Instant On - Wireless

If this group can confirm HPE Aruba AP24, 24D, 27, 32 SMB line is cloud free ready with local app management and sticky DHCP static reservations setup?   I had a tech call with HPE and it was explained these SMB products don't scale out with central control via cloud like the three letter HPE Aruba products do.    They believed they were Stand Alone local control and did not offer any cloud management.  

Last week the following was stated 

Hi,

for your information, Instant On APs are named with 2 digits (i.e AP22, AP32, etc.). These APs need cloud connectivity as mentioned.

Based on hours of testing the AP34 gets really unhappy with no internet connection and just alarms on power on. 

The AP has no traditional DHCP-Server and depends on what is upstream to give its clients and itself DHCP (like a Ubiquity or TPLINK or Netgear etc.)

With internet it has very limited settings for AP or Router where you can fumble around on the smartphone app and set it for an IP scope, but it takes a few reboots, even DHCP reservation if you find it (which is difficult). The MAC has to first be assigned a DHCP IP and be live to do that.    

No CLI unless there is special chipset dongle cable and legacy usb micro ssh port.  Not any instructions that were useful, very very limited and learn by doing.  No manual, No advanced users guide. Nothing in the new box.  Anyway, no serial and no http and no telnet and no SSH to port 23 115250 b.  FAIL  The device won't ping to help with diagnostics.  

No help in the forums here or Airhead.

Not any thing to download online about these for a user's guide that has the screen captures and configuration pages of what can be done with it (so you could determine what to buy before your buy and return the wrong product) 

Concurrently with the hpe aruba Windows Web site (a cloud) not an App, you can set a totally different setup, and it may pick one or the other (smartphone app) depending on who responds to the AP when it boots.  

A shame there is no presales engineer for customers on the HP32 or the HPE Aruba AP545 555 535 515, and these have to go back and fight for refunds as a failure.  No support for USB Internet broadband modem.  No support for simple screw based clamp for polt mount only ceiling tile mount and that is it. 

Lower your expectations perhaps as we march towards WIFI 8

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Douglas Edwards
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InstantON APs and Gateways can only be managed by cloud. No local configuration or even local interface is available. No Web UI or CLI. Only ION switches can be managed locally.

As it is clearly express from HPE this is SMB/SOHO solution. 

If you require local management, then Instant (not InstantON) is the way to go for wireless. HW is the same. FW is different and you can't mix them in same management.

InstantON APs, GWs and switches are designed with normal users, not IT professionals in mind. So you need to suppress your standard IT instincts and embrace the patience.  Most operations are automatic and need no user intervention. Configuration is quite flexible (ok except DHCP. This part need improvements - badly).

You have manuals in pdf in web help, also live chat is working just fine. 

For IT professionals ION approach is very frustrating. No control, no logs, very limited interaction. But for normal users it is really good. Speaking from personal experience. I provide many ION wifi/switch solutions to homes, small business without IT staff, to partners who manage many small customers. And many managed to setup network with only basic instructions found in the box. Very few calls and in most cases just provide some guidance when they went stuck in some advanced action. And they sell really well. BUT DO NOT EXPECT ENTERPRISE FEATURES. 

Also I have very good experience with chat and TAC support for ION.

If you need different mounts, then you can order any mount from enterprise portfolio. You have an enterprise model on the AP. Also have in mind that these APs are designed for ceiling mount to get optimal RF performance and cooling.

Best, Gorazd

The very simple product requirement is run its own DHCP Server WLAN private for non-internet air gapped IoT segment.   

The AP32 has a console port MICROUSB if you have the right chipset and driver built-in to a cable for SSH.  

I may test an HPE AP 32 with a $30 Lync Sys WAP that has DCHP-Server without internet. 

USB port is not working in ION mode. AP32 do have console port, but when FW is booted, it is blocked. Only way to configure any ION AP is from cloud. I have this orange cable AP-CBL-SERU Micro-USB cable pn JY728A and I use it regularly to factory reset or diagnose APs (ION included).

So the only way for AP32 or any other ION AP will work, you need some sort of internet connection. When I'm doing demonstrations I use mobile phone for internet uplink. 

ION APs do have internal DHCP server for wireless clients and do NAT to outside without a problem. But as we agree, the whole DHCP stuff would need some work. 

If you really would like to have no internet AP, then Instant 5xx or 6xx or even 3xx (be careful, not all 3xx are Instant), will do the job just fine. DHCP server is built-in, no reservations unfortunately.. You can attach USB modem to those APs. There is Aruba USB modem available but many 3rd party modems will work just fine.

Best, Gorazd

OK. the 3 letter AP535 or cardioid/wall model I was told must run VERSION 8.X to it allows Private WLAN and needs to run VC DHCP , have a way to PREVENT upgrades to version 10 (when stand alone IAP VC is removed.)  

Also in the test a 5 switch ports with a few POE++

Can I run private non internet DHCP-Server on small HPE Access Switch, is there a product selector to pick DHCP Server?  none of the Instant On has DHCP at the 1900 level and down? 

It is a verbose exercise of try and buy and return to SELECT the right product since I can't get anyone technical from HPE and the distributors don't do presales or know the products. 

2930f run DHCP for HPE Aruba AP535 /AP 555

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HI.

2930F is very nice switch and has quite some life. You can get refurbished 8 port PoE switch usually quite cheap. I have it at home for my APs. It has good DHCP server.

All Instant AP series need to be in version 8 to have it standalone. AP535/555 are high end and you will need two PoE+ ports to power one AP. For IoT only I would consider AP505/515 or AP504/514 with external antenna if you need more RF range. External antennas usually has better receiving capabilities and can hear low IoT signals better on longer distance.

Here is configuration that satisfy your requirements. Just select the correct AP (504 or 514) and put quantity. Configuration is really quite straight forward. Nothing really complex.

If for any reason external antennas are not desired, then select 505/515 models with internal antennas. 

Best, Gorazd

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Gorazd Kikelj
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