creating some serious issues despite turning down power to adjust cell size. Eventually needed a static channel map in the 2.4Ghz.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: While the support teams were responsive, they were not effective in solving the issues despite having full visibility of the deployment.Technical Support: Technical teams ranged from poorly trained techs who simply followed a call tree to highly qualified industry leaders, but who were not willing to take the time to help isolate the real issue until frustration levels are at their highest.A recurring example, would be where their support engineer would be given remote access to full project documentation, surveys, and planning as well as to the Hive Manager and not find anything wrong.However, after much heartache and user frustration, we would find the solution to some major issues was to simply recheck one check box that a previous support person had suggested to uncheck.Which solutions did we use previously?We now actively service existing Aerohive installs, but are encouraging new sites to consider Cisco Meraki ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/comparisons/aerohive-networks_vs_cisco-meraki-wireless-lan ) as the sales, training and support efforts are more mature in our region.How was the initial setup?StraightforwardWhat about the implementation team?We are the vendor team and have attended both Aerohive trainings as well as extensive 3rd party certifications and conferences over a number of years.What was our ROI?The Aerohive solution appeared to be price competitive, however lack of training and support in the region has made it more expensive than other solutions.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Make sure that your regional distributor is truly committed to the product and supporting the solution before buying.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Aruba, Ruckus, Cisco.What other advice do I have?Don't believe promises of training. Get your training before you make a purchase commitment, or find another vendor's solution.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-10-20T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Distributed networking with centralized managementWhat is most valuable?Their distributed model - they call it cooperative control - rather than a controller-based system, has permitted a centralized management control plane with HiveManager while data flows just as it does over any LAN. They also have robust troubleshooting tools available.How has it helped my organization?We have been able to deploy complex wireless solutions to our users with minimal difficulty.What needs improvement?Aerohive's new version of HiveManager, known as NG, while offering new features, still needs development and an ability to migrate from "classic" versions of HiveManager.NG is a step in the right direction towards both an improved interface (interface being a deficit noted by other reviewers) and SDN. After years of development on "classic" versions of HiveManager, NG is still a work in progress. As of 2016, they have yet to add support for their line of BR routers and CVG VPN Gateway to HM NG. HiveManager 6 is still required to centrally manage these devices. As a result, we are currently running both HM "classic" and NG in our environment.I have been assured support is on the way, but other features, such as open API support, seem to be taking precedence in development.For how long have I used the solution?We have used it since 2008.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?There have been minimal issues, usually when updating to new versions of Hive OS.What do I think about the stability of the solution?One HiveOS release, we downgraded until the next revision was released.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have never hit a ceiling, although I feel confident we would have if a controller-based solution had been deployed.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: They have been very eager to please us.Technical Support: As with any other IT vendor I've worked with over 20 years, some are better than others. Again, they seem eager to please and resolve any issues we've encountered.Which solutions did we use previously?I previously used Symbol/Motorola. We switched due to scalability and management issues.How was the initial setup?It can be as simple or complex as you wish.What about the implementation team?An in-house team implemented it.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Without needing to pay for controllers, we were able to invest in better wireless hardware. License and maintenance costs were minimal.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Before choosing, we also evaluated Cisco ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/cisco ), Aruba ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/aruba-networks ), Meru ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/meru-wireless-lan ), Meraki ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/cisco-meraki-wireless-lan ), Ruckus ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/ruckus ), and Motorola ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/motorola-wireless-wan ).What other advice do I have?We integrated Aerohive into our Cisco-centric environment in 2008 and never looked back. Subsequently, when Aerohive offered other layer two devices, specifically switches, we opted to begin to upgrade our older Cisco access switches with Aerohive devices.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-10-09T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We spend less time configuring/maintaining/troubleshooting controllers at a multitude of sites. The initial configuration may seem a little daunting but is worth it.Valuable Features* Centralized management of APs at separate locations (we have over 10,000 APs spread over more than 190 sites).* VPN capability.* Controller-less so that we don't have to worry about upgrading a controller to support newer models of APs when they are released, or having to configure many controllers.Improvements to My Organization* We spend less time configuring/maintaining/troubleshooting controllers at a multitude of sites.* "Single pane of glass" to go to when we need to troubleshoot wireless.* Good troubleshooting tools that are built-in.Room for Improvement* When there are errors, the description could be worded better to give you a better idea of what is wrong.* GUI could be enhanced more to allow more advanced sorting, greater variety of bulk changes, and more useful information when making deletions in configurations.Use of SolutionWe've used it for over 2 1/2 years.Deployment IssuesWe did have issues with deployment, but not because of Aerohive. The issues were because of the vendors doing the work (cabling contractors and AP installers).Stability IssuesWe didn't really have issues with stability, and they were a lot less than our previous solutions.Scalability IssuesWe had no issues with scalability at all. Aerohive scales very well.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Customer service is great.Technical Support: Tech support has been great.Previous SolutionsYes, we were primarily a Meru shop with a little bit of Aruba and Xirrus. We switched because Aerohive presented a much better solution when our wireless RFP went out. The cost and feature set to scale for our deployment just made Aerohive a clear winner.Initial SetupThe setup was a little complex because we had never used the product, and we were making network changes to how things were configured previously.Implementation TeamThe configuration was a collaboration between in-house and an Aerohive engineer. The implementation in terms of cabling and actual installation of APs were done through a vendor. The vendor expertise was not as great as we would have liked.Other Solutions ConsideredMeru, Aruba, Cisco, and one other that I can't remember were all considered before Aerohive was chosen.Other AdviceThe initial configuration of the Aerohive solution may seem a little daunting, but it is worth it and becomes a lot easier as you begin to use it and understand how it works. If you are coming from a multi-controller environment, you will be extremely happy.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A better UI is needed as it's more complex than other vendor's interfaces.Valuable FeaturesThe possibility to use a web cloud interface to manage the customer's wireless network.Improvements to My OrganizationIt allows you to provide a fast customer service. If a customer asks me to make a change on his wireless LAN I can modify it through cloud management. I don't need to connect to his network via a VPN.Room for ImprovementA better user interface is needed as it's more complex than other vendor's interfaces.Use of Solution2 years.Deployment IssuesDuring my first project I asked my vendor to help me to implement some specific features of my customer's wireless LAN. If someone doesn't explain to you how the interface works, you can spend a lot of time working with it without obtaining a good result.Stability IssuesNone encountered.Scalability IssuesI have never had a scalability issue yet.Customer Service and Technical SupportAeroHive provide very good technical support with user guides and technical documentation.Previous SolutionsCisco and HP were used previously, and we decided to switch because we were attracted to AeroHive's cloud management.Initial SetupYou have to know how the network works and how the interface works. If you follow a course you can create a wireless network in an hour or less.Implementation TeamIn-house, we design the network using a planning tool and we follow the entire project step by step.Other Solutions ConsideredWe used to implement wireless networks using traditional Access Points when our vendor proposed this product to us. Therefore, we weren't interested in finding another solution.Other AdviceI would advise you to take a good course that is organised by an AeroHive vendor.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-12-25T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Cloud management enables me to monitor my wireless network offsite and make required changes.What is most valuable?Cloud Management because of the ease of use and Bonjour Gateway to integrate Apple technology. Cloud management enables me to monitor my wireless network offsite and make required changes.How has it helped my organization?It has provided us with a fast, reliable wireless network. Aerohive has enabled us to roll out a successful BYOD scheme to 3 year groups to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom.What needs improvement?Additional add-ins such as HiveSchool and MDM are a fantastic idea, however they lack functionality at present. It would be great if teachers could manage their class of BYOD devices using Hive Manager.For how long have I used the solution?4 years, over two different roles.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?Nothing major. A batch of wireless access points were recalled due to a hardware issue, however they were replaced very quickly with minimum fuss. I had no other deployment issues, it was a very smooth transition!What do I think about the stability of the solution?I have not experienced issues relating to stability. Aerohive is very stable and has been up for over 2 years without a single fault!What do I think about the scalability of the solution?None at all. Aerohive is very scalable due to its pricing and licensing model. It gives the consumer the flexibility to expand their wireless network as and when funding is available. It is great to just be able to buy a new AP, plug it in and off you go!!How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Aerohives customer service is second to none. They are extremely helpful and friendly. The company really care about the customers experience with the product. They also run a rewards scheme for loyal customers which is better than any I have come across in my professional career.Technical Support: Technical support from Aerohive has been excellent. I receive technical support through their third party supplier, LAN3 who are excellent also. I have no doubts if I contact them with an issue, it will be dealt with immediately and to a high standard.Which solutions did we use previously?Yes, we used HP wireless previously. Switched for several reasons. 1) The controller was unreliable 2) the wireless network was hard to manage 3) The wireless signal was poor 4) I had used Aerohive previously and loved it 5) The school wanted to do BYOD and I would trust no one else with this important task!How was the initial setup?Initial setup was straight forward. The GUI is easy to navigate and I was familiar with it as I have been on Aerohive training. Easy to follow wizard for basic setup.What about the implementation team?Through a vendor team, LAN3 Ltd. They have been excellent from sales through to technical support. I have attended two training sessions at LAN3 on Aerohive and I found the sessions to be both informative and enjoyable. Support for Aerohive is impeccable.What was our ROI?Secondary School Education. I have worked in the industry for 10 years and have knowledge of various educational software packages, as well as corporate networking and infrastructure.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Pricing of Aerohive Access Points are reasonable. They provide educational discount as well as BOGOF offers when buying in bulk. Licensing is straightforward, 1, 3 or 5 year license per access point. Included in that price is cloud management for that access point.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Yes, I looked at several other options. These included ARUBA, RUKUS, MERU and MIRAKI. None of these solutions came close to Aerohives offering in terms of cloud management and ease of use.What other advice do I have?Aerohive is hands down the best wireless network provider I have used. Their products are affordable, realisable and packed with features! The company is excellent in all areas and it is apparent they are about their customers experiences.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-01-11T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A "set it and forget it" product but sometimes data plane on the AP's would randomly stop forwarding trafficValuable Features* Scalability - No controller so no single aggregation point and no single point of failure!* Resiliency - All AP's in a common hive automatically create a mesh network so that if there are issues upstream in the wired network, traffic is routed around the failure. Each AP runs a layer 2 SPF algorithm to automatically determine the shortest/best path from one point to another.* Security - All AP's have a statefull firewall built-in which makes security policy enforcement at the edge a breeze. Unlike a lot of wireless vendors, security is a cornerstone of the Aerohive product.* Mobility - With the BR100/BR200 or the AP 350 our road warriors can take the corporate WLAN with them wherever they travel. The BR100/BR200 devices allow you to utilize both a wired network as well as a 4G USB dongle to provide transport for the IPsec connection back to the Cloud Virtual Gateway (CVG). The CVG is a virtual appliance that you run in the datacenter to terminate the IPsec tunnels.* Simplicity - A GUI so simple to use that you truly cannot screw it up.* Serviceability - This is especially nice for those hard to reach AP's. If for some reason an AP loses its mind and cannot be reached either via the mesh network or via the wired network it will dynamically engage a feature called the Access Console, or AC. The AC has a special SSID that is broadcast that lets you login to the device for troubleshooting purposes.Improvements to My OrganizationWireless is critical infrastructure in my environment. If my drivers cannot use their handheld scanners to connect to the network for inventory then the company is losing money. With all of the resiliency features and ability to scale I never have to worry about whether people can actually get work done. I'll go weeks at a time without needing to even look at the Hive manager interface and when I do it's because I need to either provision a new AP or update a network policy. It is pretty much a "set it and forget it" product.Room for ImprovementI can honestly say that I cannot find a single item where Aerohive needs to be improved. I have been a customer from pretty much the beginning so to see how they have evolved and grown is pretty amazing.Use of SolutionI have used Aerohive at two different companies between 2007 and now.Deployment IssuesAside from the typical learning curve that goes along with any new product I had no deployment issues.Stability IssuesIn the early days there were some stability issues with the code, but they corrected them quickly. We had instances where the data plane on the AP's would randomly stop forwarding traffic which of course caused the wireless clients to not be able to reach the rest of the network.Scalability IssuesNever. No controller = no bottleneck = no single point of failureCustomer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Customer service is top notch. If there have ever been non-technical issues with things such as Hive manager licensing they have always been right on top of things.Technical Support: Tech support is hands down one of the best collection of individuals you'll ever deal with. The problem is that their product is so solid that I can't remember the last time I've had to interface with them.Previous SolutionsI have personally used many different vendors’ products such as Trapeze, Aruba, and Cisco. Dealing with those solutions after having dealt with Aerohive was pure torture. I used to work for a Cisco Gold partner where our major client base was K-12. I dare you to try and get Bonjour or any other multicast based application to work with a Cisco WLAN. You can do it, but it is a painstaking experience. Every enterprise should be Aerohive in my opinion, but K-12 especially should be taking a serious look.Initial SetupInitial setup is ridiculously easy. If you're going with the on-premise Hive manager then you install the OVA, get into the text-based setup, assign a hostname and network information, and then launch the web GUI. From there you are two minutes away from having a functioning wireless network. If you're going with the Hive Manager Online (HMOL) then it is even easier. The AP's find their own way to the Hive manager either via DHCP options or via a DNS lookup for their HMOL.Implementation TeamWe implemented Aerohive in-house.ROIThis is not something I have calculated at this point.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingIt has been a while, but I believe it was around 5k for the Hive manager virtual appliance and then the price of each AP which range from $400-$1100. Day to day cost is pretty much nothing other than when I need to provision a new AP or update a network policy. As I said before, I can go weeks at a time without even looking at it.Other Solutions ConsideredYes, we looked at Aruba and Trapeze. The Trapeze folks almost got into a fist fight in the data center and the Aruba folks were so ridiculously arrogant I couldn't stand it.Other AdviceIf you're going to have a bake-off try Aerohive last because you won't want to take it out. Take this from someone who is about to sit the CCIE Route/Switch lab, just because it doesn't say Cisco doesn't mean it isn't top notch gear.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-12-18T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Initial deployment is very easy but tuning and understanding can take some timeValuable Features* Very easy deployment* Great radio performance* Application signatures – very powerful L7 firewall* Tools for troubleshooting of Wi-Fi clientsImprovements to My OrganizationWe implemented more advanced Visitors networks on our sites and also more strict security rules for bring your own device and other wireless access networks. That wasn't possible without L7 firewall on AP itself. Also before we didn't have central management for all APs at our organization – now we can change anything we want from within one place.Room for ImprovementAerohive configuration management can be little hard to understand for someone who has never worked with it. The initial configuration is easy but advanced tuning needs deeper knowledge of Wi-Fi technology and also about Aerohive management.On the other hand – the support is very helpful and documentation is very large and contains almost everything that can be found at HIVE console.Use of SolutionOne year and 6 months.Deployment IssuesNo. Deployment was smooth with any major problemsStability IssuesWe had/have some problems with stability, but it’s not problem with Aerohive itself. We are covering manufacturing/industrial environment, which is emitting lots of interference on the 802.11 b/g/n band. Stability on this band is very poor due to the environment, but on 802.11 a/n band (because of more channels) stability is very good.Scalability IssuesScalability is not a problem at all. At some places we have “high density mesh” and L2 roaming along with automatic channel distribution is working very well.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Customer service is very helpful. Before deployment we were speaking with our regional customer service and then directly with Aerohive. Both gave us the necessary information for deployment and initial configuration.Technical Support: Customer service is very helpful. I am using two different ways to solve the problems – one is through my regional contact (Aerohive reseller + support) and second is directly with Aerohive support. We submitted some cases and all were solved with an explanation of function or a bug fix in a new release.Previous SolutionsWe had “non central management” wireless solution before Aerohive. That was our primary goal for switch – to have central control over wireless connection at whole company and enforce different set of security policies.Initial SetupInitial setup was straightforward – it’s very easy to deploy it. We had a pilot on one site, where all our needs were tested and then solution was deployed to the rest of company.Implementation TeamWe deployed by “in-house company” team. Initial/tuning configuration was done by me and physical deployment was done by local IT support on remote sites.Other Solutions ConsideredYes – we did evaluations of some other products.We tested Cisco Meraki – Meraki is very good product, straightforward with configuration, but they don't provide central management which can be kept in-house, but only hosted on their cloud. We were not satisfied with it, because we want to keep all our info inside our network.We also tested Cisco APs with controllers, but again this architecture is not something that would suit us, because of absent central management.Other AdviceInitial deployment is very easy but tuning and understanding of all things at management can take some time. Once it is set and working – it is very good solution with wide range of possibilities.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-12-23T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from So far, the scalability and reliability are the most valuable features.What is most valuable?The most valuable features so far have been the scalability of the solution, starting with a few access points on HiveManager NG and bringing it up to well over 100; and the reliability of the equipment to provide fast secure wireless for our one-to-one program.How has it helped my organization?We have been able to easily support the needs of our 2,000+ high school students and staff in our one-to-one program.What needs improvement?The on-premises version of HiveManager NG that we use does not receive updates as soon as the cloud-based version does. It would be nice to receive the updates a little sooner.The cloud version receives regular updates and the on-premises version receives a cumulative update, i.e., every two to three months. There is version disparity. The cloud version is up to 11.18.03, whereas the highest I can go with our on-premises version is 11.17.06.For how long have I used the solution?We have had HiveManager NG in place since June of 2016, but have been Aerohive customers since 2010.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?We have not encountered any deployment issues.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We have not encountered any stability issues.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have not encountered any scalability issues.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: We used to have the greatest inside sales person ever. She would alway get back to us within 24 hours and was always looking to get us the best deals and keep us happy. She left the company and we had another awesome inside sales person; he unfortunately left the company as well, and now we don't have as good of customer service that we did. I would say it used to be a 10 out of 10, and now its more of a 7 or a 6, but this is solely based on our new sales person. Company-wide, we have always received 8 or 9/10 customer service.Technical Support: I would say technical is an 8 or 9 out of 10. We have always been able to talk to support right away with any level of question. They are always quick to try and resolve any issue, and the problem can be escalated quickly through the tiers of support to find a good solution.Which solutions did we use previously?We used unmanaged access points before. We switched to more easily control our wireless infrastructure.How was the initial setup?Initial setup was very straightforward, as we had been Aerohive customers in the past. Everything just seems to just work. We were able to get wifi up in our new building within 10 minutes of having internet access, and then were able to install and deploy additional access points with ease.What about the implementation team?We had a vendor that was available if we had any issues during our deployment, but did not need to use them as no issues arose.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We also received a bid for this project from Aruba.What other advice do I have?Aerohive has been a very good solution for us, and we have always been able to get great service and great support.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-03-13T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Allowed us to take the guesswork out of managing a wireless network. Ease of setup and deployment could be simplified.Valuable FeaturesThe HiveManager reporting features are extremely valuable for quick glance at network and application usage of your wireless network.Improvements to My OrganizationAerohive Wireless solutions have allowed us to take the guess work out of managing a wireless network. The “single pane of glass” view into your wireless network allows you to manage all of your access points and clients in one location, greatly reducing the amount of time it may take to isolate and resolve issues.Room for ImprovementThe initial learning curve when first deploying Aerohive is less than some larger competitors, but still significant when compared to other cloud controlled wireless products such as Meraki. Ease of setup and deployment, as well as tasks such as application access management, bandwidth throttling, and QoS could be greatly simplified.Use of Solution3 years.Deployment IssuesSome initial reading and/or training is likely required before successfully deploying Aerohive Wireless products, however once you have a firm grasp of where things live in the HiveManager issues should be few and far between.Stability IssuesWe have not had any issues with stability or the hardware itself. Some issues were seen with older wireless standards (B/G) and needed to be addressed by modifying radio strengths, etc..Scalability IssuesNone so far.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: I believe I’ve called Aerohive support 3 or 4 times and each time I had someone on the phone in less than 5 minutes. No hoops to jump through like Cisco and no basic tier 1 style questions. Just good engineers ready to help.Technical Support: The level of technical support is excellent.Previous SolutionsI’ve used both Cisco and Meraki extensively and have found Aerohive to offer the best mix between stable hardware and software and ease of setup, deployment, and management.Initial SetupInitial setup can be more complex than a home office or small business wireless solution and does require some initial training or reading at the very least. It’s less complex than something like Cisco WLC.Implementation TeamI’ve implemented Aerohive several times both in house and as a IT Consultant for small to mid size businesses.ROIHard to estimate with a wireless network solution, but time saved by keeping your workers connected to your network instead of running down obscure connectivity issues with SOHO solutions is time well spent.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingAll in, our deployment was under 5K for a medium size office of about 75. There really is no day to day cost associated with using Aerohive. It’s been cruising along without issue since deployment, with minimal time spent making configuration tweaks and updating firmware on occasion.Other Solutions ConsideredYes. Meraki, Cisco, and Arbua networks were all evaluated.Other AdviceFor any wireless network implementation, a wireless survey of the space is key to a successful deployment. As for Aerohive specifically, stay away from older B/G devices if you can keep them off your network, and keep the radio power as low as you can manage to avoid issues with surrounding wireless networks…especially in congested areas/cities.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-12-03T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Easy web interface for general system maintenance makes the product a joy to work with despite the some software bugsValuable FeaturesThe automatic PPSK is a great feature that a lot of clients use. For me personally I find the easy web interface for general system maintenance makes the product a joy to work with.Room for ImprovementThere are some minor bugs in parts of the software which can cause some issues from time to time, but it's like any other piece of software. These are often quickly fixed in updates and patches which are easy to deploy but better detail in the release notes would be useful from my point of view supporting the product.Use of SolutionApproximately 2.5 years as an end user, and 18 months looking after it from a technical standpoint.Deployment IssuesNo - plenty of deployments done easily. Just ensure for HMOL deployments the firewall ports are open!Stability IssuesOnce the system is up and running not had any stability issues.Scalability IssuesNope the system scales very easily, just add AP's and licenses and off you go.Customer Service and Technical SupportAerohive support are very responsive albeit sometimes takes a bit of time to filter through the intial layer 1 of support.Initial SetupVery simple to deploy initially - There's a Wizard to generate a basic SSID and get connected. More in depth configuration can then be done easily once basic connectivity has been established.Implementation TeamIn house implementation.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
Date published: 2014-12-23T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Management can be done with either an onsite appliance or a virtual appliance.What is most valuable?No controller is required. Management can be done with either an onsite appliance or a virtual appliance. The heat map is a great aid in choosing the number and location of access points.How has it helped my organization?It allows our guests to register and accept our terms and conditions without the paperwork that the IT team used to have to do to get someone connected to WiFi.What needs improvement?The firewall inside the AP is a little limited in what it can do. Aerohive support indicated that there are some improvements planned for the next release of software.For how long have I used the solution?I have used it for six months.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?Deployment went without any major issues. Most of our issues were with getting cable runs to the AP locations. We wanted an open guest network that would allow access to only our website. That did not work as planned, and we needed support assistance.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Our WiFi has been running without issues since deployment. Changes have been easy to implement. We upgraded the AP software once and the HiveManager NG once without any downtime.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have not encountered any scalability issues. We added an AP to a new building in a few minutes; had a staffer plug in the AP and it appeared in our manager and received our configuration.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service is excellent. We purchased through a local reseller, and they were our point of contact; took the time to make sure everything was ready for our deployment.Technical Support: Technical support is very good. We did find a couple of software bugs, and we were escalated quickly through support levels and got resolutions for most within a couple of weeks, with the last pending a major software release. They did assist in a workaround until the update is available.Which solutions did we use previously?We previously used Meraki. We looked at TCO for five years and the Aerohive looks like it will be less expensive, especially if purchased with the support up front.How was the initial setup?Initial setup was a little complex because of the number of options in configuration. It was a little complicated because we did not find the management interface intuitive about making changes to previously created access groups and SSIDs.What about the implementation team?A vendor team of one person implemented it. That was all that was required to get us up and running in one day for 14 APs and 8 SSIDs.What was our ROI?ROI is just under three years. The guest registration allows us to require the user to read and accept terms and conditions before connecting and the basic firewall in the APs made it easy to enforce without extra hardware per site.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?There are good discounts for purchasing APs with the support up front. Go for the three- or five-year options if budget allows. The heat map tends to be very conservative so you might be able to use fewer APs than the tool suggests. An extra AP or two is cheaper than a full site survey.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Meraki, Aruba, and Ubiquiti were evaluated along with Aerohive. We had evaluation APs from Meraki and Aruba. We looked at coverage, ease of use, and TCO.What other advice do I have?The cloud version of the controller is a little better supported than the on-premises version. Only select the onsite version if there are security concerns.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-01-22T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from With minimal knowledge and experience, I was able to deploy it. We've had little issues with stability, but most were solved quickly with updates.Valuable FeaturesI've found Hive Manager to be the most valuable feature.Improvements to My OrganizationWe went from a very unsophisticated wifi solution to an completely managed Aerohive setup. With minimal knowledge and experience, I was able to deploy a robust wireless solution that just works.For me, this was basically a plug-and-play situation.Use of SolutionWe've used it for approximately 3 years.Deployment IssuesThere were no issues with deployment.Stability IssuesWe've had little issues with stability, but most were solved quickly with updates.Scalability IssuesThere have been no issues with scalability.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: I have had no problems with customer service.Technical Support: I haven't needed to use technical supportPrevious SolutionsWe were using consumer-grade, unmanaged access points.Initial SetupThe initial setup was straightforward. It was extremely easy to get up and running.Implementation TeamWe implemented it in-house.Other Solutions ConsideredYes, we evaluated Cisco and Aruba.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Hive Manager allows you to control all aspects of your WiFi network, from anywhere.Valuable FeaturesAerohive's Hive Manager allows you to control all aspects of your WiFi network, from anywhere. The dashboard shows you the heavier users, the problem spots on your network, and the general health of your WiFi system, at a glance.Improvements to My OrganizationOne can easily set up and take down new networks for testing, or long term visitors, or easily set up temporary access for visitors.Room for ImprovementNot really. I'm not sure what more to say except that I can't think of any areas for improvement. The 120 character requirement for reviews is unnecessary.Use of Solution5Deployment IssuesNo issues with deployment. Again, I'm not sure what to say except that I didn't encounter any issues with deployment.Stability IssuesHave had no issues with stability. Again, and again, I'm not sure what to say except that I don't have any issues with stability.Scalability IssuesThe adapters have scaled to meet the needs of our students without issues. Which means that I didn't encounter any issues with scalability.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Excellent service. Yes, the service was and is excellent. And again, and again, the one hundred and twenty character requirement for reviews is unnecessary.Technical Support: Excellent support. Yes, the support was and is excellent. And again, and again the one hundred and twenty character requirement for reviews is unnecessary.Previous SolutionsMikrotik, impossible to manage these devices. Mikrotik requires that you know their proprietary system to get it to work.Initial SetupVery easy to set up. Much easier to set up than to meet the requirements for this review, the one hundred and twenty character requirement is very onerous.Implementation TeamInstalled and set them up myself. If you can string wire and find an electric outlet you can install these WiFi adapters. The software is a breeze to use.ROII don't calculate that. These just work and fit our needs. Again, I don't calculate the return on investment. If the device makes my life easier, and it works, I judge it a positive move.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingIn education, install via e-rate to make the product quite affordable. They are similar in price to most competing brands.Other Solutions ConsideredYes (ruckus, cisco, meraki, etc.) but this had the easiest interface to set up. Again, the interface is very easy to set up. A general knowledge of networks is all you need.Other AdviceNo. No. No. I have no additional comments or advice, but I do have a suggestion, that the 120 character minimum is removed from these reviews.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-04-18T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very easy to configure with a private and guest SSID although the UI needs improvingValuable Features* Controller-less Access Points* Option of private or public cloud* Private Pre-shared KeyImprovements to My OrganizationEasily make changes to the WLAN via the online portal rather than through a hardware controller. Reducing time spent by our team to make changes as when required.Room for ImprovementI personally think the user interface could do with touching up but that’s being overly critical as I can’t think of anything hardware related that requires improvement.Use of Solution2 years.Deployment IssuesDeployment was a piece of cake.Stability IssuesWe have only had one WLAN drop since installing the Aerohive AP121.Scalability IssuesWe only use a couple of these in the office so we cannot comment on scale at this point.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: We have never needed to approach customer service as the device has never given us any troubles.Technical Support: We have never needed to approach technical support as the device has never given us any troubles.Previous SolutionsTP-Link Business Wireless Router.Initial SetupThe initial setup was a doddle. Very easy to configure with a private and guest SSID. We have now moved to using an External Radius which works without issue.Implementation TeamWe handled all implementation ourselves.ROIThe amount of time spent troubleshooting wireless issues is now non-existent so our ROI is priceless as it stands.Pricing, Setup Cost and Licensing£500 for the unit. Zero cost for the day to day usage.Other Solutions ConsideredMotorola WING but it was overkill for our needs of a small business.Other AdviceTry it out as a demo first. It might not suit everyone’s need.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-12-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We like the ability to distribute policies based on AD group membershipValuable FeaturesHaving the ability to distribute policies based on AD group membership is fantastic. We can use one SSID and steer clients to different VLANs based on membership.Improvements to My OrganizationBy using AD sign in for our wireless, we can track things like printing volumes far easier than ever before. Also we can pinpoint the location of users should that need arise.Room for ImprovementWith a lot of clients, the client listings are a little slow. Once in a while some of the access points need to be rebooted to perform an upgrade, but that's been the exception to the rule.With the Online Manager, if you choose to view the connected clients and there are a lot of them (and you want to view them on one page), then it takes a little while to generate the page.Use of SolutionAround four yearsDeployment IssuesNot at all, the Aerohive ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/aerohive-networks ) support team was terrific during deployment, and afterwards if we had any questions or issues.Stability IssuesNot really, on occasion a few of the access points seem to slow down and a reboot fixes it quickly but it's not been often enough that we've needed to figure out why.Scalability IssuesNo issues. In high traffic areas, or in poor coverage areas, we've simply added APs and they're onboard right away. There are a couple of large rooms that have had an AP added due to the 100 client limit.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Top notch. I haven't had to deal with support very often, but the few times that I have they've been very responsive.Technical Support: Again, top notch. Problems are dealt with quickly and efficiently, and if escalation is required that happens immediately.Previous SolutionsWe've used HP ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/hewlett-packard-enterprise ) and switched because of the appeal of a controller-less wireless solution, and the appeal of simplified management.Initial SetupI wasn't here when the initial deployment took place, but as I understand it it was incredibly smooth. The planning tool is very intuitive and helpful.Implementation TeamIn-house. The deployment was performed by our IT manager with little outside help needed. Once an AP is set up as you'd like, copying the config is very straightforward.ROINot sure how to calculate this, but I suppose it's been less expensive to operate than the old network as there is less time involved in managing the system.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingIt's a little pricey, but then so is the competition. You do require a license per device, so make sure that if you order more APs you have also purchased licenses.Other Solutions ConsideredSure, Cisco ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/cisco ), Aruba ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/aruba-networks ), HP ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/hewlett-packard-enterprise )... The usual suspects. Aerohive seemed like the way to go for a few reasons. The cloud based management was among the deciding factors. We can check on and manage the environment anywhere, anytime.Other AdviceI'd encourage anyone to use Aerohive products, they've been trouble free, they're timely with upgrades (including new functionality).Built in spectrum analysis!Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-10-20T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from I like their support.What is most valuable?All of its features are valuable to me.How has it helped my organization?90% improvement in getting connections for the students/staff.What needs improvement?Stronger connection for an old building with cement walls.For how long have I used the solution?I have been using it for four years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?I encountered a bunch of deployment issues, but online tech support resolved the problems quickly.What do I think about the stability of the solution?It is a little difficult to get a good connection through cement walls.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?I have not encountered any scalability issues.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service has good 24-hour coverage.Technical Support: The vendor has a great tech support group.How was the initial setup?With the great support from Aerohive, it was easy to set up.What about the implementation team?A vendor team from MarinIT installed it and showed me how to work with it. They had a high level expertise on the device.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Aerohive pricing is a little high on the hardware and licensing, but for the price, I like them very much.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Our administrations department would like to try new hardware and look at a different vendor, so we are testing Rukus because it is cheaper.What other advice do I have?Aerohive is the best vendor yet and their support is great.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-03-22T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from ?HiveManager is useful for managing APs and switches from one cloud interface.What is our primary use case?30,000 sq ft manufacturing and admin facility, three stories with three distinct networks- production, guest, and barcode scanners so voice/data, guest, and IoT.How has it helped my organization?* Reliable WiFi across each floor.* Segmented networks.* VLANs for security.* Much better environment for our users.* We have been able to physically and virtually separate IoT, voice, and data.What is most valuable?* HiveManager is incredibly useful for managing APs and switches from one cloud interface.* It is simple to onboard new devices, and update policies across all devices.* Great dashboard: visibility into status and use is crystal clear; easy to navigate.* Support has been great as well.What needs improvement?Need port aggregation on the 2384 switches to take full advantage of ac on the APs. I understand that is on their product road map.The Aerohive access points have dual 1GB Ethernet ports for aggregation, which enables full 2.6Gbps data. Right now our partner through Aerohive support is telling us that the Aerohive switches currently don’t support port aggregation so we only are using one Ethernet port at the AP’s.At this point in time, it’s not an issue, and have been told that port aggregation will be available on the Aerohive switches. That’s important to me- as the demands on our network grow we will need to get the full bandwidth out of the Aerohive AP’s.When I researched the purchase the benefit of managing the switches and AP’s in one interface, and the ability to single source network infrastructure, including installation and management, outweighed the decreased data rate. So, I’m looking forward to this being available soon. That’s the best information I have on this at this time, hope it helps.For how long have I used the solution?One to three years.What do I think about the stability of the solution?None, zero. It runs like the proverbial top. No stability issues, whatsoever. We have good, clean power to the switches and as it is a new building, our infrastructure is brand-new. Update in October of 2018- still completely satisfied with Aerohive switches and AP's. Performance has been perfect, I appreciate the updates and enhancements to the HiveManager and am in that almost every day for the reporting. I truly appreciate working with a company that takes innovation seriously and continuously improves the UI and UX. I would definitely buy again.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have not encountered any scalability issues; nice to add devices with just a serial number and have them pick up the entire policy. HiveManager works well for monitoring, maintenance, and scaling.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service:Customer service is excellent. From RFQ through deployment and hand off to support, we have been completely supported by sales, engineering, and technical staff.Technical Support:Technical support is outstanding: responsive, fast phone pickup, helpful, survey every time, been great. They have been right, and right there, when I call. Now that we're past implementation and stable I haven't had to call- product is great.Update in May of 2018- we have another year of solid Aerohive performance and remain a completely satisfied customer. We invested in a survey to update our power and channel output as the building environment changed- new industrial equipment, and focus on coverage areas as people changed- and made only minor adjustments. System continues to perform as expected, and Aerohive support remains solid.Which solutions did we use previously?Have used Netgear, Cisco, and others. I saw the APs demonstrated and HiveManager, and went with them for the quality of the product and the ability to manage everything from one cloud-based interface.How was the initial setup?Initial setup was fairly complex as we had several VLANs with different security and operational requirements. We also had a 10GB aggregation to our SonicWALL and everything went great.What about the implementation team?It was implemented by both an in-house team and a vendor team. The vendor team was on-time, thorough, on-budget, knowledgeable, responsive, and thoroughly professional. We got some help from Aerohive support as well.What was our ROI?* Solid WiFi* Ease of management* Ability to upgrade the whole system and stay on top of the network.A big ROI for us is managing the segments to keep voice and data physically and virtually separate, along with the ongoing expansion of IoT devices. Update October 2018- we have added some IoT networks and managing them through the HiveManager has been simple and secure and keeps IoT and our data network separate.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Value is there. There are probably cheaper solutions but we invest for stability and performance for the longer haul. Features and support are a big part of our purchase decisions.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Before choosing this product, we evaluated Extreme Networks for the switches; excellent but would have required additional management and expertise. I looked again at Netgear but went with Aerohive for the reasons I've mentioned, and HiveManager.What other advice do I have?I believe Aerohive is committed to being a leader in this space and that their APs for the enterprise campus are the best available. I would like to see port aggregation on the switches but have been told that's on the roadmap, and that's acceptable at this time. HiveManager make the whole process of configuration and management of the network so much easier. I'm a fan.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-02-06T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It operates in a controller-less fashion. The APs can function if connectivity is lost.Valuable FeaturesThe most valuable feature for me is the ability to operate in a controller-less fashion. Allowing the APs to function if connectivity is lost to the controller can be very valuable.Improvements to My OrganizationThese devices have allowed our wireless network deployment to go from a 'best-effort' nicety to an 'expected' accommodation. The dependability is definitely appreciated.Room for ImprovementThe area that I would like to see improved is searching within Hivemanager. There have been several occasions where I was attempting to delete an 'unnecessary' or 'unused' configuration item and was advised by the system that it was still in use by another policy. Trying to find that policy was very time consuming.Use of SolutionWe have had Aerohive deployed in our environment for over eight years.Deployment IssuesWe did not encounter any issues related to deployment of the Aerohive access points.Stability IssuesWe have not encountered any issues related to stability of the Aerohive access points.Scalability IssuesWe have not encountered any issues related to scalability of the Aerohive access points.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: I would rate customer service around 8/10. We have not had any significant problems necessitating a call to customer service. They have always been willing to help.Technical Support: I would rate technical support at 8.5/10. The technical support teams seem to be pretty robust. Our main needs for technical support have been for hardware failures rather than software or configuration issues.Previous SolutionsWe did not have any previous solutions in our environment.Initial SetupThis system was set up before I began managing the environment. I cannot say if there were issues in the initial setup, or speak to it being straightforward or complex.Implementation TeamThis was implemented via an in-house team with the assistance of an Aerohive engineer.ROIOur return on investment has been positive, overall. It is very difficult to gauge this statistic in our environment due to this product being used 'in addition to', rather than 'in place of' a wired infrastructure.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingConcerning Aerohive ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/aerohive-networks ), this topic is not one that I have been involved with and, as such, I do not wish to give advice regarding.Other Solutions ConsideredThis system was set up before I began managing the environment. I cannot say which vendors, or even if other vendors were evaluated.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-09-26T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The amount of data that you can get out of the system gives you a great look into your network.Valuable Features:The management interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, while being powerful and granular in your ability to control the environment.I like the fact that even if the management system goes down, the network stays up. There is no single point of failure that requires redundancy in equipment.The amount of data that you can get out of the system gives you a great look into your network.Improvements to My Organization:We were going from autonomous APs to a managed system and looked at several different vendors. The initial cost for all of the other vendors was far higher than the Aerohive solution, and even over 5 years it was still less expensive.Room for Improvement:I have never really felt their mounting system for the APs is all that good. The plastic plates are a bit flimsy and not well designed.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from There is one interface to configure and go to as we manage our network.What is most valuable?Aerohive has been the perfect fit for us as a small organization. It's ease of use is a valuable aspect.How has it helped my organization?It's great to have just one interface to configure and go to as we manage our network. If troubleshooting is needed, having the single dashboard helps immensely.What needs improvement?Continue the updates as technology and the wifi world changes.For how long have I used the solution?I have used it for four years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?We have not encountered any deployment issues, once familiarity of the hardware and dashboard was gained.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We have not encountered any stability issues; greater stability than before.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have not encountered any scalability issues.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service is helpful.Technical Support: Technical support is excellent.Which solutions did we use previously?We did not previously use a different solution.What about the implementation team?It was an in-house setup.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Be aware of the total cost for equipment and licensing.What other advice do I have?With multiple tasks, Aerohive has been a huge time saver and streamlined our IT tasks. It has improved the readability of our wireless network.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-04-02T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Our transaction polling is now way more secureWhat is our primary use case?We have BR200-LTE-VZ branch routers at each of our retail locations providing primary and backup connectivity to the stores.How has it helped my organization?The ease of management is great. We can have a single push of a policy to configure a unit, then bring up in the VPN in minutes. It is great!What is most valuable?The HiveManager integration with the VPN Gateway is awesome. Our transaction polling is now way more secure.What needs improvement?The user interface and disparity of feature releases versus golden firmware.Certain features only exist or work in certain versions.For how long have I used the solution?One to three years.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2018-03-07T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Allows us to fully manage all our wireless radios, ensuring consistency and ease of accessWhat is our primary use case?We use Aerohive as our campus wireless solution. The cloud-based management interface allows us to fully manage all our wireless radios, ensuring consistency and ease of access.How has it helped my organization?Wireless is no longer a ‘nice to have’ feature. It has become an essential component to a comprehensive network plan. Wireless is the default for BYOD users and mobile staff. The choice of a wireless vendor was incredibly important given the increasing reliance on mobility. Installing a campus-wide WLAN has given us more flexibility in meeting and classroom spaces, and it provides a value-added service for guests.What is most valuable?The lack of a controller on-site gives us one less point of failure for this critical system. The cloud management gives us the tools and reports that we need to monitor and troubleshoot the network.What needs improvement?We have had some mediocre to poor experiences with tech support: Conflicting information, condescending attitudes, and reluctance to work to resolve an issue. Although, these were isolated, and most of our interactions have been fruitful, they still leave a lasting bad taste.For how long have I used the solution?Three to five years.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2018-06-10T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Easy and consistent deployments allow for a seamless user experience and lowers the chances for administrative mistakes.Valuable Features* HiveManager has been a valuable tool to manage/troubleshoot Access Points, Branch Routers, and connected clients.* Easy and consistent deployments allow for a seamless user experience and lowers the chances for administrative mistakes.Improvements to My OrganizationWe are able to provide wireless service while leveraging security mechanisms and utilizing some web filtering such as blocking torrent traffic.Room for Improvement* Hivemanager NG does not support all devices.* Policy management - objects become tied together so you have to dismantle a policy to be able to delete it. They can not be renamed.* There are also configuration sections that require you to scroll through a list instead of just giving you an "edit" button.Use of Solution5 years.Deployment IssuesDeployment was smooth. Being able to use the planning tool helped create the layout for AP's in the building and the best signal coverage.Stability IssuesGenerally no however there are 2 occasions that caused us some problems.AP120 back on hivemanager 4 ran into a buffer issue where clients would just stop communicating even though they remained connected. This was a driver buffer overflow issue fixed with a newer firmware and AP121s.We had issues on hivemanager 6 where the roaming capabilities between access points stopped working. Also fixed with an update provided by Aerohive.Scalability IssuesNo, we have many AP's and 100 branch routers. The hivemanager design makes it easy to add a new piece of hardware and just send an update with the existing policy to get it configured.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Customer service meets expectations however there is room for improvement. Sometimes the communication occurs via email and can try your patience.Technical Support: Technical support has declined in recent years. Fairly functional however much more difficult than in the past to get escalated to someone that can help investigate specific issues. There also may be language barriers that require someone else to relay information.Previous SolutionsNo. We researched multiple vendors however the controller-less system and hivemanager capabilities won. Why is there a minimum character of 120 if the answer is No.Initial SetupSetup is fairly straightforward. Our initial deployment included using the Aerohive AP's to authorize radius requests which made it more complex for setup.Implementation TeamIn house, Hivemanager makes policy configuration and deployment simple enough that engineers were able to design and configure the initial settings and have support staff deploy the equipment.ROIWe are able to increase employee productivity and provide guest internet services.We no longer need ethernet ports/switches in the conference rooms.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingHardware is more expensive than a home router but there is a reason. In addition to the feature sets that hivemanager provides having a maintenance agreement allows us to provide better service to the end users.Other Solutions ConsideredMeraki/Aruba.Other AdviceBuy it!Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-06-16T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We have been able to increase the bandwidth accessible to our users ten-fold though RADIUS server authentication with our MS Active Directory.Valuable FeaturesIt's given us the ability to easily configure and install appliances.Improvements to My OrganizationWe have been able to increase the bandwidth accessible to our users ten-fold though RADIUS server authentication with our MS Active Directory.Room for ImprovementThe only thing that I can think of would be for them to provide a standard out-of-the-box WiFi policy template that could work as temp default setup without having to build a functional network policy in the Hive Manager. This is nothing big, but would allow someone who doesn't have time to build out a complete policy to turn on WiFi after installation for test purposes very quickly.Use of SolutionIt's been two years since we had our campus covered with Aerohive appliances.Deployment IssuesThere were no issues and everything worked as expected directly out-of-the-box.Stability IssuesI'm pleased with current performance and do not have any issues that need to be addressed.Scalability IssuesWe've had no issues scaling it.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: I'm very pleased with the level of customer service and Aerohive's attention to customer concerns.Technical Support: I'm also pleased with the level of technical support. There has been nothing that I have found that could not be solved with either the knowledge-base solutions or technical-support chat help.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Cloud management through HiveManager NG is their most valuable feature.What is most valuable?Aerohive's cloud management through HiveManager NG is their most valuable feature. I can manage and configure changes to my 300+ APs from anywhere. It allows me to see APs and clients that are having issues, allowing for faster support response and less downtime.How has it helped my organization?We have over 100 offices across the state. Remote management has saved us thousands of dollars in travel and time. We are able to support our users' wireless needs anytime and anyplace. We can also proactively monitor all APs to correct errors before the users even know they may have a problem.What needs improvement?Price is a little high. I would like to see a remote phone application for monitoring APs when on the road. I would also like to see the second network pass-through port on the AP provide POE.For how long have I used the solution?I purchased a few APs about 5 years ago. When the opportunity arose last year for a statewide deployment, management decided on Aerohive and we currently have over 300 APs deployed.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?The AP deployment has been the simplest and smoothest part of our statewide network upgrade. We haven't seen any significant issues.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Our APs are so stable that I forget we have them. I almost never get service calls related to hardware problems with our wireless.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We were able to quickly configure and deploy statewide. We installed on average six new units each week for the last year. I recently installed 40 units in one week to a new campus without any difficulty.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service has always been superb. Sales and technical support are always friendly, efficient and have answers to all of my questions or issues.Technical Support: Tech support is extremely knowledgeable not just about their product, but about all Wi-Fi in general. I've never had a problem for which they were not able to quickly provide a solution.Which solutions did we use previously?We previously used a variety of vendors across the state. Aerohive was chosen to standardize our system to make maintenance and support easier.How was the initial setup?Setup and deployment is very simple. Built-in wizards help with most tasks, making it easy for new users to get a quick start.What about the implementation team?We used an in-house team with support from Dell and Aerohive technicians. They have made sales and technical staff available to work with us on any installation issues.What was our ROI?We don't have numbers for our ROI, but this is an expansion of our wireless system into 100+ offices, so we expect it will greatly increase the productivity of our employees and customers.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Although the pricing is a bit high, I consider Aerohive to be well worth the money. They have a very defined licensing scheme that is easy to understand.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We tested APs from several vendors including Cisco, Aruba and Ruckus before deciding on Aerohive. Their product quality and feature set are above average and their cloud management solution is beyond anything else on the market.What other advice do I have?We have been extremely pleased with the quality, ease of setup and cloud management of the Aerohive APs. I would not hesitate to purchase this product again.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-05-10T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from I love the hive manager for finding a device that a student has misplaced.What is most valuable?I am taking over the Director of Technology position in a few days and I am thrilled to say that I have no worries at all about our wireless network. The few times we have needed help, Aerohive has been there for us and I am confident that If I need them they will be there again.How has it helped my organization?Aerohive was able to replace a few APs quickly and without any issues. I was able to get them into our network easily and with almost no downtime. I also love the hive manager for finding a device that a student has misplaced. I can easily see which APs it has hit and start to identify its location.What needs improvement?Bring the cost down.For how long have I used the solution?3 years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?After an OS update on the APs, we lost connectivity and had to roll back to a previous OS.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Some.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?No.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Very satisfied!Technical Support: Great.Which solutions did we use previously?A mix. Mostly Cisco.How was the initial setup?I wasn't on board for the setup.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-06-27T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We found that the AP250s perform better than the competition at almost half the costWhat is most valuable?The support.The support team at Aerohive is out of this world! Whenever I have a concern, question, or just need a refresher the helpful staff at AeroHive is there to help me. By far, the best relationship I have ever had with a vendor.What needs improvement?A mobile app would be awesome.For how long have I used the solution?Two years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?Nope.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Nope.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?Nope.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: 10 out of 10.Technical Support: 10 out of 10.Which solutions did we use previously?Cisco. We swapped to Aerohive because of many reasons.* One reason is the installation. The install of the AP250s is much easier on the drop ceiling compared to their Meraki MR42 counterpart.* Another reason is the price to performance. We found that the AP250s perform better than the MR42s at almost half the cost. With the money we saved, we were able to up our concentration of APs.How was the initial setup?Yes. As easy as 123!What about the implementation team?In-house.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Nope.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-09-25T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Integrated firewall in every AP (with DPI inspection) is a key, yet standard, featureHow has it helped my organization?Since we started to work with this product, we have been able to save a lot of time, money, and support costs for our customers. Hence, we are able to deliver secure and fast unified network solutions across complete distributed locations for our customers.What is most valuable?With Aerohive it is not just about "which features". It is a complete system which is able to serve all types of customers starting with one Access Point with ability to scale to thousands of Access Points.If I need to point out some features, this would definitely be a true controller-less approach, where each AP is 100% independent from the management system.Integrated firewall in every AP (with DPI inspection) is a killer feature and it is included already in the price of licence (with others, this feature is an add-on licence).The feature that everyone should try at least once is PPSK - Private PSK for every user (configured in under three minutes).The feature that I like to most is unified management in a multitenant environment, where we can manage all our customers with thousands of devices (routers, switches, VPNs, and APs).Features that also are adding great value to the product are: Auto-Provisioning, advanced troubleshooting tools, real-time reporting, WIPS, integrated radius system.What needs improvement?From our perspective, we would love to see Aerohive provide faster feature enhancement in their Virtual Appliance to match the features with the cloud solution more quickly.For how long have I used the solution?Three to five years.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Yes, there have been stability issues with the Virtual Appliance. It crashed once while doing an upgrade. The good thing here is, even if the management system fails, all our networks and features still remain 100% stable and working.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?No issues with scalability. We can scale with as many devices as we want, without replacing any infrastructure or adding large bundles of licences.How is customer service and technical support?Eight out of 10.Which solutions did we use previously?We were using Ruckus and UBNT. We changed because neither of these solutions was able to provide us with unified management within one central management system. Also, neither of these past solution got even close in features and capabilities to Aerohive. We noticed that Ruckus is, perhaps, 10% better in performances than Aerohive, which is a very small percentage when comparing the complete set of functionalities and network capabilities of these two vendors.How was the initial setup?Straightforward. You can set up Aerohive in just six clicks, and the system even guides you throughout the setup. Implementing 802.1x auth is also very simple and is doable in just five minutes.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?I would advise that you be sure to compare apples with apples. Many customers just look at the price per AP and licences, and compare that against other solutions. But, they do not look at the complete picture such as:* TCO - how much the equipment will cost you over, say, seven years?* Will the customer need to change complete infrastructure when they want to buy the newest hardware?* Does support include a lifetime warranty and RMA?For example, if you compare Aruba vs Aerohive, you need to check which licences from Aruba you need to match the functionality of Aerohive (usually you need at least three types of licences and a controller with redundancy). The same goes with Cisco, where you need buy additional licences for central management, firewall, spectral analysis, WIPS, PPSK, etc. Aerohive has a very simple model - one licence for all the functionalities - and you can believe that there are many. One licence makes it easy to maintain, scale, renew and you can plan your costs 10 years in advance.What other advice do I have?Start small and grow big. You can choose the basic Aerohive Connect free subscription solution and, later, if needed (in terms of functionality) you can upgrade to Aerohive Select.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Distributor.
Date published: 2018-03-12T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Stability could be improved but the multitude of features is valuableValuable Features* Flexible Configuration* Multitude of features* Cloud ManagementImprovements to My Organization* Rediced TCO* Simplified troubleshooting* Simplified network mangementRoom for Improvement* Stability* UI LayoutUse of SolutionOne year (AP121)Deployment IssuesYes, we had problems integrating it with Novell.Stability IssuesYes, problems with user handovers and load balancing across multiple APs.Scalability IssuesNo issues encountered.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: No direct access to vendor tech support, but distributor support (Aero-IT) is 9/10.Technical Support: 9/10Previous SolutionsYes, we had standalone solutions and we switched because we needed more centralized management.Implementation TeamWe implemented in-house as we are a systems integrator company.Other Solutions ConsideredYes, we also looked at Cisco, Meracki and Ruckus Wireless.Other AdviceDon't do it yourself, get a professional integration team.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:We are both a partner and a reseller
Date published: 2015-01-26T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The Hive Manager is easy to use and navigate, even for someone with little network experience.What is most valuable?The Hive Manager is extremely easy to use and navigate, even for someone with very little network experience. The interface is very logical and easy to manage.How has it helped my organization?After recently decreasing our tech staff, Aerohive has been a lifesaver. Our network rarely needs attention, and the reports and configurations are easy to run when needed. This has saved us a lot of man-hours!What needs improvement?Pricing is a little high, but I have no complaints with the service or devices themselves. Occasionally, a device needs to be rebooted, but it is rare.For how long have I used the solution?I have used it for two years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?We did not encounter any problems with deployment. Once everything was hooked up, and the configurations were set, it all fell into place seemlessly.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Issues with stability are few and far between. Occasionally, an access point needs a reboot, but our clients have no trouble accessing the network on a regular basis.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have not had any issues with scalability. As we transitioned to Aerohive, we still had other access points in use, from another manufacturer. We've never had any trouble with increased use, or multiple devices.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service is probably the area I am most happy with. They have it right. Aerohive is easy to get in touch with, quick to answer any questions, and they were very patient with me. I had very little experience, and they walked me through everything I needed to know, checked in frequently, and made sure I was happy.Technical Support: The level of tech support is fantastic. They are very much in the business of helping customers quickly and efficiently.Which solutions did we use previously?We did have another solution in place. I switched because of the ease of use I saw with the Hive Manager. Also, Aerohive had helped with the network at a conference I attended, and it was the best year we ever had in terms of connection.How was the initial setup?The initial setup was very straightforward. As someone with very limited network experience, I was able to get the devices up and running myself with just a couple of calls for support.What about the implementation team?I implemented through a vendor team. Their knowledge was fantastic, and the collaboration between them and the Aerohive folks was amazing. Both were included in all correspondences.What was our ROI?It's very difficult to calculate the ROI on something like this, but here's what I can say: We were able to layoff our network administrator, and give the network over to someone with very little experience. We saved a salary, and not many of my hours are currently being spent on the network. So I think the return is very high!What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?The pricing and licensing appear to be a bit high, but you get what you pay for. It's a great product with excellent customer support.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We evaluated Meraki and that was a close second. In the end, I do believe we made the correct decision for our organization.What other advice do I have?When you are considering a move to Aerohive, ask if you can get a sample device to run on your network. I did this, played around with it for a while, and it helped tremendously.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-02-26T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Controllerless and the Config tool is available as SaaS.What is most valuable?We chose Aerohive because it was controllerless and the config tool is available as SaaS. Nothing more to do then pulling cables and plugging AP's into network.How has it helped my organization?Before we installed the Aerohive solution we had a few cheap individual access points without roaming or central management. Installing the Aerohive solution brought us a lot of management comfort and a good WiFi coverage for our patients with seamless roaming.What needs improvement?The only area of improvement we made ourselves so far is the temporary visitor solution in HiveManager NG which is quasi non-existent. We use an external LDAP server for this now, so no big issue for us.For how long have I used the solution?3 years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?The deployment was without any issues. Once HiveManager recognized all our devices it was just a matter of pushing the config to them. Done.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We use nearly 30 devices for 3 years now. So far we had no downtime at all. During firmware updates we do every second AP at a time so we keep WiFi working all the time.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We only expand the network once until now, but it was as simple as the initial deployment. Add devices to HiveManager and push config.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: They send us some demo devices upfront our decision taking. It came with extensive pre-sales technical email support. What more do you need?Technical Support: We only needed pre-sales technical support with the demo devices they send us. We had email access up to a developer when needed. They had great experience.Which solutions did we use previously?We only had some single individual access points. That of course means individual config (no central management), no roaming, no full coverage ...How was the initial setup?The initial setup was very easy. Plug the AP's into the network, wait for HiveManager to detect them and push he prepared config. Done.What about the implementation team?We implemented the solution on our own, without any previous training or external consulting. That shows the ease of use. It would maybe have been different if we had chosen to put the HiveManager on premise. But with the cloud host solution it was really easy going for us.What was our ROI?We are a hospital and offer WiFi free to our patients and visitors. So there is no real ROI except customer satisfaction which is difficult to measure for us.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?When using a smaller network we found it more interesting to use the cloud hosted HiveManager solution. We found it cheaper and easier to start. No internal resources needed.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We evaluated HP but they had no controllerless solution at that time (before Aruba acquisition). The controller price (you need redundancy, right ?) broke their neck in terms of budget.What other advice do I have?If you start a new network immediately switch to HiveManager NG. Don't waste your time setting up your system in the old management solution as you will have to move anyway somewhen.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-12-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We have been pleased with the product features, reliability, and their technical support.What is most valuable?The WIFI planning tool is incredibly useful for determining proper AP location throughout our campus. The mesh technology also provides a robust infrastructure for the many guests who frequent our campus.How has it helped my organization?Previously, we had a Ubiquiti WIFI system across our 32 acre campus. The signal strength was great, but it was not robust. Once 10-15 clients connected to an AP the whole system would slow to a crawl. Aerohive changed that for us. We now have no issues of automatically load balancing all of our APs.What needs improvement?I would love to see a more granular web filter. Specifically, I'd like to be able to see what content clients are accessing from each AP. Currently, we get general information (ex. Google App or SSL Gmail) but no details.For how long have I used the solution?~ 1 yearWhat was my experience with deployment of the solution?We did not have any issues with our deployment. I'm not sure why their is a minimum character count on a question asking if you experienced any issues with deployment. If the answer is no, then the answer is no. Nuff said.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We did not experience any issues with stability. Once configured, the Aerohive system basically runs itself. We have auto-upgrade enabled and the new updates get installed without us having to really do anything. We do verify that things are good after an update, but we typically don't have to take any action.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have had no issues with scalability. The WIFI planning tool is a great asset for us. We evaluate the coverage and then add APs as needed to cover dead spots or add new areas of coverage.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: The customer service has been great. We had a few questions when configuring Radius. When we explained what we were trying to accomplish, they advised us of several different options, discussed the pros/cons of each and helped us set a path forward.Technical Support: The technical support has been great. We had a few questions when configuring Radius. When we explained what we were trying to accomplish, they advised us of several different options, discussed the pros/cons of each and helped us set a path forward.Which solutions did we use previously?We previously used Ubiquiti networks. The solution connected several buildings across our 32 acre campus. The signal strength was pretty good, even though it dropped off in a relatively short distance. However, the system was not robust and failed easily under load.How was the initial setup?We actually used a vendor to complete the initial setup. Based on what I've seen, it doesn't look very complicated. All of the changes we made afterwards were pretty straightforward.What about the implementation team?We used a vendor for the initial implementation. From what I've heard, the vendor is quite skilled with Aerohive. We were able to verify with several companies who used their services and were satisfied.What was our ROI?Hard to measure our ROI. With our previous Ubiquiti system, there was no ROI. The WIFI was up until you needed to use it and then it was overloaded and non-functional. Now, the Aerohive just works all of the time.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Our APs were around $630 per unit. We did have to purchase HiveManager licenses for each AP at around $110 per AP. This price is low considering we have had no issues with the system.Which other solutions did I evaluate?Yes, we evaluated Cisco, Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti, and Ruckus. We found that Aerohive performed the best and most consistently across campus.What other advice do I have?I would recommend Aerohive to anyone seeking a robust cloud-based WIFI system. We have been pleased with the product features, reliability, and their technical support.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-03-19T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The new Hivemanager NG product is a 100% improvement, making configuration even easier.Valuable Features:Cloud management and controller-less functionality are valuable features. The Aerohive model aligns better with the increasingly mobile workforce (i.e. high concentration of remote offices and telecommuters). The new Hivemanager NG product is a 100% improvement, making configuration even easier.Improvements to My Organization:Competing products dependent upon controllers are a heavy lift. It can often seem as though you're managing a completely parallel network in addition to the wired LAN. This isn't the case with Aerohive. Most organizations don't have the human capital to spend on heavy management of a WLAN. Aerohive makes it much faster and easier to deploy. I had a a fully configured network (802.1X EAP/PEAP and guest SSIDs) deployed in a day. The built-in security features also make it much easier to provide compliance reports quickly.Room for Improvement:There are still some support issues with the branch routers and the newer version of Hivemanager. I also think the branch routers are due for a significant update.Deployment Issues:We've had no issues with deployment.Stability Issues:We've had no issues with stability.Scalability Issues:We've had no issues with scalability.Other Advice:Dump Cisco and run, do not walk, to Aerohive. In my personal experience, the support staff and sales people are excellent and very helpful.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-03-13T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Devices are easy to configure. The online tool is easy to navigate.Valuable FeaturesDevices are easy to configure and require almost no maintenance. It is an independent device that can be managed remotely. The online tool helps us view with one click all important information. It is easy to navigate and obtain all necessary information.Improvements to My OrganizationOur previous solution had various issues - we went from a centralized wifi solution and converted to the Aerohive solution. This in the cloud solution is very practical as each device is not dependent from one device to the next.Room for ImprovementI support several points of service, but our billing is centralized. As our points of service placed their purchases, the yearly maintenance fees were not dated all the same. It created a headache trying to deal with several maintenance fees throughout the year. To facilitate our billing, we requested that there is one yearly maintenance renewal instead of several during the year. It took a bit of negotiation, but we were able to work with them to modify the billing to a combined yearly cycle. Once that small issue was ironed out, there hasn't been any other issues.Use of SolutionWe have had this solution for 2 years.Deployment IssuesWe did have licensing issues at the renewal of the maintenance. Any issues we had were promptly dealt with. Since that initial issue - everything has worked out and we haven't had any issues since then.Stability IssuesNo, this solution has been a very stable solution once we had it in place. We have several points of service that are now independent. Aerohive are pro-active and provide occasional updates to ensure an adequate stability.Scalability IssuesNo. We have this solution deployed throughout over 60 points of service - with several that have more than one device. Changes can be made per device or by grouping several devices.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: The customer service with Aerohive is outstanding. The have forums and a support site. They are friendly and it feels like we are a part of the family. They are proud of their product and it shows.Technical Support: I have never had to deal personally with technical support. Members of my team have dealt with them and issues have been resolved accordingly in very little time. This issues were related to hardware failure - but the issues were resolved in a very short time.Previous SolutionsYes. Our previous solution was centralized and we had a lot of dependability issues. With the Aerohive solution we were able to decentralize our wifi solution. This helped provide a more stable and dependable solution.Initial SetupI was not a part of the initial setup. Several members of my team did work on the development of this project and no major issues were signaled.Implementation TeamOur initial setup was with an in-house team. A member of our team did the research and contacted Aerohive directly for support. As no major issues happened, I don't have anything to report.ROIOur organization is a non-profit. As we do not charge for usage, we don't really have an ROI calculated as such. The service we provide (free of charge) is stable and required almost no maintenance.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingWe have several points of service that has purchased this solution - the only issue we had is that they weren't purchased at the same time - so maintenance fees were not all a the same time. Aerohive was able to help us adjust our pricing to be more regular. Work with Aerohive to develop the solution that will work best for you.Other Solutions ConsideredBefore choosing Aerohive, we had an in-house solution. We researched what could be done locally and the advantages of staying in-house. Aerohive provided us with a staple and scalable solution that suited our needs.Other AdviceAerohive is a great company to deal with. You feel like a part of the family. The product is top notch - you will not have any regrets.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-10-26T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Some of the valuable features include controller-less APs and Auto-Provisioning.What is most valuable?* Controller-less APs* Auto-Provisioning* App and firewall security at the AP* ReliabilityHow has it helped my organization?I never worry about the WiFi being down. An AP might have issues, but the others automatically increase power to fill in the gap. Usually, an issue is resolved with a configuration push and a restart.What needs improvement?Their firewall configuration gets funky and it can be difficult to understand.For how long have I used the solution?We have been using this solution for over five years.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?I did not encounter any issues with deployment.What do I think about the stability of the solution?I did not encounter any issues with stability.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?I did not encounter any issues with scalability.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer Service is excellent! I have had no reason to give them less than a 10 on a post ticket survey.Technical Support: Tech support is great. Sometimes the Level-1 person can't help, but they engage engineers quickly to assist if needed.Which solutions did we use previously?We used Symbol Controller based WiFi. It was terrible, it went down all the time, and it was difficult to upgrade or add APs to.How was the initial setup?The setup was straightforward. You build a policy in HiveManager Online, set the sub-net, and then plug in an AP on that sub-net. This will automatically push the configuration down, once it calls home from your network.What about the implementation team?A vendor assisted with our first roll-out. After that initial one, we have done all other implementations ourselves without any issues.What was our ROI?It is difficult to say with WiFi. I never have to deal with it and people don't complain about it. If everyone who needs to connect, and can do so without issues, then productivity is increased for sure.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Buy near the end of Q4 in order to get a deal.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We looked at several other options, including Cisco and Aruba.What other advice do I have?You will not regret buying this solution.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-06-22T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The hardware is stable and the APIs are valuable.What is most valuable?* Scalable* Good managament/monitoring system* Stable hardware* Lot of features* APIsHow has it helped my organization?The management/monitoring system really helps a lot in managing and monitoring the WiFi environment.What needs improvement?Support could be faster.For how long have I used the solution?I have used it since 2013.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?We encountered some bugs in certain software versions.What do I think about the stability of the solution?We have not encountered any stability issues.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?We have not encountered any scalability issues.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service is very good.Technical Support: Technical support is good but could be faster.Which solutions did we use previously?Motorola was previously used; because of a new version, APs had to be changed so we had to send out a PoC to find the best solution at that moment (end 2012).How was the initial setup?Initial setup was straightforward; easy deployment.What about the implementation team?An in-house team implemented it.What was our ROI?* Stable, well-managed and well-monitored WiFi infrastructureWhich other solutions did I evaluate?Before choosing this product, we also evaluate Motorola, Aruba, Cisco, Juniper and HPE.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-03-23T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from As long as you have a PoE switch you can put an AP up to 100m away without issue.?Valuable FeaturesController less architecture is a key to the scalability of this product. I am not trying to funnel all of the bandwidth through one interface.Improvements to My OrganizationWe are able to deploy APs to locations that have a POE switch without much technical ability locally. I send an AP to a remote location and tell them to plug it into the switch. I've already configured it at my site and it comes up 'phones home' and I can manage it from hundreds of miles away. All without traveling.Room for ImprovementI'd really love to see some better reporting features. The data exists because you can see it on the AP itself but getting it out through a report is just not a possibility or at least I can't make it happen.Deployment IssuesWe've had no issues deploying it at multiple locations.Stability IssuesI have had some stability issues with the older AP110/AP120 models taking newer v6 code. I have spoken to support about this issue but no resolution came about, other than leaving them on the older code.Scalability IssuesScalability is simple. You just plug in a new AP and push code. As long as you have a PoE switch you can put an AP up to 100m away without issue.Customer Service and Technical SupportSupport was excellent when I was having client hop at our High School. They helped me design the AP placement off what we could see from the heat maps on Aerohive’s build in planning tools. They used what was discovered by the existing APs to figure out I had too much signal causing my clients to swap between each of the APs it could see constantly. Once the signal was reduced I was able to narrow in on client stability and now those issues are gone.I have had the issue with the newer 6 code that still has not been resolved. Support was great when I spoke to them, but throughout our discussions they contended there was not an issue, yet I still see data loss and eventually the old AP110/120s will just stop talking to the HiveManager and clients.Initial SetupThe only issues we had during setup was the fact of putting too much signal out there. Our old system (Meru) had a unique design philosophy and so we had APs in every room possible. The Aerohive system did not require that many APs to do the same job. Just placing them appropriately for RF interference and support helped me through those issues.Other AdviceEveryone I’ve dealt with at Aerohive has been wonderful, down to David Coleman, the main trainer. I have taken a couple of their classes and that helped with the initial and then the advanced setup items. I’ve worked with Abby and a few others through orders and they have all been stellar.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-04-19T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We evaluated Meraki prior to choosing Aerohive. At the time, Meraki did not support PPSK's, which was a requirement for our network.What is most valuable?Overall management / UI is great. There is a lot to it, but it is well organized and relatively simple to use.The guest user portal and generation of PPSK's has proven invaluable.How has it helped my organization?The self-registration guest wi-fi portal and optional approval are very important to the functionality of our environment.What needs improvement?While the UI is great, it could still use some tweaks. The latest revision is heading in the right direction.For how long have I used the solution?Started using it in August 2015, but didn't use it in-depth until about May-June 2016.What was my experience with deployment of the solution?The biggest issue we encountered was a bug in the guest self-registration portal, which was minor in the big picture.What do I think about the stability of the solution?Stability is not an issue at all. Since implementation, we have had more power outages than wi-fi outages. I'm even impressed at the coverage during AP updates.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?Scalability is not an issue in our environment at all. We have over 100 AP's, some of which are in near Faraday cages in our facility.How is customer service and technical support?Customer Service: Customer service was fantastic. We had to call a few times during implementation and minor troubleshooting and we always got an answer.Technical Support: Technical support is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and eager to get answers. If we were unable to get a response on the phone call, we always received a timely call back.Which solutions did we use previously?We did not use an enterprise solution previously. We built a new manufacturing facility and needed a solution that would meet our needs.How was the initial setup?Slightly complex - we have multiple profiles / classes of users, multiple SSID's, and different types of AP's.What about the implementation team?We implemented using a consultant. I'd give them an 8/10 at the start of the project and 9/10 after the project.What was our ROI?ROI is difficult to answer in this situation. Wi-Fi cost was part of infrastructure cost of our new manufacturing facility.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?Pricing and licensing is straight forward. Make sure to read appropriate documentation and ASK QUESTIONS. Also be sure to always ask about three-year renewals on licensing, there can be huge savings.Which other solutions did I evaluate?We evaluated Meraki prior to choosing Aerohive. At the time, Meraki did not support PPSK's, which was a requirement for our network.What other advice do I have?The overall experience is very good. The best part is that it can be managed with a skeleton IT support team.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-12-28T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It enabled mobility and district-wide consistent performance.Valuable FeaturesIt provides cloud-based management and superior resiliency.Improvements to My OrganizationIt enabled mobility and district-wide consistent performance.Use of SolutionWe've used it for four years.Deployment IssuesThe PoE switches we purchased were/are very difficult to configure.Stability IssuesWe encountered no issues with stability.Scalability IssuesWe had no issues with scalability and, in fact, enlarging the environment was extremely simple.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: I haven't used it much, but it's great when I have.Technical Support: Top notch! The technicians manning the help desk are very knowledgeable and proficient. They offer great advice and help with best practices.Previous SolutionsWe had a completely different way of doing wireless, so this was a "start from scratch" project. I evaluated a number of vendors and visited several peer sites before choosing a solution, though.Initial SetupAs straightforward as you could expect from a complex project. Aerohive was the easiest portion of it too.Implementation TeamThe vendor is a reseller of Aerohive and would get a C or C+ from me. We cut loose very early from needing their support though, and that is to the credit of Aeorhive who gets an A+.ROIThis is a school district, so N/A.Other Solutions ConsideredWe evaluated Aruba, Rocket, Cisco, HP and one or two others.Other AdviceIt has been a total success and well-received by our staff and students. If you need a wireless infrastructure, you cannot go wrong with Aerohive.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A bit pricey but worth it because of the features and supportValuable FeaturesSince these APs are controller-less they are very dependable and easy to configure. Other features that add value to our institution include deployment planning tools, load-balancing, auto-channeling, auto-power, Cooperative Control Protocols, Firewalls, QoS, to mention a few.Improvements to My OrganizationEase of use and features are its strongest points.Room for ImprovementSometimes, packing a wide array of feature into these APs might overtax them. They would benefit from creating more powerful APs (Processing-wise)Use of Solution4 yearsDeployment IssuesWe started with a small deployment of 300 APs in 2010. Our campus now has ~1400 and we plan to expand to 2000 in the next 2 years.Stability IssuesWhen we installed the latest firmware versions on these APs, sometimes we encountered major/minor bugs that would force us to roll back until an appropriate patch was released. Also, with some bleeding-edge AC units we had some problems when they were under high client-loads were new clients would be unable to associate to the APs.Scalability IssuesNot really. We simply had to buy a more powerful Hive Manager appliance when we went over the 1000 AP mark, but other than that, this product scales very easily.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: I would rate it at 10 out of 10 as their staff is very polite with customers.Technical Support: I would rate their TAC team at 9 out of 10 as some of their Tier 1 engineers needed more experience and/or training.Initial SetupThe initial setup is very easy. the APs automatically find our local Hive Manager and make it very straight-forward to configure.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingDay to day cost is minimal, as these APs don't fail very often. The initial setp was a bit pricey as well as our expansion (if you calculate at around $1200 per newly deployed AP, including wired lines)Other Solutions ConsideredI'd highly recommend this product if they're looking for feature-rich APs that are easy to deploy & manage.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-12-14T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It's nice to have a single interface to configure, troubleshoot and remediate any issues.Valuable FeaturesIt's nice to have a single interface to configure, troubleshoot and remediate any issues. It has been a huge time saver, even if the interface is a little "clunky".Improvements to My OrganizationTracking down issues is fairly easy and we're able to identify and rectify the problem from one place.Room for ImprovementA redesigned UI with better flow and more intuition would make configuration much easier.Use of SolutionGoing on 3 years now.Deployment IssuesA little bit of a learning curve at first but with proper training and a better understanding of the system it finally clicks.Stability IssuesNo stability issues.Scalability IssuesHad some client issues, but nothing with the Aerohive equipment.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Customer service has been great for the most part, haven't had too many interactions with them.Technical Support: Level 2 support is always top notch.Previous SolutionsNothing enterprise-wide, but we did use some CIsco and Linksys products for a small office roll-out.Initial SetupInitial setup was a little complex, just needed to think a little differently than with other vendors.Other Solutions ConsideredCisco, Aruba, Meraki (before Cisco purchased).Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-03-09T00:00:00-05:00

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