ZoneFlex 7942

Ruckus ZoneFlex™ 7942 Overview:

The First Centrally-Managed 802.11n Smart Wi-Fi Access Point with Mesh Support.

802.11n is here. And ZoneFlex 7942 is the wireless access point (AP) that unleashes its promise, delivering unparalleled throughput, high data rates, and industry-leading cost-effectiveness. It optimizes advanced 802.11n techniques such as spatial multiplexing, channel bonding, and frame aggregation. ZoneFlex 7942 is ideal for hotels, schools, airports, and other enterprises with a limited IT staff and budget, as well as for hotzone operators who want to deliver voice over Wi-Fi, IP-based video, or secure enterprise access.

The Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 is the first centrally managed, multimedia Wi-Fi access point that unleashes the promise of 802.11n, delivering unparalleled throughput.

Together with the Ruckus ZoneDirector central WLAN controller, Ruckus ZoneFlex Access Points (APs) plug-and-play with minimal operational overhead. Ideal for hotels, schools, airports and medium-sized businesses with little or no IT staff and a limited budget, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 is also perfect for hotspot operators that want to deliver businessclass hotspot services — such as voice over Wi-Fi, IP-based video or secure enterprise access.

802.11n carries the promise of high data rates and throughput. The Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 delivers on this promise by ensuring that the advanced techniques used in 802.11n, such as spatial multiplexing, channel bonding and frame aggregation, are optimized.

The ZoneFlex 7942 implements 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 satisfied users, and a cost-effective system that can be installed anywhere by non-wireless experts.

A web-based wizard allows any computer user to configure ZoneFlex 7942s through the ZoneDirector — creating a secure and sophisticated WLAN in a matter of minutes. Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942s simply plug into any Ethernet network and automatically discover the ZoneDirector. No RF tuning. No client configuration. A true plug-and-play multimedia WLAN that is ready to use.

Benefits:

• Breakthrough user performance and density
  Advanced antenna array and precision Quality of Service (QoS) software delivers 20 concurrent voice calls, 100 simultaneous data users or 300 Mbps of capacity per access point.
• 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 Ruckus SmartMesh technology automates deployment, and eliminates running 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 Voice-over-WLAN services, extended enterprise access, IP video applications and tiered service classes.

Ultra High Performance and Cost Effective

Based on the IEEE 802.11n standards, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 supports up to 300Mbps of data capacity. What differentiates the ZoneFlex 7942 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 7942 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 7942 delivers the industry's the most cost-effective 802.11n Wi-Fi solution.

Simple Deployment

The self-optimizing Ruckus BeamFlex technology allows the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 to be installed without site survey and RF planning. Simply plug any Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 into an Ethernet and it automatically discovers the Ruckus ZoneDirector and self-configures.

The Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 and ZoneDirector system seamlessly integrate with existing security systems such as firewalls, 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 7942 APs are automatically configured by the Ruckus ZoneDirector. A network of APs can be centrally configured in a matter of minutes through the ZoneDirector’s web-based wizard.

SmartMesh Increases Flexibility, Reduces Costs

Ruckus SmartMesh enables self-organizing and self-healing wireless meshing. SmartMesh 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. Leveraging patented Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology that provides extended range and dynamic signal controls, SmartMesh minimizes the inter-nodal hops that can degrade performance, automatically adapts Wi-Fi connections between nodes to environmental changes, and requires fewer APs to be deployed.

Automatic user security

Used with the Ruckus ZoneDirector, the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 provides first-of-its-kind automatic, robust user security enforcement. Provisioning secure wireless access often involves configuring 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 patent-pending Dynamic PSK on the Ruckus ZoneDirector and ZoneFlex 7942 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 configures 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 7942 now lets operators build a new class of hotspots and offer multimedia hotspot services. Equipped with dual-polarized directional antenna system, the ZoneFlex 7942 delivers stable connectivity to any Wi-Fi-enabled handheld device and flicker-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 7942, each with unique broadcast, QoS, security and management parameters assigned. This enables hot zone operators to easily offer tiered services to different user or traffic types. Enterprises can use this features to differentiate guest, contractor and employee access policies or to segment different traffic 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, Ruckus 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.

Self-Optimizing Smart Antenna Technology

Each ZoneFlex 7942 comes equipped with a high-gain BeamFlex Smart antenna array that:

• Adapts to the RF environment by steering Wi-Fi signals on the best path, while rejecting interference in real time
• Minimizes adjacent AP interference, as it doesn’t radiate constantly in all directions
• Results in inherently RF-coordinated WLAN, with unsurpassed density and range
• Can be installed without site surveys and RF planning

First-Of-Its-Kind User Security

When used with ZoneDirector, ZoneFlex 7942 provides secure wireless access through Dynamic PSK™, which assures user authentication system integrity without the expense and complexity of external authentication servers. First-time users simply plug their computers into the LAN and specify a URL, which sends them to a captive portal, where they’re authenticated once—and only once. Then, ZoneDirector automatically configures the user’s system with the designated SSID and a unique, dynamically-generated encryption key.

Smart Wi-Fi-Enabled RF Management

ZoneFlex 7942 provides extended range and dynamic signal controls, as:

• Smart Mesh Networking minimizes inter-nodal hops that can degrade performance
• Wi-Fi connections automatically adopted to environmental changes between nodes
• Fewer APs need to be deployed

Diagrams:

ZoneFlex Architecture

Simple Deployment
ZoneFlex 7942 Smart Wi-Fi access points can be deployed in standalone mode or can be managed by a centralized ZoneDirector. ZoneFlex 7942 can also be deployed with Smart Mesh Networking, eliminating the need to run Ethernet cables to every access point.

Documentation:

Download the Ruckus ZoneFlex 7942 Datasheet (PDF).