United States
Q
What is the HPE Aruba 518 Ruggedized Access Point?
A
The HPE Aruba 518 is an outdoor, industrial-grade Wi-Fi 6 access point engineered for extreme environments. It delivers high-performance wireless connectivity with rugged protection against dust, water, and temperature extremes.
Q
What key features does the Aruba 518 offer?
A
The Aruba 518 provides dual-radio Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), integrated directional antennas, IP67 sealing, -40 °C to +60 °C operating range, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, WPA3 security, and 2.5 GbE Power over Ethernet ports.
Q
In which environments is the Aruba 518 designed to operate?
A
The Aruba 518 is built for harsh outdoor and industrial settings such as oil and gas sites, manufacturing plants, transportation hubs, and military installations that demand weatherproof and temperature-resilient networking.
Q
What ingress and temperature ratings does the Aruba 518 support?
A
The Aruba 518 is rated IP67 for dust and water immersion up to 1 m, and operates reliably between -40 °C and +60 °C, ensuring continuous performance in challenging conditions.
Q
What Wi-Fi speeds and technologies does the Aruba 518 deliver?
A
Leveraging Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), the Aruba 518 supports theoretical aggregate data rates up to 4.8 Gbps, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, Target Wake Time, and improved spectral efficiency for high-density deployments.
Q
What power options are available for the Aruba 518?
A
The Aruba 518 supports 802.3at (PoE+) and 802.3bt (PoE++) input via its 2.5 GbE PoE port, or optional DC inputs, providing flexible deployment without additional power infrastructure.
Q
How many concurrent clients can the Aruba 518 support?
A
The Aruba 518 can handle up to 1,024 associated clients per radio under typical conditions, providing reliable connectivity for large crowds or device-dense industrial sites.
Q
How is the Aruba 518 managed and monitored?
A
You can manage the Aruba 518 via Aruba Central cloud management or on-premises AirWave, with built-in AI tools for proactive monitoring, firmware updates, and configuration automation.
Q
Does the Aruba 518 support mesh networking?
A
Yes. The Aruba 518 supports secure, self-healing mesh connectivity, extending network reach without trenching or fiber, ideal for remote areas and temporary installations.
Q
What antenna configuration does the Aruba 518 use?
A
The Aruba 518 integrates eight sector-optimized directional antennas with 60° horizontal coverage per radio, enabling point-to-multipoint links and targeted coverage.
Q
What mounting options are available for the Aruba 518?
A
The Aruba 518 offers versatile mounting kits for poles, walls, and towers, with adjustable brackets for precise antenna alignment and secure installation in any outdoor setting.
Q
What security features are built into the Aruba 518?
A
The Aruba 518 includes WPA3 encryption, Enhanced Open, 802.1X authentication, ArubaOS Policy Enforcement Firewall, rogue AP detection, and integrated device profiling for enterprise-grade security.
Q
What licensing is required for the Aruba 518?
A
The Aruba 518 requires a valid ArubaOS Enterprise license for on-premises management or Aruba Central subscription. Optional Advanced Security and AI Insight add-ons are available.
Q
What certifications and compliance standards does the Aruba 518 meet?
A
The Aruba 518 holds FCC, IC, CE, RCM, UKCA, and WEEE certifications, and complies with industry standards including IEEE 802.11ax, 802.3at/802.3bt PoE, and IP67 environmental rating.
Q
What warranty and support options are available for the Aruba 518?
A
HPE Aruba provides a limited lifetime warranty covering defects, plus optional ProCare support for advanced hardware replacement, firmware upgrades, and 24x7 technical advisory services.
Q
How does the Aruba 518 differ from indoor Aruba APs?
A
Unlike indoor APs, the Aruba 518 features ruggedized enclosures, IP67 sealing, extreme temperature tolerance, and integrated directional antennas, specifically engineered for outdoor and industrial deployments.
