Ruckus Introduces SmartZone Network Controllers

Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company, announced the availability of SmartZone network controllers—newly enhanced versions of its SmartZone WLAN controllers—powered by the latest release of its SmartZoneOS software. SmartZoneOS 5 transforms the industry’s most scalable WLAN controllers into a comprehensive single network element to control and manage both Ruckus access points (APs) and switches. The new SmartZone network controller family includes physical and virtual appliances designed for managed service providers, operators and medium to large enterprises.

First introduced in 2015, SmartZoneOS-powered controllers combine scalability, tiered multi-tenancy, architectural flexibility and extensive APIs into a single centrally-managed element. These capabilities enable managed service providers to implement complex, multi-tier and as-a-service business models using their own management applications. They also allow operators to manage subscriber data traffic on a massive scale, while integrating traffic flows and network data into existing network architecture. SmartZone network controllers further enable enterprises to simplify network management through consolidation and use of built-in troubleshooting and analytics tools. SmartZone products have been deployed in thousands of enterprises and in more than 200 service provider networks on five continents.

“Whether you’re an operator, managed service provider or sophisticated enterprise IT organization, you need the ability to customize your network to meet specific business and technical requirements,” said Greg Beach, vice president of wireless products, Ruckus Networks. “Ruckus has embraced simplification through an ‘open’ approach to networking that acknowledges our customers’ and partners’ desire to build their own best-in-class architectures and gives them the tools to do so with relative ease.”

“Organizations are looking for ways to reduce network complexity and automate complex processes,” said Brandon Butler, senior research analyst for Network Infrastructure, IDC. “The SmartZone network controller complements the company’s introduction of a converged IoT access network and is further evidence of Ruckus’ commitment to addressing the network complexity challenge, in this case by consolidating network management and better enabling process automation.”

Simplifying converged network management

IT departments seeking to manage both wired and wireless networks through a single console have traditionally needed to purchase a stand-alone network management element for on-premises management scenarios. SmartZone network controllers eliminate this requirement for many network types, simplifying and cost-reducing network management by:

• Eliminating provisioning errors through use of an automated discovery process for access points (APs) and switches;
• Reducing configuration and deployment duration when compared to a multi-console approach;
• Reducing network software and hypervisor license fees, server expense, utility expense and training costs;
• Enabling a single network controller cluster to scale to 450,000 clients.

Enabling networking-as-a-service

Managed service providers (MSPs) and networking-as-a-service (NaaS) providers face the dual challenge of differentiating themselves through custom application development and managing their costs to ensure profitability in a fixed-revenue environment. Both challenges require integration between vendor networking infrastructure and their own or third-party applications. SmartZone network controllers enable service providers to better address these challenges by:

• Providing open, well-documented RESTful application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow IT to easily invoke SmartZone functions and configurations, enabling error-free automation.
• Providing streaming APIs that allow IT to monitor in near real-time the full array of Ruckus network data, statistics and alarms, allowing for the easy creation of customized, information-dense dashboards and reports within their own applications.