Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s subsidiary, Aruba Networks, once again leads the pack of 17 other vendors in Gartner’s newly-published Critical Capabilities Report for 2019.
The Shortlist
Gartner released its 2019 Critical Capabilities report for Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure, and once again, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s subsidiary, Aruba Networks, found itself on top.
In this year’s report, Aruba Networks defended its crown in five of the report’s six categories and bested its closest competitor, Cisco, in all but one category. Cisco, on the other hand, took home silver in five of the six categories and one bronze after being bested by Juniper Networks’ MIST Systems. The report also included 15 other wired and wireless mainstays and leaders, including Extreme Networks, which had a good showing after now being fortified with its Aerohive Networks purchase, Chinese player Huawei, and Arista Networks subsidiary, Mojo Networks, to name a few.
Here’s how each of the 18 wired and wireless vendors fared on the 2019 report and how their product capabilities set them apart.
The Report
The Critical Capabilities research is a companion piece to Gartner’s “Magic Quadrant for the Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure report. The Critical Capabilities scored 18 vendors across the following six use cases:
■ Unified wired and WLAN access managed through an integrated network management/monitoring solution, for tasks such as device configuration and troubleshooting, with the aid of reporting tools.
■ WLAN-only refresh or new build, reflecting requirements not only for the wireless elements of a unified access network, but also for a “wireless first” environment, where the WLAN is the primary or predominant first connection to the enterprise network.
■ Wired-only access network refresh or new build, with requirements either for a wired-only network or for expanding- or refreshing-only wired switching.
■ Remote branch office with corporate headquarters (HQ) to address organizations with widely distributed offices in addition to a central corporate office.
■ Performance stringent applications, for deployments that require high availability or must support latency-sensitive applications, using either a cloud-based or on-premises management solution.
■ Hands-off network operations (NetOps), when the primary driver is to reduce the operational burden and costs associated with managing network infrastructure.
ALE
ALE, also known as Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, found itself consistently in seventh place in every category with a score 3.70 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.76, a 3.71 score in wired-only refresh, Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications with a score of 3.67, a matching score for Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.65 in Hands-Off NetOps.
ALE’s wireless solutions include rebranded products from HPE — Aruba Networks. It’s portfolio of wired and wireless solutions is suitable for most access layer network requirements, the report said, noting that enterprises in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific should consider ALE, especially those in education, government, healthcare, hospitality and transportation verticals.
Allied Telesis
Bothell, Wash.-based Allied Telesis scored 2.67 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 2.69, a 2.84 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 2.65 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 2.66 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 2.51 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Gartner said that Allied Telesis offers a wired and wireless access layer portfolio that is largely suitable for midmarket customers. The vendor offers a broad switching product line but a limited wireless offering. It also is limited in its real-time traffic analysis, security behavioral analytics, network assurance and IoT containment. Gartner added that indoor Wi-Fi location-based services are on the roadmap for later this year.
Cambium Networks
Remote networking specialist Cambium Networks scored of 3.55 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN and achieved a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.77, its strongest category which brought it into sixth place. The company landed a 3.22 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 3.57 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 3.58 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.61 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Cambium Networks completed the acquisition of the Xirrus WLAN business from Riverbed in August, which gave the vendor a WLAN controllerless and scalable offering, Gartner said in its latest report. The deal will also allow Cambium to expand its industry-leading WLAN footprint. The authors of the report recommended Cambium to small and midsized companies in the hospitality, retail and K-12 verticals, as well as government organizations looking for a basic small and midsize wired and wireless option.
Cisco
Cisco this year came in number two behind Aruba in five out of six use cases. The San Jose, Calif.-based tech giant scored 4.11 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, achieved a WLAN-only refresh score of 4.14, behind both Aruba and Juniper Networks, and a 4.14 score in wired-only refresh, where it came in first place. Cisco also came in second place in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications with a score of 4.07, 4.06 for Performance-Stringent Applications, and third-place in Hands-Off NetOps with a score of 4.04.
Cisco, according to Gartner, continues to provide the broadest wired and wireless access layer portfolio, including multigigabit switches and Wi-Fi 6-capable Aps. The vendor has expertise in complex and large network environments, and Gartner said global businesses should consider Cisco for all enterprise on-premises and cloud-based access layer opportunities.
CommScope (Ruckus Networks)
CommScope, formally Ruckus Networks, hung out at the bottom of the top ten with a score of 3.56 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.57, a 3.58 score in wired-only refresh, and a score of 3.49 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications. The company’s weakest category was Performance-Stringent Applications, where it slipped into 11th place with a score of 3.45. The firm rebounded back to 10th place in Hands-Off NetOps with a score of 3.44.
ARRIS acquired the Ruckus WLAN business and ICX campus switching product line from Broadcom in 2017 and in 2019, CommScope acquired ARRIS, which is still known as Ruckus. The deal gave CommScope a full range of wired and wireless networking products. Gartner said that enterprises in North America, EMEA and Asia/Pacific should consider Ruckus for standard use cases, but the vendor still needs more analytics and integrated AI capabilities, the authors warned.
Dell EMC
Dell EMC landed in the second half of the pack in this year’s report. The vendor scored of 3.39 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN and achieved a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.26, its strongest category which brought it into sixth place. The company landed in ninth place with a score of 3.61 in the wired-only refresh category, it’s strongest category. The vendor scored 3.42 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 3.41 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.33 in Hands-Off NetOps.
The Hopkinton, Mass.-based company offers its full network stack through a combination of its own N-Series campus switches and WLAN equipment through OEM partnerships with Aerohive Networks, now part of Extreme Networks, and Ruckus, which is now part of CommScope. The Aerohive APs are managed by the Dell EMC-branded Aerohive HiveManager and the Ruckus APs by the Ruckus ZoneDirector and SmartZone WLAN controllers. Authors suggested that global enterprises should evaluate Dell EMC for specific use cases, such as public sector, healthcare, and life science use cases.
D-Link
D-Link offers a low-cost wired and WLAN offering targeting SMBs. The Taiwan-based vendor scored 2.53 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 2.60, a 2.65 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 2.42 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 2.30 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 2.10 in Hands-Off NetOps.
D-Link’s products includes cloud-based and premises-based network management architectures. Gartner suggested that businesses with basic connectivity and management requirements and low support needs in emerging markets, EMEA and Asia/Pacific, where D-Link has its largest business presence, should consider the vendor for its low-cost wired and wireless LAN solutions.
Extreme Networks
Extreme Networks was nothing if not consistent in this year’s report. The based company came in fourth place in all six categories, scoring 4.03 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 4.09, a 3.99 score in wired-only refresh, a 3.97 Remote Branch Office with Corporate HQ, 3.93 for Performance-Stringent Applications, and a matching 3.93 score for Hands-Off NetOps.
Like its higher-ranked competition, Extreme Networks also has a broad wired and wireless LAN portfolio which was bolstered by its acquisition of Aerohive Networks in August. The acquisition strategy has served Extreme Networks well, according to Gartner. The authors of the report expect that the Aerohive solution will become the foundation for the ExtremeCloud platform in the future, but the authors cautioned that integration of Aerohive’s core capabilities will require proper sales and channel execution.
Fortinet
Fortinet, with its strengths in security, moved in position throughout the report but always stayed within the top ten. The security specialist landed in sixth place with a score of 3.73 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, moved to eighth place in WLAN-only refresh with a score of 3.75 and ninth place in wired-only refresh with 3.65. Fortinet came in sixth place in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications with a score of 3.73, 3.71 for Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.75 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Fortinet anchors its wireless and wired solutions with its FortiGate firewall product. The vendor offers an access layer offering unified under its FortiOS 6.2 security operating system and Fortinet Security Fabric, which brings together strong security, simplified configuration, management and operational capabilities, the report found. The authors said that enterprises should consider Fortinet especially when prior investments in Fortinet have been made, or when a simplified and unified access network and security ecosystem are required.
HPE (Aruba Networks)
Aruba Networks, a HPE company, this year ranked at the top for five use cases, including landing product or services scores for unified wired and WLAN of 4.15 out of 5, a WLAN-only refresh score of 4.20, remote branch office with Corporate HQ of 4.13, performance-stringent applications, 4.10, and hands-off NetOps also coming in at 4.10.
Gartner’s latest report said that the networking specialist is standing out from the pack because it continues to prioritize roadmap and development for the ArubaOS-based switches, and on the wireless side, the company offers WLAN controllerless options with its Instant APs, as well as a cloud-managed subscription offering with Aruba Central. Gartner said that enterprises should evaluate Aruba globally for all wired/WLAN access layer opportunities.
Huawei
Huawei found itself in the same fifth-place position in each of the six categories. The Chinese company scored 3.83 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, posted a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.82, a 3.92 score in wired-only refresh, a 3.83 Remote Branch Office with Corporate HQ, 3.86 for Performance-Stringent Applications, and a score of 3.81 for Hands-Off NetOps.
Huawei’s Enterprise Business Group (EBG) has a large wired/wireless access layer portfolio, according to the report, which includes its Flagship CloudCampus Network Solution for campus Networking. The report said that clients should evaluate Huawei for all wired/WLAN access layer opportunities, especially for locations in China and EMEA, where the company has a large installed base.
H3C
H3C is a joint venture of Tsinghua Holdings and HPE that stayed within the top ten of the report, scoring 3.67 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN and a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.64. The company scored the highest in the wired-only refresh category, where it came in sixth place with 3.79. The vendor scored 3.65 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 3.66 for Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.63 in Hands-Off NetOps.
H3C has a large wired and wireless access layer and network management portfolio and predominantly serves the Chinese market, the company’s home market. H3C also offers Oasis, it’s cloud platform which can be deployed in both private and public cloud environments. Gartner suggested that clients with Asia/Pacific access layer opportunities should consider H3C for enterprise campus and branch office deployments.
Juniper Networks (Mist Systems)
Juniper’s Mist Systems medaled in each category in this year’s report, bouncing between second and third place in heavy competition with Cisco. Mist Systems scored 4.10 out of 5 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, achieved a WLAN-only refresh score of 4.18 behind Aruba, and a 4.08 score in wired-only refresh, where it trailed both Cisco and Aruba. Mist took bronze in remote branch office with Corporate HQ with a score of 4.05, performance-stringent applications with the same score, and 4.07 in Hands-Off NetOps, where it landed in second place ahead of Cisco.
Juniper’s newly-acquired Mist Systems has helped to expand the company’s wireless portfolio and can now offer enterprises a complete network access layer offering, according to Gartner, though the acquisition still must be integrated into the greater Juniper portfolio. The report said that while some network management capabilities are available today in a single Juniper offering, but the solution won’t be fully integrated under the Mist platform that includes AI capabilities until later down the road.
Mojo Networks (Arista Networks subsidiary)
Mojo Networks is a subsidiary of Arista Networks, scored of 3.48 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN and achieved a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.54, its strongest category which brought it into sixth place. The company landed a 3.49 score in wired-only refresh, which brought it ahead of Cambium Networks and Ruijie Networks. The company scored 3.48 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 3.50 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.44 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Arista Networks in 2018 acquired Mojo Networks to add WLAN assets to its portfolio of core campus products. Gartner said that Enterprises in North America and Europe should take a look at Mojo Networks for their cloud-based access layer connectivity projects. These companies can rely on the company’s channel partners for installation and support service. The authors also warned users that it’s still unclear how Arista’s legacy switches communicate with Wi-Fi data.
Rohde & Schwarz (LANCOM Systems)
LANCOM Systems, a wholly owned, independently operating subsidiary of the international electronics company Rohde & Schwarz, ranked 16th place in each of the six categories with a s core of 2.97 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.04, a 2.94 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 2.98 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 2.94 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 2.97 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Germany-based LANCOM Systems offers an enterprise-grade portfolio of wired campus switches, wireless indoor and outdoor APs, and network management applications. Gartner found that LANCOM specializes in midsize organizations in retailing, education and the public sector located in its core EMEA region. Businesses in that area should consider the vendor for basic unified access layer requirements.
Ruijie Networks
Ruijie Networks found itself in the second-half of the rankings with a score of 3.49 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN and achieved a WLAN-only refresh score of 3.57, its strongest category. The company landed a 3.42 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 3.47 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 3.43 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 3.37 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Ruijie Networks offers a broad portfolio of access layer switches, that it introduced in July. For wireless, the company offers a WLAN controller-based and controllerless solution. The company has a large installed base of customers in China and the offering would be an especially good option for businesses in China looking for a wired and wireless solution.
TP-Link
TP-Link, a low-cost wired and wireless provider, scored 2.43 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 2.53, a 2.63 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 2.42 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 2.30 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 2.10 in Hands-Off NetOps.
For its business customers, TP-Link bundles its Omada public cloud-based network management solution with its products. Omada supports basic centralized AP management functions, including traffic and performance monitoring, synchronization of AP settings, access control, and rogue AP detection using a software controller. The company is releasing its Omada software-defined networking (SDN) platform in 2020. Gartner said that TP-LINK can be considered by midsize and large enterprises across all regions for wired and wireless LAN implementations with simple connectivity and management requirements.
Ubiquiti Networks
Small business networking specialist Ubiquiti Networks ranked 18th consistently across every category of the report this year. The -based vendor scored 2.31 in product or services for unified wired and WLAN, a WLAN-only refresh score of 2.41, a 2.51 score in wired-only refresh, a score of 2.25 in remote branch office with Corporate HQ performance-stringent applications, 2.17 in Performance-Stringent Applications, and 1.92 in Hands-Off NetOps.
Ubiquiti Networks offers its UniFi management suite at no additional cost with its hardware, which lets Ubiquiti campus switches and APs be managed in a unified way. Gartner analysts warned that Ubiquiti doesn’t offer advanced features, like dynamic segmentation of IoT endpoints or location-based services. The vendor is a good fit for midsize and large enterprises looking for a low-cost option for wired and wireless LAN implementations with simple connectivity and management requirements and low support needs.
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Publish date : 2024-04-26 13:55:00
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