Aruba AP535 Wi-Fi 6 access point review

The Aruba 530 Series consist of the Aruba AP535 Wi-Fi 6 access point, and the AP 534 access point. The difference is the AP535 has integrated antennas, while the AP534 has external ones. Check out the datasheet for more information on that. Most of what is said here will apply to both models. The 530 series are high-end 802.11ax access points. Which is to say, they’re Wi-Fi 6 access points. They provide extremely fast gigabit speeds and superb, easy user experience for high-density environments.

As with other Aruba APs, you can run the Aruba AP535 either controller-based, or controlerless (Instant) mode.

When deployed with an Aruba Mobility Controller, the Aruba AP535 offers centralized configuration, data encryption, and policy enforcement. It will also give you network services and distributed and centralized traffic forwarding.

In controllerless (Instant) mode, the controller function is virtualized in a cluster of APs. As the network grows or requirements change, Instant deployments can easily migrate to controller-based mode.

Specs and features

The Aruba AP535 accomplishes 2.4 Gbps in the 5GHz band, and 1.147 Gbps in the 2.4GHz band. This gives it a concurrent data rate of 3.97 Gbps. The AP555 is ideal for all sorts of high-density office environments. The 802.11ac 330 Series supports 160 MHz channel bandwidth (VHT160), 4-stream multi-user MIMO and 4 spatial streams. They also provide simultaneous data transmission to multiple devices, maximizing data throughput and improving network efficiency.

The Aruba AP535 Wi-Fi 6 access point provides connectivity for a maximum of 1024 associated clients per radio (2048 in total). In real-world scenarios, the maximum recommended client density is dependent on environmental conditions.

It also has OFDMA, which allows Aruba’s APs to handle multiple Wi-Fi 6 capable clients on each channel simultaneously, regardless of device or traffic type. It also has 4×4:4 MU-MIMO, with Aruba’s patented, AI-powered ClientMatch technology. This cool feature eliminates sticky client issues by placing Wi-Fi 6 capable devices on the best available AP. Session metrics are used to steer mobile devices to the best AP based on available bandwidth, types of applications being used and traffic type. It does this even as users roam.

Aruba’s 360 Secure Fabric

The Aruba 530 Series includes components of Aruba’s 360 Secure Fabric to help protect user authentication and wireless traffic. For example, strong encryption and authentication are provided via the latest version of WPA for enterprise protected networks. And Enhanced Open offers seamless new protection for users connecting to open networks. Each session is automatically encrypted to protect user passwords and data on guest networks.

What we like about the Aruba AP535

The Aruba AP535 has great, easy-to-use technology, and has great range! It’s easy to set up multiple AP’s, including guest access. There is no dedicated controller needed, although it is a snap to employ one, and they are excellent in their own right. Simply power up, plug it into your network, and connect.

Even if you are not familiar with Aruba products, they are easy to master quickly. And if you need to reconfigure, using Instant Mode makes configuration straightforward. Support gets consistently high marks, and the Airheads online community is top notch.

Initial config is a snap. And with the aforementioned ARM technology, you can automatically assign channel and power settings. You can also provide airtime fairness and ensure that APs stay clear of all sources of RF interference. This will ensure reliable, high performance WLANs.

Summary

The Aruba AP535 is excellent for enterprise companies. It is very well suited for organizations that require a large number of wireless access points and need simple intuitive management over them. And when it comes to Wi-Fi management, Aruba gives you the flexibility to choose. You can use an Instant access point or a controller to manage an entire cluster of access points. On the other hand, you can manage them with a cloud-based or an on-site network management platform.

Aruba also has plenty of switches to integrate with your access point for ease-of-access and peace of mind. The Aruba AP535 delivers superb user experience for medium-to-high density environments.

And Corporate Armor gives you uninterrupted 5-star service and years of specialization in Aruba’s whole family of products. So call us at 877-449-0458, or email us with any and all questions. Thanks for reading!

Aruba AP555 access point highlights

Choice of operating modes; Controller mode, and Aruba Instant mode
Up to 3.97 Gbps aggregate frame rate
Bi-directional Multi-user MIMO
Supports VPN tunnels in Remote AP and IAP-VPN deployments
Resolve sticky client issues with MU-MIMO-aware ClientMatch