Ruckus ZoneFlex™ 2942

Ruckus ZoneFlex™ 2942 Overview:

The World's Smartest 802.11g Access Point with Adaptive Wi-Fi Signaling, Reliable Meshing and Automatic Interference Avoidance

ZoneFlex 2942 offers features and functions not available in any low-end consumer access point (AP) or high-end wireless LAN (WLAN) system. Yet, surprisingly, it’s the industry’s most cost-effective 802.11g wireless solution. Go figure! It supports Smart Mesh Networking, to streamline complex deployment headaches and eliminate running Ethernet cabling to every access point. This cuts down on operational overhead, making it ideal for hotels, schools, airports, and enterprises everywhere.

Based on IEEE 802.11g standards, ZoneFlex 2942 supports up to 54 Mbps of data capacity, and can handle up to 100 simultaneous data users or 20 concurrent voice calls. It’s equipped with a high-gain BeamFlex Smart antenna array (which led us to yet another trip to the U.S. Patent Office). It delivers unsurpassed density and range, with superior coverage that reduces the number of APs required. This technology allows ZoneFlex 2942 to be installed without site survey and RF planning—and without the expense of Ethernet cabling.

The Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 is the fi rst centrally-managed, multimedia 802.11g Wi-Fi access point (AP) that delivers advanced features and functionality not available in any low-end consumer AP or high-end WLAN system.

Deployed individually, or as a system centrally managed by the Ruckus ZoneDirector™ Smart WLAN family of controllers, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 can be deployed with or without Ethernet cabling. Support for Ruckus Smart Mesh Networking streamlines costly and complex deployment headaches, eliminating the need to run Ethernet cabling to every access point. This minimizes operational overhead, making the ZoneFlex 2942 ideal for hotels, schools, airports and enterprises everywhere.

The ZoneFlex 2942 is also perfect for hot spot operators that want to deliver business-class hot-spot services — such as voice over Wi-Fi, IP-based video or secure enterprise access.

Each ZoneFlex 2942 integrates Ruckus-patented BeamFlex™ smart antenna technology that enables consistent, high performance, extended coverage and multimedia support as it automatically tunes itself to adapt to constant changes in the environment. This means fewer APs, more satisfi ed users, and a cost-effective system that can be installed anywhere by wireless novices.

A web-based wizard allows any computer user to configure the ZoneFlex 2942 through the ZoneDirector — creating a secure and sophisticated WLAN in a matter of minutes. The Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 simply plugs into any Ethernet network and automatically discovers the ZoneDirector. No RF tuning. No client configuration. A true plug-and-play multimedia WLAN that is ready to use, stable and high performance.

Benefits:

• Breakthrough user performance and density
  Advanced antenna array and Quality of Service (QoS) software delivers 20 concurrent voice calls, 100 simultaneous data users or 20 Mbps of guaranteed user throughput throughout a 5,000 square foot facility.
   
• No RF experts required
  Smart antenna array eliminates AP placement issues and minimizes adjacent AP interference, while ZoneDirector controls dynamic channel assignment and power management.
   
• SmartMesh™ streamlines costly and complex deployment
  Integrated technology automates deployment, eliminates the need to run Ethernet cables to every Smart Wi-Fi access point.
   
• Extended coverage means fewer APs
  Directional, high-gain antennas dynamically combine to give hotspot operators and enterprises two- to four-times the coverage over typical consumer and enterprise APs.
   
• Optimized for voice over Wi-Fi
  Specialized antenna design, dynamic signal path selection and precision QoS software optimize delay-sensitive, high-density Voice-over- Wi-Fi (Vo-Fi) applications. Power Save (UAPSD) maximizes handset battery life.
   
• Proven video streaming support
  Ruckus smart antenna system and video QoS already proven for real time IP video streaming applications deployed by over 100 IPTV operators worldwide.
   
• "IT Lite" configuration and management
  Web-based wizard enables configuration of multiple APs across the entire WLAN in minutes. Once configured, the WLAN manages itself.
   
• Enables business class hotspot services
  New revenue opportunities for operators such as (VoFi) services, extended enterprise access, IP video applications and tiered service classes.

Ultra High Performance and Cost Effective

Based on the IEEE 802.11g standards, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 supports up to 54 Mbps of data capacity. What differentiates the ZoneFlex 2942 is the integration of patented Ruckus BeamFlex Smart antenna technology that automatically adapts to the RF environment by steering Wi-Fi signals on the best path, while rejecting interference, in real time.

Each Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 comes equipped with a state-of-the-art, high-gain smart antenna array designed to deliver unsurpassed density and range. Supporting up to 100 simultaneous data users or 20 concurrent voice calls, while its superior coverage reduces the number of APs required, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 delivers the industry’s most costeffective 802.11g Wi-Fi solution.

Simple Deployment

The self-optimizing Ruckus BeamFlex technology allows the Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 to be installed without site survey and RF planning. Plug any Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 into an Ethernet and the AP automatically discovers the Ruckus ZoneDirector and self-configures.

The Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 and ZoneDirector system seamlessly integrate with existing security systems such as fi rewalls, intrusion detection systems and authentication servers, including RADIUS and ActiveDirectory. An internal authentication database lets enterprises implement user authentication without the expense and complexity associated with external authentication servers.

Simple Configuration

Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 APs are automatically configured by the Ruckus ZoneDirector. A network of APs can be centrally confi gured quickly and simply through the ZoneDirector’s web-based wizard.

Smart Mesh Networking Increases Flexibility, Reduces Costs

Ruckus Smart Mesh Networking enables self-organizing and self-healing wireless meshing. Smart Mesh Networking eliminates the need to run Ethernet cabling to every Smart Wi-Fi AP, allowing administrators to simply plug ZoneFlex APs into any power source, then walk away. All configuration and management is delivered through the ZoneDirector Smart WLAN platform. Patented Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology provides extended range and dynamic signal controls. Smart Mesh Networking minimizes inter-nodal hops that might degrade performance, automatically adapts Wi-Fi connections between nodes to environmental changes, and requires deployment of fewer APs.

Increased Flexibility

Ruckus Smart Mesh Networking enables self-organizing, self-healing wireless meshing. All configuration and management is delivered through the ZoneDirector Smart WLAN platform, with Smart Wi-Fi technology providing extended range and dynamic signal controls. Smart Mesh Networking minimizes inter-nodal hops that degrade performance, automatically adapts Wi-Fi connections between nodes to environmental changes, and requires fewer APs.

Automatic User Security

Used with the Ruckus ZoneDirector, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 provides fi rst-of-its-kind automatic, robust user security enforcement. Provisioning secure wireless access often involves confi guring all the client devices with a wireless setting such as an SSID and encryption key. Typically organizations use a single pre-shared key for all employees. This is a security problem and an ongoing operational headache.

Ruckus Dynamic PSK™ on the Ruckus ZoneDirector and ZoneFlex 2942 automates this process to assure integrity of the user authentication system. First-time users simply plug their computers into the LAN and specify a URL that directs them to a captive portal for a one-time authentication. Upon authentication, the ZoneDirector automatically confi gures the user’s system with the designated SSID and a unique, dynamically-generated encryption key. The key can be removed automatically upon expiration, or manually when the user or their device is no longer trusted.

Business-Class, Multimedia Hotspots

The ZoneFlex 2942 lets operators build a new class of hotspots and offers multimedia hotspot services. Equipped with a dual-polarized directional antenna system, the ZoneFlex 2942 delivers stable connectivity to any Wi-Fi-enabled handheld device and fl icker-free support for concurrent video streams and voice over Wi-Fi calls.

Differentiated Services with Multiple SSIDs

Up to eight discrete SSIDs can be configured within each Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942, each with unique broadcast, QoS, security and management parameters assigned. This enables hot-zone operators to easily offer tiered services to different user or traffi c types. Enterprises can use this features to differentiate guest, contractor and employee access policies or to segment different traffi c types.

Dynamic RF Management

A Ruckus ZoneFlex WLAN is inherently RF-coordinated as BeamFlex automatically steers Wi-Fi signals toward each receiver, and away from noise, in real time. And unlike omni antennas, BeamFlex does not constantly radiate in all directions, thereby minimizing the chances of adjacent AP interference. As a last resort, the Ruckus ZoneDirector can dynamically exert control over the RF channel assignment and transmit power levels on the ZoneFlex APs, to further optimize the RF environment without manual intervention.

Features:

Self-Adjusting, High-Performance BeamFlex Smart Antenna Technology

• Automatically adapts to constant changes in the environment
• Steers Wi-Fi signals to the best route
• Enables high performance, extended coverage, and multimedia support

Easy to Configure and Deploy

• Can be used by non-IT person to create a sophisticated, plug-and-play, multimedia WLAN in minutes
• No RF tuning or client configuration required
• Web-based wizard enables easy configuration through ZoneDirector

Perfect for Hotzone Operators

• Ideal for delivering business-class hot zone services, such as voice over Wi-Fi, IP-based video, or secure enterprise access
• Dual-polarized directional antenna system provides stable connectivity to any Wi-Fi-enabled handheld device,
• Flicker-free support for concurrent video streams and voice over Wi-Fi calls

Diagrams:

ZoneFlex Architecture
ZoneFlex 2942 Smart Wi-Fi access points can be deployed in standalone mode or managed by a centralized ZoneDirector. The ZoneFlex 2942 can also be deployed with Ruckus Smart Mesh Networking, eliminating the need to run Ethernet cables to every access point.

Dynamic RF Management

Specifications:
 

 

Product Comparision:

 

 

Documentation:

Download the Ruckus ZoneFlex 2942 Datasheet (PDF).