Ruckus ZoneFlex™ 2942

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.

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

ZoneFlex Architecture

Dynamic RF Management

Product

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.

Flexibility

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.

Security

Automatic User Security.

Used with ZoneDirector, ZoneFlex 2942 provides first-of-its-kind automatic, robust user security enforcement. Ruckus Dynamic PSK™ 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.

ZoneFlex 2942 also seamlessly integrates with existing security systems, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and authentication servers, including RADIUS and ActiveDirectory.

Differentiated

Differentiated Services with Multiple SSIDs.

Up to eight discrete SSIDs can be configured within each ZoneFlex 2942, each with unique broadcast, QoS, security and management parameters. This enables enterprises and hotzone operators to easily offer tiered services to different user or traffic types, differentiate guest, contractor, and employee access policies, or segment different traffic types.

Dynamic

Dynamic RF Management.

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

Specs

Physical Characteristics
Power	• External power adapter • Input: 110-240V AC • Output: 12V DC, 1A • Power over Ethernet Class 0
Physical Size	19.43cm (L), 14.43cm (W), 10.16cm (H)
Weight	680 grams (1.50 lbs)
Antenna	• Internal software-configurable antenna array with directional and omni high-gain elements that provide up to 4,000 unique antenna patterns • External RP-SMA connector option
Ethernet ports	• 2 ports, auto MDX, auto-sensing 10/100 Mbps, RJ-45 • Power over Ethernet (802.3af)
LED display	Power/status, Ethernet status, wireless status, wireless network quality indicator, Director status
Lock Option	Integrated Kensington lock
Environmental conditions	• Operating temperature: 32°F (0°C) - 122°F (50°C) with PoE 32°F (0°C) - 104°F (40°C) with AC power adapter • Operating humidity: 15% - 95% non condensing
Performance and Supported Configurations
Concurrent stations	Up to 100
Target UDP throughput	15-20 Mbps (54 Mbps bursts) sustainable throughout a 5000 square foot (460 sq meter) public area
Simultaneous Vo-Fi clients	up to 20
Traffic Management and Quality of Services
Classes of service	Voice, video, best effort and background
Software queues	Four per station
802.11e	Supported
Automatic traffic classification	Automatic type of service tagging for multicast video packets
Rate Limiting	Supported
VLAN support	802.1Q
Heuristic classification	Supported
Deployment
Options	• Managed by ZoneDirector • Individually Managed • Managed by FlexMaster
Management
Configuration	Web user interface, CLI (Telnet), SSH HTTP/S, SNMP statistics interface. TR-069 through FlexMaster
Statistics	LAN, wireless and associated stations (accessible via Web UI)
Auto AP Software updates	FTP or TFTP, remote auto available
Wi-Fi
Standards	802.11b/g
Supported data rates	54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 11, 5.5, 2, 1 Mbps
Channels	• US/Canada: 1-11 • Europe (ETSI X30): 1-13 • Japan X41: 1-13
Auto channel selection	Supported
RF power output	• Max transmit power 24 dBm • Country-specific power settings are configurable
Transmit power control	Supported
BSSID	up to eight
Power Save	Supported
Wireless Security	• WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA-TKIP, WPA2-AES, 802.11i • Authentication via 802.1X with the ZoneDirector, local authentication database, support for RADIUS and ActiveDirectory
Certifications	• U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE • Plenum rating (UL 2043 in process) • WEEE/RoHS compliance • Wi-Fi alliance certification

Videos

	Dynamic Pre-Shared key		How it works: ZoneFlex		Video Tutorials: ZoneFlex Setup Wizard
	Guestpass Generation		Victor Shtrom on Dynamic Beamforming		ZoneDirector Dashboard Overview

Webinars

Webinar: Demystifying BeamForming

Data/Feature Sheets

	BeamFlex (711.8 KB)		SmartCast (886.9 KB)		ZoneFlex 2942 (1.1 MB)
	Mounting Bracket Guide (452.4 KB)

Case Studies

	ADI Logistics (702.6 KB)		Maurice Sporting Goods (707.2 KB)		Sea Mar Community Health Centers (1.7 MB)
	BP Harborlink (916.2 KB)		Midwest Surgical (687.2 KB)		Frontenac Group (English) (2.0 MB)
	Delta School District (908.0 KB)		Pacific Ridge School (365.7 KB)		Frontenac Group (French) (2.0 MB)
	Emmanuel College (969.5 KB)		Players Club (914.6 KB)		The Queen Mary (2.2 MB)
	Lodgian (857.5 KB)		Raroa School (770.3 KB)

White Papers

	Clear Voice over Wi-Fi in the Enterprise		Enterprise WLAN Competitive Testing		Wireless Best Practices: A Practical Guide for Small/Medium Business
	Demystifying Beamforming		Making WLANs Work Reliably and Cost-Effectively in a Multimedia World

Application Notes

Business-Class Hotspots with L2TP (582.3 KB)

Product Info

ZoneFlex At-A-Glance (1.8 MB)

ZoneFlex™ Overview (1.2 MB)