Ok here's my handy-dandy enterprise primer!
Ok heavy rotation with this list but it's so true:
Hi. Presented a few options for you: (Note: All from my own tests in our lab and ran for more then 1 month)
1) Cisco Meraki-Cisco in the clouds without a controller. Pros: They host it for you and with that comes nice remote control and very smooth provisioning. Intuitive interface and ease of defining traffic shaping, etc. Cons: Lacks extensive RF tools and you gotta shop around for a cloud license. (units tested MX64/MX60W/Z1/MR12/MR34)
2) Aruba Networks-Has 3 options;controller/standalone(but clusterable) instant/cloud. Pros: Excellent RF tools, 3 operational modes, high performance throughput with mixed clients, lots of traffic shaping options. Cons: Client station monitoring requires either cloud or airwave licensing and if you run cloud you can't have access to local config but you can convert at any time from one to the other. (units tested: RAP109 and IAP225)
3) Xirrus-Has both cloud and local. Pros:Amazing amount of RF controls and options, XR630 can handle 240 clients (120 per IAP), 5Ghz legacy clients won't slow .ac clients down, cloud and local can work at the same time. Cons:Easy to crash arrays with too many global filter policies, throughput can be low at times, VLAN issues occasionally. Support response times are not as fast and also sales reps are slower and a few good ones are no longer with the company. Also tested the XR520.
4) Fortinet-Local only no cloud+CLI. Pros: excellent firewall options (forti "wifi" 60D tested) very secure "locked down by default" config. Cons: TERRIBLE wireless performance. Very low throughput and very frequent disconnects. Major firefox issues to where changing wifi settings bricked the device and it took me a long time to revive it.
5) Airtight (Now Mojo Networks) - Cloud controller only. Pros: Excellent thoughput and performance. Lots of RF options. Cons: Not much unique to it but has a good bit of UI controls. Model tested C75
6)Xclaim - Cloud/Local/App Pros: decent throughput so far. Easy to use. Cons: lacks essentials like RF management or Client stats like errors and data rate. Model tested: Xi3
7)Aerohive - Cloud or local thru HiveMgr NG. Pros: Excellent throughput on AP230 but lacking on 370. Tons of RF options and other config options, nice UI. also has spectrum analyzer. Cons: Cant run both HM and local/NG, AP370 is inferior to AP230 in every way, AP370 has more dropped frames and such for streaming devices.
8) Ubiquiti - Self hosted controller or app. pros: excellent throughput on both devices and dirt cheap Cons: support was lacking in phone and stuff but has improved. Also expense of hosting controller can get pricey depending on network demand. Controller requires java. Ui needs work. Units tested: unifi AP-AC-Lite and Unifi AP-AC-LR.
9) Ligowave - Self hosted controller or on AP controller Pros: Solid PoE performance, easy to provision, detected fast, decent throughput, nice interface with CPU info on the top right. Cons: 2.4Ghz throughput highly variable, lacks QoS/firewall controls.