Easier installation of Classic Hotspot Firmware on MikroTik devices from Windows
Now it is possible to install Classic Hotspot in a MikroTik device (see the list of compatible MikroTik devices) using a Windows computer in a much easier way than in the past. Our Customer Success team has created a step-by-step guide to walk users through the installation process using some free tools.
Thanks to this new procedure, available since February 2020, installing the firmware on MikroTik devices does not require anymore being physically where the AP is to reset it. Also, a virtual machine is not required anymore and the whole process takes much less time than before.
MikroTik hardware is well-suited for any size deployment. Primarily, the devices are used in the WISP environment. However, the devices also can be seen in enterprise deployments. Overall, the devices are low priced, which allows users to save costs when deploying networks.
The hardware is easy-to-configure, and when paired with the Classic Hotspot platform, users get a full set of professional features to manage WiFi networks and social hotspots with full software support from Classic Hotspot.
Advantages of using Classic Hotspot with MikroTik devices
By empowering MikroTik devices with Tanaza Classic’s firmware, users get a full set of professional features to manage WiFi networks and social hotspots.
List of MikroTik devices currently compatible with Classic Hotspot
Tanaza Classic supports the following MikroTik devices:
MikroTik hAP AC Lite and hAP AC Lite TC
These devices are dual-concurrent access points, which provide Wi-Fi coverage for 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies at the same time. Both devices are suitable for indoor deployments, thanks to their compact dimensions allowing users to install the devices in offices, B&Bs, bars, and also in schools.
The only difference between the two devices is the sleek design of the hAP AC Lite TC device, which can be positioned either horizontally (desktop) or vertically (tower case) to save space. The hAP AC Lite version can only be placed horizontally.
MikroTik hAP AC Lite
MikroTik hAP AC Lite TC
Device Specification
Details
CPU nominal frequency
650MHz
Size of RAM
64MB
PoE-out ports
Ether5
PoE input
Passive PoE (10-28V input voltage)
Ethernet ports
Five 10/100Mbps
Wireless 2.4 GHz standards
802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4)
Wireless 5 GHz standards
802.11a/n/ac (Wi-Fi 5)
MikroTik RB951Ui-2HnD and RB951G-2HnD
The RB951Ui-2HnD is a wireless SOHO AP while the RB951G-2HnD is a wireless SOHO Gigabit AP. Both devices come with a new generation Atheros CPU and more processing power. On the technical side, the differences between these two devices are minimal.
The RB951Ui-2HnD device has five Ethernet ports while the RB951G-2HnD has five Gigabit Ethernet ports. Besides that, both devices have one USB 2.0 port and a high power 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n wireless AP with built-in antennas.
MikroTik RB951Ui-2HnD
MikroTik RB951G-2HnD
Device Specification
RB951Ui-2HnD
RB951G-2HnD
CPU nominal frequency
600MHz
600MHz
Size of RAM
128MB
128MB
PoE-out ports
Ether5
N/A
PoE input
Passive PoE (9-30V input voltage)
Passive PoE (9-30V input voltage)
Ethernet ports
Five 10/100 Mbps
Five 10/100/1000 Mbps
Wireless 2.4 GHz standards
802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4)
802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4)
MikroTik RBwAP2nD
The RBwAP2nD is a weatherproof wireless access point. It’s perfect for outdoor installations where wireless access is required. Thanks to its unobtrusive look and sleek design the device can be fixed to any external wall from the inside of the case. It does blend perfectly into any environment, however, it is not recommended for high-density environments.
MikroTik RBwAP2nD
Device Specification
Details
CPU nominal frequency
650MHz
Size of RAM
64MB
PoE-out ports
N/A
PoE input
802.3af/at (11-57 input voltage)
Ethernet ports
One 10/100 Mbps
Wireless 2.4 GHz standards
802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4)
MikroTik BaseBox2 RB912G-2HnD
This device is a solid and waterproof outdoor 2.4GHz wireless access point. It comes with two SMA connectors for connecting external antennas. The device also has a miniPCLe slot, which allows users to install an extra wireless card, resulting in a dual band device.
Customers using Tanaza Classic can switch to the new platform by installing the TanazaOS operating system on their devices. TanazaOS will soon be compatible with the MikroTik devices currently available for Tanaza Classic. Also, many more devices are in the roadmap for the near future.
Furthermore, the device compatibility will be available to the TanazaOS Installer, a software application developed by Tanaza which allows users to install the TanazaOS operating system on compatible devices. The process is straightforward and does not need any manual procedure.
At Tanaza, we continuously work to support more access points and make WiFi network deployments seamless. Stay tuned, visiting the “What’s next” page where we regularly update about upcoming releases. Alternatively, visit Tanaza’s Blog and read about new features, device compatibility, and industry news.
Are you ready to test the new Tanaza platform?
Experience the power of WiFi cloud management in seconds with our free interactive demo.
Open Mesh acquired by Datto: what’s next for Open Mesh customers?
At the beginning of 2017, Datto announced its acquisition of Open Mesh. In this article, we will find out what is going to change for Open Mesh customers after this acquisition from Datto.
About Open Mesh and Datto
Open Mesh Inc., one of the most popular makers of wireless networking devices in the SMB segment, has been acquired by Datto, a data protection vendor that sells its products exclusively through managed service providers. With this acquisition, Datto wants to broaden its offering in the networking sector with the launch of a new line of SMB-focused networking solutions.
The new Datto Networking line of products for small-to-medium sized businesses has incorporated both the Open Mesh wireless access points and Ethernet switching technologies and the existing Datto Networking Appliance and will be delivered exclusively through Datto’s global network of Managed Service Provider partners.
What will change for existing Open Mesh customers?
As of January 1st, 2019, customers can still purchase Open Mesh hardware through selected distributors and online resellers, with no recurring fees. However, the availability of Open Mesh products is only limited to the remaining inventory.
All of the existing Open Mesh hardware has an end-of-life date of 3 years from the end-of-sale date. As for the most recent products, the end-of-life date is December 31, 2021. After that date, no more fixes and security updates will be released for Open Mesh products, and support will be no longer provided.
In the course of this acquisition, Datto Networking has adopted a pricing model which aligns to how MSPs sell their products and requires all new customers to pay a monthly recurring fee, unlike the one-time fee originally set by Open Mesh, which also included a free CloudTrax lifetime license.
Consequently, after the end-of-life date of their purchased products, all current Open Mesh customers are either being forced to upgrade to Datto Networking products and pay the related monthly fees or to switch to an alternative hardware solution. Both of these options represent significant additional costs that ultimately lead to a hardware CAPEX increase.
TanazaOS as the alternative to Datto Networking and CloudTrax
Tanaza wants to help Open Mesh customers to continue using their hardware by making its latest product, TanazaOS, fully compatible with Open Mesh devices. TanazaOS will support Open Mesh access points as well as other hardware vendors, freeing WiFi service providers from vendors’ lock-in.
TanazaOS is a Linux-based Operating System for centralized network management. It was developed based on the disaggregation concept which embraces the open-source approach, where WiFi solution providers have the possibility to decouple their hardware choice from their software choice.
Furthermore, TanazaOS is flexible and unlimitedly scalable, and helps in delivering wireless networking faster.
Enterprises and service provider customers reduce complexities and get complete interoperability at a fraction of the cost of other WiFi solutions.
Open Mesh customers switching to TanazaOS from CloudTrax or Datto Networking will leverage from competitive lifetime license pricing, allowing them to dramatically save on their deployment costs, while also benefiting from a secure, reliable and always up-to-date operating system for WiFi cloud management.
By switching to TanazaOS, Open Mesh customers will be able to:
Enjoy a full set of professional features for WiFi management and control
Avoid Datto’s monthly fees
Easily migrate from CloudTrax/Datto Networking to TanazaOS thanks to the self-provisioning system and the cloud configuration
Save money when upgrading their hardware infrastructure as TanazaOS runs on many hardware vendors
Have access to learning materials and online support for troubleshooting
Benefit from additional features, as TanazaOS is constantly evolving, adding new capabilities such a Hotspot System.
If you are an Open Mesh user and want to know more about TanazaOS and its features, you can try the interactive demoto experience our cloud-based operating system to manage your Open-Mesh access points.
Update 2019: The list of supported OpenWRT Wireless Access Points Vendors
The exponential growth in demand for wireless internet connectivity has led to the need, for companies in most business environments, to upgrade their Wi-Fi networking infrastructure.
Many companies within the networking industry aim at establishing lock-in barriers with high switching costs in order to make customers dependent on them. This approach progressively increases Wi-Fi deployment costs for organizations, slows down innovation and ultimately hinders the Wi-Fi user experience.
Recently, the networking industry has began shifting from operating as a proprietary closed system to a more flexible system. This shift to a more flexible, open system, occurred as a result of customer dissatisfaction due to high internet connectivity pricing, vendor lock-in, slow innovation, poor quality software, unforeseen charges for services that should have been included in the price of the product, to name a few.
At Tanaza, we believe that the current market conditions allow the disaggregation of hardware and software to occur also in the Wi-Fi networking market and create a disruption.
Tanaza is an vendor-alternative firmware, based on OpenWRT that supports a wide range of access points. OpenWRT is a Linux-based open source alternative firmware for embedded devices that enables the customization of wireless device, as a result of its fully writable filesystem with package management.
With OpenWRT, the network administrator can avoid being locked by the web interface or the web applications of the vendor.
Easy to install and to use, Tanaza may be the best option for you, if you are looking for an easy-to-use alternative firmware for your wireless device.
For more information about Tanaza and its wide range wide of supported access points, click here.
To help its customers, Tanaza developed the Access Point Selector, a free tool that allows WiFi professionals to select the best hardware according to their WiFi project. In three simple steps, select the location, the size of the location and the level of service you want to offer, you will access a complete list of wireless devices. In addition, the tool will provide you with relevant information such as the required number of units, the number of concurrent users per unit and the cost of each device.
Tanaza multi-vendor’s aspect empowers the hardware by delivering to the device a professional set of features for WiFi cloud management. Below, you can find the list of the five most used hardware by our customers in 2018.
Classic Hotspot system is now compatible with Cisco Meraki APs, indoor and outdoor.
The Classic Hotspot compatibility with Cisco Meraki APs enables WiFi professionals to utilize Classic Hotspot features on CIsco Meraki devices, without replacing the vendor’s firmware.
The integration between Classic Hotspot and Cisco Meraki APs enables Meraki Cloud Dashboard users to continue managing their access points from the Meraki interface while simultaneously using the Classic Hotspot captive portal. With Classic Hotspot, the WiFi network administrator can also customize the splash page of multi-vendor networks, composed of access points of different brands (including Meraki)from a single centralized dashboard.
Thanks to this new integration, Cisco Meraki users can set up free and paid hotspots with the Classic Hotspot captive portal. This means that WiFi network administrators will be able to create and customise their captive portals, collect data about WiFi users, and leverage their WiFi networks for marketing purposes.
The Classic Hotspot features such as the analytics dashboard, “remember me” and the splash page editor with its advertising tool and its multiple authentication methods, such as custom forms, social login and the couponing system, etc, will be available on Meraki-based WiFi hotspots.
This compatibility is still in BETA stage and is available on request for any Meraki devices.
If you would like to test out this new integration, please contact sales@tanaza.com.
More about Tanaza’s compatibility for high-end devices
Tanaza core is to provide an all in one software that empowers the feature set of 3rd party access points in the SMB range, adding an extremely easy to use hotspot software.
Since our customers, mainly channel partners, MSPs, system integrators, were extremely satisfied to use Tanaza for cost-efficient deployments and highly valued our hotspot features, they expressed interest in using it also with their more enterprise deployments.
Should Tanaza support TRENDnet devices? Let us know!
Recently, one of our partners has mentioned us the TRENDnet access points and has requested us, whether we can make their wireless devices supported by Tanaza.
We like the idea of consumer-driven development and we continuously collect ideas for new features and compatible devices through our community success.tanaza.com. This means that if you want TRENDnet products to be made compatible with Tanaza, you just have to click on the links below and vote for devices. Our product team will review requests and will put devices on our roadmap if we receive many.
Well, let’s see what these devices do and how Tanaza’s firmware could improve their performances and management.
THE PRODUCT CATEGORIES
TRENDnet has a wide range of products, including routers, access points, adapters, extenders/repeaters, modems, switches, Power over Ethernet devices, Powerline communication devices, wired, USB, surveillance products.
In the networking hardware category, they have both wireless n devices (which include the well-known n300 TRENDnet router) and the high-speed (wireless ac) equipment.
The most powerful device in their portfolio is the TEW-829DRU ($263 on Amazon.com as of today), a tri-band access point with an excellent set of features and advanced settings, which, unfortunately, do not include any wireless controller feature or cloud management capability. The price tag is quite high, but that access point makes for a robust home network.
For businesses willing to install their devices on ceilings and use PoE to power them, TRENDnet markets the TEW-821DAP2KAC, a good option for businesses in need of a very simple captive portal and guest access functionality, managing up to 128 devices. Ideally, the kit might be used in offices to connect local devices and wireless-capable laptops through password-encrypted SSIDs.
This kit is a contender of the Ubiquiti UniFi family with the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller, but the UI is definitely less user-friendly and the price tag is higher ($349.99 on Amazon.com as of today for the kit including 2 wireless APs and PoE injectors).
We have seen the most powerful indoor devices and the best offering of TRENDnet for small and medium businesses. Let’s see know how making devices compatible with Tanaza improves their performances and adds new functionalities to them, and the list of products that Tanaza might make compatible in the future.
BENEFITS OF USING TANAZA’S FIRMWARE ON TRENDNET’S DEVICES
After one of our partners requested us to support these devices, we read a lot of web reviews about TRENDnet’s routers. However, our analysis was not 100% complete, so in case you have any specific questions about their products we encourage you to directly contact them at their support phone number, which is: +1-866-845-3673. Or just consult their website https://www.trendnet.com/.
What we have discovered, is that TRENDnet has an excellent set of features, quite extensive although not available on all devices. These features include parental controls, isolating guest networks from your devices and content, pre-encrypted WiFi ready-to-use out of the box, maps to locate access points within a location, guest networks (one SSID per each band), bandwidth management, system logs, diagnostic tools.
Using Tanaza’s firmware and cloud-based software has many sought-after benefits:
Cloud management for all devices, without hardware controllers. Cloud management in available also for devices that normally cannot be managed in a centralized way, or need a hardware controller. With an unlimited number of APs per network and in total (per account).
Possibility to create hybrid networks made of devices of various brands and product families: for example, you can extend your TRENDnet networks with Ubiquiti devices, and still manage all of them from a single centralized dashboard.
Compatibility with the latest products available but also (if requested) with discontinued and end-of-life products, which is a much-requested feature in the case the end user doesn’t want to change their wireless equipment for budget constraints.
A wide set of features for cloud management, including:
a nice and user-friendly UI which everyone understands in a blink of an eye without any training
a management dashboard which is accessible anytime, from anywhere, so that MSPs can manage their networks distributed across hundreds of locations comfortably from their desk (or sofa, if you like comfort)
reliable and highly-available infrastructure managed by Tanaza, with no need to check for firmware updates or to maintain the network, because you will be informed about future firmware releases from the cloud and you can upgrade your devices remotely (also in bunches).
Bandwidth control per SSID and per USER with a boost function
Managing all settings from the cloud, including VLANs, NAT, DHCP, TX power, channel selection and other radio settings, SSIDs, captive portal appearance, the password for WiFi access and so on – with settings applied in seconds remotely.
Advanced capabilities such as Syslog configuration, SSH and user scripts
An even wider set of features for guest access and hotspot management, including:
Social login, form-based authentication, coupons for paid WiFi and other much-requested authentication methods
Dashboard to see users’ details and contact information and interact with them
APIs and native integration with Mailchimp for email marketing to wifi users
A flexible, user-friendly tool to create multi-language responsive splash pages with advanced functionalities (advertising, social actions, acceptance of multiple terms and conditions, etc.) to solve any use case you might have
Hotspot roaming function and auto-login function for returning users.
DEVICES WHICH MIGHT BE COMPATIBLE WITH TANAZA CLOUD MANAGEMENT AND HOTSPOT SOFTWARE
TRENDnet’s N150 Wireless Home Router, model TEW-711BR, provides reliable 150Mbps wireless n speed and coverage to share files, play games, and surf the Internet.
TRENDnet’s N300 WiFi Router, model TEW-731BR, offers up to 300 Mbps wireless N networking to share files, play games, and surf the internet. Control access to the internet and manage bandwidth for devices connected to the router.
TRENDnet’s AC750 Wireless Travel Router, model TEW- 817DTR, is a powerful travel router for on the go professionals. Concurrent high-performance WiFi AC and N bands network all wireless devices. The compact router plugs directly into an outlet and interchangeable North America, Euro, and UK power prongs work on all continents.
TRENDnet’s AC3000 Tri-Band Wireless Gigabit Dual-WAN VPN SMB Router, model TEW-829DRU, features three concurrent WiFi bands to maximize device networking speeds: two separate high-performance WiFi 5 networks (5GHz1: 1733Mbps / 5GHz2: 867Mbps), and a 400Mbps Wireless N network. Dual-WAN ports smooth network loading, minimize network downtime and allow employees to access your network from the Internet—all with a single router. 2 x Gigabit WAN ports, 8 x Gigabit LAN ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Console port. Sturdy metal housing with rack mount brackets included.
TRENDnet’s AC2600 MU-MIMO WiFi Router, model TEW-827DRU, is built to perform in your busy connected home. This dual-band router generates two quad-stream WiFi networks—a 1,733Mbps WiFi AC and a concurrent 800Mbps WiFi N network. MU-MIMO technology processes multiple data streams simultaneously, improving real-time wireless performance when multiple devices are connected to the network. 4 External high gain antennas maximize coverage on the wireless router.
PARTNERING WITH TANAZA
Whether you are working with TRENDnet devices or not, you might want to know how to use Tanaza. Well, here are the two basic things you need to know:
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