ZoneDirector™ 1000 The First "IT Lite" Centralized Control System for Multimedia Wireless
LANs
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Datasheet
The Ruckus Wireless ZoneDirector 1000 is the first centrally-managed
multimedia Wireless LAN (WLAN) solution controller developed specifically for
small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and hot zone operators.
With simplicity and ease of use in mind, the Ruckus ZoneDirector 1000 is
purpose-built to address the gap between standalone, feature deficient access
points (APs) that must be individually managed and the costly, complex high-end
enterprise systems that are overkill for most small business environments.
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The Ruckus ZoneDirector is ideal for small businesses that require a robust
and secure wireless LAN that can be easily deployed, centrally managed and
automatically tuned.
The ZoneDirector 1000 is also perfect for operators who want to offer
business class hot spot services such as voice over Wi-Fi, IP-based video,
secure enterprise access and tiered Wi-Fi services in venues such as hotels,
airports, schools and public buildings.
The Ruckus ZoneDirector easily integrates with network, security and
authentication infrastructure already in-place and is easily configured through
a point-and-click web-based wizard. Ruckus ZoneFlex APs automatically discover
and are configured by the ZoneDirector.
Redundant and secure, the Ruckus ZoneDirector provides WLAN-wide network,
security, RF and location management within a single, easy-to-use and affordable
WLAN system.

Completely Plug-and-Play
- Web-based wizard provides IT-free configuration of a robust wireless LAN in
a matter of minutes
- Auto-discovery from any PC using UPnP
- Auto-discovery of APs
- No complicated Command Line Interface (CLI) configuration
- Advanced WLAN features simplified
Simple to Deploy
The Ruckus ZoneDirector integrates seamlessly with existing switches,
firewalls, authentication servers and other network infrastructure. Ruckus
ZoneFlex APs (whether wired or mesh APs using Smart Mesh Networking)
automatically discover the Ruckus ZoneDirector, self configure and become
instantly manageable. All clients trying to associate to the WLAN are sent to
the ZoneDirector for authentication and authorization before network access is
granted. And ZoneFlex APs integrate sophisticated RF management to focus RF
signal toward clients, and away from interference, thereby automatically
maximizing performance and coverage and reducing the number of APs typically
required.
Simple to Manage
Once up and running, the ZoneDirector automatically manages the ZoneFlex
network of APs — automatically adjusting transmit power levels and RF channel
assignments as needed to prevent adjacent APs from interfering and enable
redundant coverage in the event of an AP failure. Confi guration changes can
easily be applied to multiple APs or the entire system simultaneously. A
customizable dashboard provides instant access to a variety of client and
network information and events, and a real time heat map displays AP locations
and signal coverage, as well as your Ruckus Smart Mesh Networking topology.
ZoneDirector Smart WLAN systems integrate a unique performance utility from
Ruckus called SpeedFlex™. Ruckus SpeedFlex allows administrators to locally or
remotely determine client Wi-Fi performance over the wireless LAN. With
SpeedFlex, administrators can now better plan, troubleshoot, monitor and measure
WLAN performance, eliminating the need to use Internet-based speed tools that
often provide inaccurate results of the local Wi-Fi environment.

Simple to Secure
The ZoneDirector 1000 provides innovative new techniques that simplify and
automate Wi-Fi security. In addition to enterprise-class 802.1x support, the
ZoneDirector 1000 supports a patent-pending Dynamic Pre-Shared Key (PSK)
capability that streamlines WLAN security.
First-time users simply plug their computers into the LAN and specify a URL
that directs them to a captive Web 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
the user’s device is no longer trusted.

Ruckus Smart Mesh Networking Increases Flexibility, Reduces Costs
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, so administrators simply plug ZoneFlex APs into any power
source and walk away. All confi guration 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, Smart Mesh
Networking minimizes inter nodal hops that degrade performance, automatically
adapts Wi-Fi connections between nodes to environmental changes and requires
fewer APs to be deployed.
Avoid Interference, Maximize Performance and Extend Reach with Network
BeamFlex
Ruckus BeamFlex™, a patented Wi-Fi beam-steering technology, automatically
delivers ensures predictable performance for multimedia traffic applications,
extends range to eliminate Wi-Fi deadspots. With the ZoneDirector, the value of
BeamFlex is extended beyond a single access point to the system-wide WLAN and
Smart Wi-Fi meshing. The ZoneDirector automatically controls the channels
assignments and transmit power levels of all ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi APs.
With BeamFlex, the ZoneFlex system continuously picks the best path for every
packet to client as well as among mesh APs — automatically avoiding interference
to guarantee the highest quality of service.
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